What does it mean when a job is referred to as "c-level position"?
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sfgal (
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September 27th, 2010
Given the job description, I’m guessing it is “cabinet- level” or something similar – this is a senior position (and they apparently had to raise the job description level so that it would be “c-level”). I’ve never heard a job referred to in this way before, and c-level in this case sounds like it’s very high up . Anyone else familiar with this term? Thanks.
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15 Answers
It’s the most senior level in a company’s management. It stands for Chief: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), etc.
I agree with bob. C-level would be the top level in the deptartment or company.
You could also hear it referred to as C-Suite.
We called it CXO level at one company. I like that better, I think it is more obvious, but most companies don’t use it.
@papayalily The X is a placeholder, there are many “C” descriptors out in the business world. As one person gets him or her self designated as “Chief” Bla Bla, the rest of senior people want the same designation. All this tells you is that senior people are just as insecure as lower level people that just want a title.
In the company where I work there were so many “C“s by division and country, they are now jockeying for the descriptor “Global Chief…”
It all depends on the entity, corporation, etc. you are talking about. In management, corporations often have first-line, second-line, etc. or A, B, C, levels. What are you talking about?
@papayalily Think algebra, X can be anything. Like @zenvelo said, it is like a place holder. CFO, COO, CMO, CEO, so x can be F or O or M or E, basically CXO is any of the chief officer positions. I’m curious, not being condescending, is math a subject you never liked or did well in? Where the jargon or symbols might not be where your mind goes?
@JLeslie So then a job is never actually a CXO, it’s just a general term. You would never have “Mark Hammond, CXO” on a business card?
Yeah, no, my mind definitely doesn’t go to the maths and the algebras. Even in algebra class. I hate it, and it hates me. But actually, what confused me the most is that I used to see “The XO turned and replied ‘Warp 6, Ensign Paris’” in lots of fan fiction.
@papayalily Right, there is no job that is CXO, it is just synonomous with C-level. I see now why it might be confusing. Thanks.
@JLeslie Thanks, you’ve cleared up something that has been bugging me for a decade now (yay Fluther!!)
Also: This is why 14 year olds shouldn’t write erotica.
XO [executive officer] is Navy or at least DoD. A CEO referred to as a CXO is probably working for a military-industrial complex type company and is former military.
CXO is not meant to be used for the military, it is for private business, unless the military uses it, and I am unaware of it?
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