Chief Operating Officer (St. Louis)

Position: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Salary: $185,000 - $215,000 annually, based on qualifications + long-term incentives

Location: On-site; Metro East region of St. Louis. Relocation assistance available.

Travel: 20 – 30% Travel

THE ROLE

Our client is seeking a strategic, results-oriented Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead and scale the day-to-day operations of a growing professional services organization. As the CEO's primary operational partner, the COO will oversee the people, processes, and systems that drive operational excellence, organizational growth, and long-term success.

This executive will be responsible for developing and optimizing the company's operating infrastructure, including scalable processes, leadership accountability, performance metrics, forecasting, and documentation. The goal is to build a highly efficient organization that can continue to grow while reducing day-to-day reliance on the CEO and positioning the business for future strategic opportunities. This is an on-site executive leadership role based at the company's headquarters, working closely with the executive team and key operational leaders.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner with the CEO to set and achieve company growth, profitability, and scaling targets.
• Translate vision into actionable operational strategies, roadmaps, and measurable outcomes.
• Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and execution gaps across the business and resolve them quickly.

Operations & Delivery

• Lead day-to-day operations: service delivery, project and program execution, staffing, and internal workflows.
• Establish and refine systems, processes, and KPIs that drive accountability and performance across every department.
• Run operational decisions on data - dashboards and performance metrics, not anecdote.
• Own company P&L, departmental budgets, and financial performance in partnership with Finance.
• Improve forecasting, cash-flow management, and resource allocation.

People & Organization

• Build and optimize the organizational structure; hire, develop, and retain top talent.
• Build a unified leadership team aligned on company goals and reinforce a culture of accountability and ownership.

Government Contracting & Compliance

• Ensure operational compliance with FAR/DFARS, DCAA-compliant accounting and timekeeping, and contractual requirements.
• Maintain compliance posture across relevant frameworks (e.g., CMMC / NIST 800-171, ISO, CMMI, ITIL) and support audits.
• Support capture, proposals, and contract execution across company vehicles - GSA MAS, GSA OASIS+, and GSA Polaris - and our joint-venture partnerships; manage prime and subcontractor relationships.

External & Enabling

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, partners, and vendors.
• Act as a force multiplier - freeing the CEO to focus on strategy, growth, and external opportunities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• 10+ years in operations leadership, ideally in technology services, MSP, consulting, or professional services.
• Direct experience operating in the U.S. government contracting environment (FAR/DFARS, DCAA, contract vehicles).
• Active Secret clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.
• Track record of scaling a business, improving operational efficiency, and driving profitability.
• Strong experience with P&L ownership, budgeting, and financial management.
• Demonstrated ability to build systems, processes, and teams in a growth-stage company.
• Proven ability to build management systems and executive accountability - and the credibility to challenge the CEO directly and own the outcome.
• Strong strategic thinking paired with hands‑on execution (operator mindset).
• Bachelor's degree in business, management, or a related field.

Preferred

• Experience implementing operating systems and accountability frameworks (EOS, Scaling Up, or similar).
• Familiarity with industry certifications and frameworks (CMMC, ISO, CMMI, ITIL).
• MBA or advanced degree.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The expected base salary range for this role is $185,000 - $215,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications, plus a performance-based annual bonus (target 30-50% of base) and long-term incentives such as stock appreciation rights (SARs) or profit sharing. Base salary will be reviewed upon the award of major contract milestones. Full-time employees are also eligible for health and welfare benefits, including:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• HSA plan with company matching (for eligible HDHP enrollees)
• Company-paid mental wellness, financial wellness, and legal counseling services
• Company-paid life insurance
• Generous PTO allowance (160 hours annually)