At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global operations and strategy for a high-growth consumer services brand.
- Company: Join a dynamic, PE-backed brand expanding internationally.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership role, and opportunity to shape global operations.
- Why this job: Be a key player in a pivotal growth phase of a category-defining brand.
- Qualifications: Extensive senior leadership experience in multi-site, service-led environments.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor teams and drive operational excellence across markets.
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 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 London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend events, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a COO role or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s operational strategies and challenges. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in scaling operations and franchise management.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! During interviews, share examples of how you've built high-performing teams and navigated complex operational landscapes. This will demonstrate your fit for a senior role like COO.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Operating Officer in 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 stepping into the interview, make sure you’ve done your homework on the company. Understand their operational model, recent expansions, and challenges they face in the consumer services sector. This will not only show your genuine interest but also allow you to tailor your responses to align with their goals.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
As a COO, you’ll need to think strategically about scaling operations. Prepare examples from your past experience where you successfully defined and executed operational strategies that led to growth. Be ready to discuss how you can apply similar strategies to this role, especially in franchising and international expansion.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership skills. Be prepared to talk about how you’ve built and scaled high-performing teams in previous positions. Share specific instances where you mentored team members or improved team dynamics, as this will highlight your ability to lead effectively in a multi-site environment.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities in real-time scenarios. Think of potential operational challenges the company might face and how you would address them. This could include issues related to supply chain management or franchise partner performance, so have some thoughtful solutions ready to discuss.