The biotech Chief Operating Officer (COO) ensures that strategy is executed effectively – on time, on budget, and without surprises. 

COOs can often oversee clinical operations, vendor management, project timelines, and site coordination – acting as the engine that keeps programs moving and milestones met. 

As we know, patient recruitment is one of the most operationally fragile elements in a trial. If sites underperform or vendors miss their marks, it can be the COO’s responsibility to resolve the issues. 

Which means the COO should implement early warning systems based on accurate data, and ensure there are clear accountability structures for everyone involved in enrolling patients into a study – working closely with CROs, research sites, and recruitment vendors to keep enrollment activities performing at an optimal level. 

A successful biotech COO isn’t just managing Gantt charts – they’re shaping the operational environment where clinical trials can succeed.