At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global operations, drive strategy, and enhance customer experience across multiple markets.
- Company: High-growth, PE-backed consumer services brand with international reach.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership role, and opportunity to shape global operations.
- Why this job: Join a pivotal moment in a category-defining brand's growth journey.
- Qualifications: Extensive senior leadership experience in multi-site, service-led environments.
- Other info: Be part of an executive team driving operational excellence and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
We are working with a high-growth, PE-backed consumer services brand operating across multiple international markets. The business is entering a significant new phase of scale, including franchising and further global expansion, and is now seeking to appoint an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead its global operational platform.
This is a senior, board-level appointment for a commercially minded operator with deep experience in multi-site, multi-country, service-led environments.
The Role
The COO will be responsible for designing, leading and continuously improving the company’s global operational infrastructure, spanning owned sites, franchise partners and new market entry. The role has end-to-end accountability for operational performance, customer experience, systems, supply chain, compliance and international execution. Working closely with the CEO and executive leadership team, the COO will ensure the business scales efficiently, profitably and with operational excellence at its core. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on operational execution, and will suit someone comfortable operating at pace in complex, high-growth environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Global Operations & Strategy
- Define and execute the global operational strategy to support profitable growth.
- Own core operational KPIs including utilisation, uptime, service quality, cost efficiency and margin.
- Partner with Finance on operational P&L ownership and cost optimisation initiatives.
- Build scalable frameworks, governance and operating rhythms across markets.
- Multi-Site Operations
- Lead operational performance across a geographically distributed estate.
- Ensure consistent service delivery, equipment uptime and operational continuity.
- Oversee regional operational leads and coordinators across key markets.
- Maintain real-time visibility of performance and resolve operational issues rapidly.
- Franchise Operations & International Expansion
- Provide executive leadership over the franchise operating model.
- Build and scale the franchise infrastructure, including onboarding, training, governance and performance management.
- Ensure operational readiness for new international launches.
- Partner with internal and external stakeholders on franchise partner selection and assessment.
- Continuously evolve the franchise model to improve partner performance and reporting.
- Supply Chain & Product Operations
- Oversee global supply chain, stock and inventory management.
- Drive procurement discipline, supplier governance and cost optimisation.
- Improve working capital efficiency and service continuity.
- Customer Experience
- Own the end-to-end customer experience agenda across all markets.
- Lead customer service operations, service standards and escalation frameworks.
- Ensure brand consistency across booking, delivery and post-service touchpoints.
- Systems & Technology
- Oversee operational systems including booking, POS and CRM platforms.
- Lead system implementations, upgrades and integrations.
- Drive automation, reporting accuracy and data-driven operational insight.
- New Openings & Market Entry
- Provide executive oversight of new site openings.
- Ensure operational standards, regulatory approvals and service readiness are met.
- Support negotiations with landlords, suppliers and regulatory bodies where required.
- Regulatory, Licensing & Risk
- Own compliance across all operational, health & safety and licensing requirements.
- Ensure governance frameworks are in place across all territories.
- Lead risk management, incident reporting and compliance oversight.
- Executive & Team Leadership
- Act as a core member of the executive leadership team.
- Lead, mentor and scale high-performing operational teams.
- Build succession plans and organisational capability to support future growth.
- Contribute to board reporting, investor engagement and strategic planning.
Candidate Profile
- Extensive senior leadership experience in multi-site, service-led consumer businesses.
- Strong background in franchise operations and partner governance.
- Experience in PE-backed, high-growth or scaling environments highly desirable.
- Proven ability to build scalable operating models across international markets.
- Deep understanding of operational complexity, regulation and risk management.
- Confident operating at both strategic and executional levels.
- Data-driven, commercially astute and decisive in fast-moving environments.
Why This Role?
This is a rare opportunity to join a category-defining consumer brand at a pivotal moment in its growth journey. The successful candidate will play a central role in shaping the company’s global footprint and operational maturity.
Chief Operating Officer in City of London employer: Agora Talent
Contact Detail:
Agora Talent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Operating Officer in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend events, and engage on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that COO role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their operational challenges and think about how your experience can solve them. We want you to walk in there ready to impress with your insights!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! Be ready to discuss how you've built high-performing teams and scaled operations in previous roles. We need to see that you can lead with both strategy and execution.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. We’re excited to see how you can contribute to our growth journey!
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Operating Officer in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of COO. Highlight your experience in multi-site operations and franchise management, as these are key for us. Use specific examples that showcase your strategic leadership and operational excellence.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Tell us why you're the perfect fit for this high-growth environment. Share your vision for operational strategy and how you can drive performance across international markets.
Showcase Your Achievements: Quantify your successes! Whether it’s improving KPIs or leading successful market entries, we want to see numbers that demonstrate your impact. This will help us understand your capability in driving profitable growth.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Agora Talent
✨Know the Business Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the company's operations, especially their franchising model and international expansion plans. Understanding their current challenges and opportunities will help you demonstrate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've defined and executed operational strategies in previous roles. Highlight your ability to drive KPIs and improve performance across multi-site operations, as this is crucial for the COO position.
✨Emphasise Leadership Experience
Be ready to talk about your experience leading high-performing teams and mentoring others. Share stories that illustrate your ability to build scalable operating models and manage complex operational environments effectively.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-time operational issues. Think of scenarios where you've had to resolve conflicts or improve service delivery, and be prepared to explain your thought process and outcomes.