C-level executives, also known as C-suite executives, are the top tier of executives at a company or organization. They hold the most decision-making power and are responsible for making the most important strategic choices within a company. The term “C-level” refers to any executive-level job within an organization. The initials of their job titles begin with a “C” (for Chief) and follow with 2-3 capitalizations, with the last capitalization being “O” for Officer. Executive staffing can make or break a company, especially during periods of business growth. Who gets to make the decisions within an organization, and what departments do they lead? Executive staffing agencies and executive recruiters help companies define their executive staffing needs and connect with ideal c-level executive job candidates so that organizations can thrive and grow with excellent leadership teams.

Common C-Level Job Titles

C-level executive job titles lead various departments within a company. The amount and type of C-level executive jobs a company offers depends on its size and industry. While roles and responsibilities vary from department to department, every C-level executive job is responsible for ensuring that the company is complying with all relevant laws and regulations, and that the company’s culture and values align with its mission.

CEO (Chief Executive Officer)

The CEO is the ultimate leader of a company and oversees the entire executive team, organization-wide developments, and public image. They are in charge of the entire company and have the most decision-making power within the organization. The CEO is accountable to the board of directors and shareholders and is responsible for communicating the company’s performance to them.

The CEO’s responsibilities include:

• setting the company’s strategy, vision, and goals
• collaborating with other executive staff and managers, while holding ultimate decision-making power
• ensuring that the company is profitable and growing

To be a successful CEO, one needs to have strong leadership and communication skills, exemplary critical thinking, high business acumen, and conflict management skills.

COO (Chief Operating Officer)

The COO is responsible for the overall direction of the business and designating the core responsibilities of various individual departments. They work closely with the CEO to ensure that the company’s operations align with its established visions, culture, and policies.

COO responsibilities include:

• overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company
• managing the company’s resources
• ensuring that company departments are functioning collaboratively

To be a successful COO, one needs to have excellent leadership and communication skills, critical thinking, high business acumen, and conflict management skills.

CFO (Chief Financial Officer)

The CFO is responsible for the financial management of the company, including financial vision, planning, budgeting, and reporting. They are often in charge of tracking finances, analyzing financial strengths, and overseeing all aspects of a company’s financial success.

CFO responsibilities include:

• driving the company’s financial planning, strategy, and hiring needs
• analyzing a company’s liabilities and investments
• creating investment strategies
• taking responsibility for all budgeting and financial reporting

To be a successful CFO, one needs to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills as well as advanced educational designations such as a Master of Finance or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credential.

CIO (Chief Information Officer)

The CIO is responsible for the company’s information technology (IT) strategy and implementation.

CIO responsibilities include:

• developing goals and strategies to ensure the IT department runs smoothly and effectively
• monitoring technology advancements to discover new ways the company can evolve
• supervising networks and IT systems to ensure optimal performance
• troubleshooting data-related performance issues and establishing routine maintenance

To be successful, a CIO should have a solid IT background with in-depth knowledge of current trends in the IT field. They must also be highly analytical, professional, and organized.

CMO (Chief Marketing Officer)

The CMO is responsible for the company’s marketing vision, strategy, and implementation.

CMO responsibilities include:

• developing and implementing marketing strategies that align with the organization’s goals
• overseeing market research
• analyzing consumer trends
• identifying target audiences

The CMO must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, strong business acumen, strategic planning skills, and excellent leadership skills.

CHRO (Chief Human Resources Officer)

The CHRO is responsible for the company’s human resources strategy and implementation.

CHRO responsibilities include:

• developing and implementing HR strategies that align with the organization’s goals
• overseeing all HR functions
• crafting strategies that meet the company’s objectives
• leading recruitment efforts and supervise senior and junior staff

To be successful, a CHRO should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a solid background in human resources management.

CDO (Chief Data Officer)

The CDO is responsible for the company’s data strategy and implementation.

CDO responsibilities include:

• developing data strategies
• ensuring data quality
• implementing data governance policies
• managing and leveraging an organization’s data assets responsibly and effectively

To be successful, a CDO should have foundational experience in data management, data analytics, or data governance, as well as  excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

CPO (Chief Product Officer)

The CPO is responsible for the company’s product strategy and implementation.

CPO responsibilities include:

• oversees the entire product lifecycle (market research, product planning, and product launch)
• creating a vision and strategy for the entire product organization
• leading the PM department and supervising PM managers

To be a successful CPO, individuals typically follow a career path that highlights technical expertise, product management, and leadership.

CSO (Chief Security Officer)

The CSO is responsible for the company’s security strategy and implementation.

CSO responsibilities include:

• developing policies, procedures, and solutions to ensure the safety and security of the organization’s personnel and physical and intellectual data
• reviewing security measures and updating protocols as needed
• overseeing the daily operations of the company to identify potential security or cybersecurity risks
• fostering a culture of physical and digital security awareness

To be successful, a CSO should have a strong background in security planning and execution including physical and cybersecurity measures.

CLO (Chief Legal Officer)

The CLO is responsible for the company’s legal strategy and implementation.

CLO responsibilities include:

• providing legal advice and guidance to the company’s executives and employees
• managing the company’s legal affairs
• ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations
• managing the company’s legal risks

To be successful, a CLO should have a law degree and be licensed to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction.

C-Level Executive Recruitment

C-level executive jobs are the most important, influential group of individuals within an organization. They are responsible for making the most high-stakes decisions within a company and hold the most power over their department (or the organization at large). Understanding the nuances of these roles can help businesses understand the variety of C-Level roles they may need to fill as their company grows.

While these are some of the most common C-level job titles, there are many other C-level executive roles that are specialized roles within certain industries. Typically, any time a company grows large enough to have an entire department dedicated to a task, the leader of that department may be given a C-level title to reflect the importance of their role.

Find C-Level Executive Jobs Today

Need C-Level executives at your company? Executive recruiters help companies connect with top executive candidates. Executive recruitment agencies also help companies screen, vet, and contract with executives to secure expert leadership within your teams. Reach out today to learn more about how we can help you hire the best executive-level staff for your organization. Whether you need executive staffing solutions, executive temp services, or any level of corporate staffing support, we’re here to help. Learn more about our placement process here.