Northeast Florida is booming with business, and an increasing number of companies are looking to establish their headquarters in the region. As one of the region’s target industries, corporate operations thrive with the business-friendly climate, educational and training programs and quality of life assets.
Northeast Florida Corporate Operations Key Statistics
There is a good reason that Jacksonville was ranked as the country’s second hottest job market by the Wall Street Journal in April 2024. There are more than 150 companies with corporate, regional or divisional headquarters in Jacksonville. No other city in Florida has more Fortune 500 companies than Jacksonville, which is home to four Fortune 500 companies and five Fortune 1,000 companies. In June 2023, SEC Data ranked Jacksonville fourth in the nation for corporate headquarter relocations, with an increase of 66 percent.
Corporate Operations Span Industries
While some career pathways focus on a particular industry, such as advanced manufacturing or life sciences, corporate operations account for companies in many industries. Specific skills are needed for jobs in manufacturing, healthcare and more, but these companies also need people to manage clients, track financial performance and market their services. Corporate operations keep large businesses running smoothly and provide leadership and support for all roles within the company.
Leading Corporate Operations in the Region
Baptist Health leads northeast Florida’s corporate operations sector as the largest employer, with more than 12,600 employees spanning several locations. Florida Blue, Johnson & Johnson Vision and GATE Petroleum Company follow, each employing more than 3,000 regional workers. Northeast Florida hosts four Fortune 500 headquarters—CSX, Fidelity Investments, FIS and Landstar—all of which lead and inspire growth in their industries. Other notable operations in the region include Southeastern Grocers, PGA Tour and Crowley, each bringing national recognition to the northeast Florida business landscape.
Careers in Corporate Operations
There are many career opportunities in corporate operations. Some options are people-centric, such as management, human resources and customer service. Alternatively, some roles are more task-oriented in nature, such as accounting, technology services and communications. Specializing in corporate operations can open doors to many opportunities in diverse industries.
Florida State College at Jacksonville and St. Johns River State College offer a variety of one-to-two year postsecondary credentials, such as a business specialist certificate or a degree in information technology. Multiple regional schools, including University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, Edward Waters University, Keiser University and Flagler College, have degree programs for finance, marketing, business administration and more. Additionally, internships in corporate operations are some of the most widely available workforce training opportunities.
Whether you see yourself as a C-suite executive or prefer to keep things running behind the scenes, exploring a career pathway in corporate operations provides a versatile skill set and a wide array of employment opportunities.