They are also typically the public face of the organization when it comes to communication with employees, customers and shareholders. In a handful of companies, a chief information security officer (itself a relatively new title) is now called a "paranoid-in-chief. They may also be responsible for overseeing employees complaints about harassment or discrimination and developing culture change. # of Google Searches per Month: 400 (Chief Marketing Officer); 250 (CMO). Corporate accounting can be complex and CAOs make sure that accounts, financial statements, and systems for controlling costs operate smoothly. The traditional first C-suite executive hire In the end, I suspect the long-haulers will strike a balance between technical innovation and practical application. CDO (data): Because data can't fuel smart business decisions if it doesn't tell an accurate and compelling story. Learn more. I wonder how big this list will get! Rana Florida, holacracy consultant and author of Upgrade: Taking Your Work and Life from Ordinary to Extraordinary, claimed that Zappos' goal was to get more of its people to take charge of themselves. The President is often the highest-ranking position at a small business (one without a CEO) or the #2 position at larger enterprises (usually reporting to the CEO). For decades, aspiring to the C-suite meant working toward a set of jobs that could be counted on just over one hand; however, over the past several years, as tech companies began sprouting up (along with startups of all kinds), we've seen new titles emerge. A great example of this is the chief knowledge officer title that's popular among marketing firms and ad agencies lately. CAO (Chief Accounting Officer): Not all companies have them, but CAOs oversee all day-to-day accounting activities. Below is a list of the 20 most common C Level job titles. New C-Suite titles in healthcare. CXO – chief user experience officer – is another shiny new customer-centric role. C-Suite, or C-Level, is a widely-used slang term used to collectively refer to a corporation's most important senior executives. For small or startup companies, typically the founder has the title and function of CEO. This is an executive who can manage innovation, product development, marketing and sales across all platforms – digital and brick-and-mortar. A CFO, also known as a chief financial officer, is responsible for managing the books and records for a company as well as financial reporting and statutory compliance. CCO (customer): Because customer needs drive businesses today. Corporate titles or business titles are given to company and organization officials to show what duties and responsibilities they have in the organization.. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) - A top-tier executive who supervises the daily operations of a business and is ultimately responsible for its performance. A chief information officer usually manages a team of IT specialists responsible for maintaining the day-to-day IT operations. When Bad Reviews Hit: Should You Call Legal or PR? The first, the CEO, runs the show. The duties of a chief research officer include: The chief engineer position responsible for the engineering department at a company. Find out more about C-level corporate jobs, the typical job titles that are out there, and tips for getting one of these positions. ... refuses to start throwing around C-suite titles on members of the founding team. Learn about Peter Drucker's management theory and how it can help... Upgrade: Taking Your Work and Life from Ordinary to Extraordinary. A chief strategy officer has the following job duties: A chief innovation officer is responsible for identifying, developing, and launching new products and services for an organization. The C-suite are the highest-ranking senior executives in an organisation. In each case, I point out the title that candidates search Google for the most. To properly tease this out, we need to uncover why these outliers and often-whimsical titles were created in the first place. As an owner, how can I maintain a good relationship with my employees? # of Google Searches per Month: 1,100 (CFO) and 250 (Chief Financial Officer). Check out the diagram below for a general idea of the career progression for an HR pro. Disclaimer: The charts above and list below are focused on C Level job titles. Smaller organizations may only need a COO, whereas larger organizations tend to have both. Two examples: chief happiness officer and chief recreational officer. The most famous example of this theory in action is Zappos. As technology, customer service, and sustainability moved to the forefront of business, leaders saw a need to create additional C-level positions to manage these accordingly. The titleholder will enjoy vital opportunities to create positive change.Â. This means accepting that our 1950s-era corporate executive structure might be too rigid for today's business world. They analyze the business's current processes and create strategies to improve their sustainability and long-term impact. The chief compliance officer oversees compliance in an organization and ensures their company remains in compliance with policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. C-Suite, or C-Level, is a widely-used slang term used to collectively refer to a corporation's most important senior executives. Posting positions with the wrong job titles can slow down hiring with piles of useless resumes and wasted interviews. (See above, sans the coffee reference.) Your C-Suite Is Way Too Crowded This VC and three-time tech CEO says the modern alphabet soup of C-level titles threatens to slow down innovation. But because it’s the most common title what’s importan… The conclusion? I am not sure for this particular role you want a creative title. In addition to possessing leadership and business management skills, this member has technical skills (e.g., coding, programming, project management). CFO — The Chief Finance Officer is in charge of finances. A chief diversity officer typically leads any diversity and inclusion initiatives. Traditional C-suite roles Chief engineering duties include approving project designs, assigning engineers, and technicians who comply with safety and structural standards during a project. Chief Business officer 10. That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet," we're reminded that names don't capture the essence. A chief security officer, commonly known as a CSO, is the leader of a department that is responsible for information security and corporate security. Chief Happiness Officer (Google had a “Chief Happiness Officer” position (also known as Jolly Good Fellow) filled by Chade-Meng Tan. For example, you want to use CEO (not Chief Executive Officer) and CIO (not Chief Information Officer). In businesses rooted in a partnership, titles may be shared or divided in a way to reflect individual strengths and experiences. A chief innovation officer also builds and grows an organization’s innovation capabilities, both internally and externally, to make the brand more desirable. You've probably heard the abbreviations CEO, CFO, … The chief investment officer at a mutual fund hedge fund, for example, is in charge of maximizing the fund’s return on portfolio assets. Entrepreneurs start their titles at the top and work their way down. President — The President title is typically used at A) a small company that has no CEO or B) a larger company at which the President is usually the #2 person in the company. What Is GDPR, and Why Does It Matter for Your Business? University of Pennsylvania management professor Peter Cappelli says such titles are a clear signal to the customer that the people at the top are listening. They organize leadership and staff to meet strategic goals, ensure appropriate governance and controls, define the corporate vision and strategy, and identify and deliver value to stakeholders. Chief Communications officer 8. An industry that’s as unique as healthcare is bound to have some equally unique executive roles. Front and center is ensuring their products are intuitive from moment one. So while the wave of new C-suite titles is not quite of Shakespearean proportions, it does raise a timely question. Here's my shortlist of what's here to stay (and why). Check out the diagram below for a general idea of the career progression for an HR pro. Let me explain. Indeed, Cerf's title raised a mix of intrigue and confusion among customers, some of whom asked him if he was religious. # of Google Searches per Month: 150 for CHRO; 150 for Chief Human Resource Officer; and 100 for Chief Human Resources Officer. In the past few years, the c-suite has exploded its members, knighting nearly every department head with new, inventive chief titles likely dreamed up … # of Google Searches per Month: 200 (Chief Engineer); 200 (Chief Engineers); There are many new C-level job titles created over the last 10 years. The chief data officer is responsible for overseeing data-related business functions, such as data management, data quality, data strategy, data analytics and business intelligence. # of Google Searches per Month: 600 (CTO); 200 (Chief Technology Officer); Chief Technical Officer (20). The C-Suite title is a status symbol for many people. The chief analytics officer is similar to the CDO in that they are responsible for collecting and analyzing business data. A chief investment officer (known as CIO in the investment world) is the executive managing the oversight of investments at a company, organization, or institution. It was an idea that spread across Silicon Valley – and the world – to become known as holacracy. Strategically focused. Business titles or corporate titles are the titles that are given to officials working in organizations to mark their duties, responsibilities and level of work. The chief design officer is responsible for overseeing any innovation or design aspects of an organization's product or service. All members of the finance and accounting departments ultimately report to the CFO. As important as the CEO is to the outside of the company, the COO is to the inside of the company. Seriously, what do these titles really mean, and to whom? The business is basically expanding the "brand" of a celebrity chef. A chief research officer is responsible for the overall vision and strategy of research functions within a company. Do they mean anything, or are they an exercise in wishful thinking? C P/T O (people/talent): Because of HR's ongoing struggle to be viewed as a strategic partner to the business. They help solve technology-related problems and implement new tech solutions that will help the organization move forward. Check out our ongoing series called Job Titles: The Definitive Guide. Other common ones include Chief Information Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Revenue Officer. But then they joined a startup and all of a sudden they became Vice President of Engineering or Chief Technology Officer. CXO - The chief experience officer is responsible for the overall experience of a healthcare organization's products and services. But then they joined a startup and all of a sudden they became Vice President of Engineering or Chief Technology Officer. CIO (innovation): Because the unprecedented rise of technology means no company can rest on its laurels. A chief technology officer, commonly called a CTO, manages a company’s technology solutions. The chief human resources officer is similar to the COO, but their focus is directly on human resources matters and culture initiatives, as opposed to overall business operations. A chief diversity officer, or CDO, is a leader in an organization who develops, manages, and supports diversity and inclusion strategies. ", And now for something completely different: Back in 2012 (which almost seems like "back in the day"), Vint Cerf at Google was deemed chief internet evangelist. # of Google Searches per Month: 300 (CRO); 80 (Chief Revenue Officer). A CEO (Chief Executive Officer) is the highest top-level executive position within a for-profit organization. The attraction of this new talent and their big ideas has, in part, fueled the proliferation of fanciful C-based titles. The chief experience officer, also known as the customer experience officer, focuses on just that – the customer experience. Job titles are used to describe a person’s role and level within a company. Sure, they will have less power and influence than the "classic" positions, perhaps not reporting to the CEO, but they will have tangible results-focused responsibilities. Decisions are made at high levels with significant impact to the organization. The chief executive officer is the highest-ranking C-suite member and acts as the face of the organization. Sometimes it’s not a business or technology need that drives new job titles, but external forces such as changes in the regulatory landscape. Ongig’s job description software recommends the best C Level job titles as well as job titles for any department. Modern-day companies need a single leader for marketing, business development and imagination. I'm a digital marketing wingman to bootstrapped startups; I specialise in helping them grow from $100K to $5m in revenue. # of Google Searches per Month: 250 (CSO); 100 (Chief Security Officer). C-Level Job Titles . Traditional C-suite roles The COO usually spends their time running internal business operations (leaving the CEO or President to be the external face of the company). # of Google Searches per Month: 450 (COO); 400 (Chief Operating Officer). A CEO is responsible for choosing and executing the strategic direction for the company. COO — The Chief Operations Officer runs the day to day operations. Same for CMOs. Works with other “C-suite” individuals to develop HR plans affecting the entire company. C-Level Job Titles . This question was originally answered on Quora by Sean Byrnes. A CKO can oversee strategy, planning, analytics and research capabilities. Also known as “C-level executives”, these are the roles responsible for leading a business and its respective departments and, as such, are the most powerful figures in the company. They organize leadership and staff to meet strategic goals, ensure appropriate governance and controls, define the corporate vision and strategy, and identify and deliver value to stakeholders. Chief Creative Officer — head of design and creative strategy, Chief Credit Officer — head of budgeting and risk analysis, Chief Culture Officer — head of organizational culture, Chief Customer Officer — most often the leader of the customer success team in a SaaS (software as a service) company, Chief Data Officer (CDO) — in charge of data science, analytics, Chief Design Officer — head of design aspects (graphic, product, experience, packaging, etc. Product and service reviews are conducted independently by our editorial team, but we sometimes make money when you click on links. What's in a Name? A chief compliance officer, known as a CCO, is responsible for streamlining compliance processes like policy management, risk assessments, regulatory change management, and case investigations. CEOs are responsible for the short- and long-term profitability and growth of their company. While it's a bit clearer what a paranoid-in-chief does, because we've become familiar with what a CISO is in charge of, the chief internet evangelist role is far murkier. Founder The title of founder or co-founder implicates you in the business' history, highlighting you … In the famous Shakespearean balcony scene when Juliet asks Romeo, "What's in a name? So called, because of the “C” representing the word “chief” in many corporate titles. A General Counsel, for example, sometimes reports to the COO. If you’re looking to recruit people for this position, this will help you with search engine optimization (SEO). The chief sustainability officer is responsible for overseeing all of the organization's environmental programs. So, I’m going to start to keep a longer list of titles below in alphabetical order (for quick reference). They include: The job titles outside of traditional corporations vary. Here are nine C-level titles that are either specific to healthcare or got their start in healthcare. A chief revenue officer is tasked with connecting the sales, marketing, and customer relationship management teams and processes within an organization to create the ideal customer experience. The chief marketing officer serves as the head of the marketing department. A chief strategy officer, also known as a CSO, is an executive who creates and implements short term and long term strategic goals and change management activities for a company. A General Counsel often uses outside law firms to support their priorities. The C-suite ("chief" suite) is a term used to describe the top senior executives of an organization. February 4, 2020 by Rob Kelly in Job Titles, Chief Clinical Information Officer – head of information at a medical clinic, Chief Resilience Officer — head of partnerships and vision for a city or government group. C-Suite gets its name from the titles of top senior executives which tend to start with the letter C, for chief, as in Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Information Officer (CIO). The title you use for your JD can make a huge difference in how many applicants view and click your job posting. The C-Suite title is a status symbol for many people. Strategically focused. A chief medical officer is tasked with being the liaison between doctors and healthcare executives. The 6 Most Common Legal Mistakes Made by Newbie... Legal mistakes are costly, but some can be devastating for your... How to Defend Your Business Against Patent Trolls. The jobs of these high-level managers are called “C-level” because of their typical titles usually begin with “C” for “Chief,” such as Chief Executive officer (CEO). The chief lawyer of an organization is typically called the General Counsel or Chief Legal Officer (CLO). The list goes on, and more titles seem to pop out of the ether every day, courtesy of a rollicking, ever-changing economy wracked by creative and technological disruption. President of Asia Pacific). The general counsel, also known as a chief counsel or chief legal officer (CLO), is a corporate attorney who heads up all of the organization's legal matters. An industry that’s as unique as healthcare is bound to have some equally unique executive roles. CXO - The chief experience officer is responsible for the overall experience of a healthcare organization's products and services. A CHRO, also called a chief human resources officer, is responsible for designing overseeing all human resources functions. They are a true leader of the company, but they often consult other C-suite members before making major business decisions. The CTO often reports to the CEO in smaller companies or the CIO or COO in larger companies. They will look ahead to impactful futuristic trends (not just Bring Your Pet to Work Day). Chief Executive officer(CEO) 2. In a typical old school hierarchical organization, a higher-up (or a board of them) chooses a title for an individual – say, Sales Manager. A COO is usually the second-highest-ranking executive in a company, reporting to the CEO, or #3 if there is a position of president. The CXO is charged with bringing a holistic experience design to the boardroom, and making it an intrinsic part of the organization's strategy and culture. The most common C-suite titles are chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), and chief operating officer (COO). It's easy to see how this philosophical change in corporate structure could lead to our next trend. In most cases, every member of the C-suite reports to the chief executive officer. A CHRO leads talent acquisition, employer branding, talent management and, sometimes diversity and culture initiatives. He now has a television show overseas that is successful. We are ready to expand the brand to other countries, as well as diversify into product, with the ultimate goal of a restaurant chain. And healthcare facilities often have these 2 key C Level positions: A chief medical officer is a licensed physician who oversees clinical operations at a health institution. The chief information officer develops and manages plans to differentiate the company in the market, provide unique value to customers, and help build long-term relationships with customers. The C-Level titles are the highest titles in corporations or businesses and are given to people who head divisions and disciplines. Chief Executives Manager(CEM) 6. An executive director is also responsible for overseeing budget and marketing efforts for an organization. Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (Chief AI Officer)– Head of all AI initiatives (e.g. But there are numerous other C-Level titles and they typically report to the CEO or President. We are looking to formalize our business relationship. Chief Financial officer(CFO) 3. It's not a stretch to imagine that soon CCO (now either chief customer or commercial officer) could also stand for chief coffee officer. Please check out Ongig.com to learn more. Skye Schooley contributed to the writing and research in this article. The following are some of the common C-Level titles: 1. They set organization marketing goals and oversee marketing operations relating to advertising, branding and public relations. 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