Chief Operating Officer - US-Based

Job Summary:

As the Chief Operating Officer, you will join a group of hands-on executives to drive the growth and operational excellence of Toptal. Your mindset will be that of an engineer who will work to solve operational problems through the lens of an engineer, not as a consultant or operational leader. There will be no problem large or small for you to solve yourself. You will be the chief architect of each solution. You will work to construct frameworks and problem solve in ways that push the limits as to what’s possible in technology and talent acquisition and that solves those problems at scale. You will work to build and lead the full-scale execution of Toptal’s talent services, professional services, and talent functions—including all areas to Talent-related services and all Professional Service-related areas such as all Delivery and Practice areas. You will also oversee Talent Operations, ensuring our talent supply is aligned, efficient, and scalable to effectively meet and balance client demand.

This role demands a builder’s mindset and a deep sense of ownership. You will create the operational frameworks and strategy, ensure the functions are fully built out and working to perfection, and drive consistent execution across all service and talent areas of Toptal. Acting as the business owner of the system, you’ll collaborate closely with Product and Data Engineering to design infrastructure and features that simulate supply-demand scenarios and expose planning logic through modular, API-like interfaces—enabling teams across Toptal to interact with talent as if it were talent-as-a-service. Working across a high-caliber leadership group, you will bring strong operational discipline and strategic clarity to deliver world-class client outcomes and sustainable growth.

This is a remote position. Resumes and communication must be submitted in English.

Responsibilities:

The following information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or required skills.

·        Build and own the vision, strategy, and execution plan for Toptal’s services and talent functions—including all service lines.

·        Define the organizational structure and leadership model for the Services and Talent Operations teams, ensuring the right roles and capabilities are in place.

·        Provide hands-on operational leadership, bringing rigor, consistency, and clear accountability to all service lines and functions.

·        Translate high-level business and operational goals into detailed operational roadmaps for all areas of responsibility.

·        Establish scalable processes and systems to ensure delivery excellence, efficiency, and client satisfaction at scale.

·        Oversee talent supply, matching, and resource planning in coordination with Services and Talent Operations to meet evolving client needs.

·        Partner cross-functionally with Product, Marketing, Finance, and Legal to execute on strategic priorities and company-wide initiatives.

·        Drive a high-performance culture across all functions and businesses, while ensuring Talent Operations is tightly aligned to support delivery excellence, scalability, and evolving business needs.

In the first week, expect to:

·        Onboard and integrate into Toptal.

·        Learn Toptal’s model, our value proposition, and our story.

·        Deep dive into the Services organization and Talent Operations function to gain clarity on current structures, key initiatives, and challenges.

·        Meet key leaders and stakeholders across Services, Talent Operations, Sales, and the Executive team to build foundational relationships and understand cross-functional dependencies.

In the first month, expect to:

·        Conduct a comprehensive assessment of each service line and Talent Operations, including organizational structure, team capabilities, operational processes, and performance metrics.

·        Engage with senior leaders and key stakeholders to validate your initial findings and gather input on critical challenges and growth opportunities.

·        Begin shaping a strategic operating model and execution framework tailored to the unique needs of Toptal’s Services and Talent Operations functions.

·        Develop a clear understanding of client expectations and feedback to align operational improvements with market demands.

In the first three months, expect to:

·        Begin executing a detailed operational plan that aligns with Toptal’s strategic objectives for Services and Talent Operations, emphasizing scalability and efficiency.

·        Sponsor and oversee initiatives that improve delivery consistency, capacity planning, and client satisfaction, ensuring cross-functional alignment and sustainable operational excellence.

·        Deepen engagement with clients and internal stakeholders to anticipate future needs and proactively adapt service offerings.

In the first six months, expect to:

·        Achieve significant growth in gross revenue and pipeline volume across all Services.

·        Drive measurable improvements in operational efficiency, client satisfaction, and service delivery scalability across all service lines.

·        Refine and scale processes and systems that support seamless service delivery, resource management, and cross-functional collaboration.

In the first year, expect to:

·        Achieve consistent delivery of business goals through a high-performing, aligned leadership team across all service lines.

·        Have positioned Toptal’s Services and Talent Operations as a core driver of competitive advantage through scalable operations, strong client delivery, and sustained revenue growth.

·        Scale the operational infrastructure to support anticipated growth, including technology and processes.

·        Champion innovation and continuous improvement initiatives that keep Toptal agile and ahead of market trends.

Qualifications and Job Requirements:

·        Bachelor’s degree is required. Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred.

·        10+ years of progressive leadership experience in managing complex service organizations and multiple business units, ideally within professional services or technology-driven environments.

·        Proven track record of successfully leading multi-service line operations with accountability for P&L, growth, and operational excellence.

·        Demonstrated ability to develop and execute scalable operational strategies that drive efficiency, client satisfaction, and sustainable growth.

·        Experience at a technology or hyper-growth company is strongly preferred.

·        Management consulting experience at a top-tier firm (e.g., McKinsey, Bain, BCG) or investment banking experience is preferred but not required.

·        Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions in ambiguous environments.

·        Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing stakeholders at all levels, including executives and clients.

·        Experience driving cross-functional collaboration and alignment across sales, marketing, delivery, and support functions.

·        Excellent organization skills and detail-oriented. You are hyper-organized, know how to work efficiently, and prioritize execution, as well as mentor others to do the same.

·        Adaptable. Comfortable managing changing priorities, learning new skills, and building consensus across varied senior stakeholder groups.

·        Ownership. You are a dependable leader who takes responsibility for your success as well as the success of the entire team.

·        Quality. You take pride in everything you deliver as a reflection of yourself.

·        Ability to work in a fast-paced, rapidly growing company and handle a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a diverse array of contacts.

·        Willingness to travel to meet with clients, team members, and stakeholders.

·        You must be a world-class individual contributor to thrive at Toptal. You will not be here just to tell other people what to do.

Essential Job Functions

·        Regularly and reliably attend scheduled virtual team meetings on camera.

·        Work independently with minimal supervision.

·        Use all required digital collaboration tools.

·        Prioritize and self-manage workflows and deadlines.

US FLSA Classification: Full-Time/Exempt