Chief Operating Officer

Our client is a market leading design and manufacturer. For decades they have been successfully creating innovative products that meet the evolving needs of our environment. With a rich British manufacturing heritage, our client has always been independent. Their overseas subsidiaries have now grown to locations in Europe, USA, Ireland and UAE.

The role of Chief Operating Officer is a newly created appointment, working closely with the existing CEO. The COO will hold responsibility across manufacturing, supply chain, warehousing, customer care, HR, IT, technical, engineering & design; a workforce of around 300+ people, based at their HO and manufacturing site in South Wales. As a member of the Board, the COO will actively participate and determine strategies to achieve the Company’s operational vision and goals. The successful appointment will be commercially minded, a high-level thinker and adept at building strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

• Oversee daily operations of the following operational functions – manufacturing, supply chain, warehousing & logistics, customer care, HR, IT, technical, engineering & design.
• Support the functional management teams to ensure quality and performance standards are met, whilst identifying opportunities to enhance the processes currently in place.
• As a Management Board member, actively participate and determine short-, medium- and long-term strategies, striving to achieve the Company’s vision and mission.
• Lead and develop direct reports, driving a collaborative, high performance team culture, whilst also identifying and mitigating succession risks.
• Play a leading role in developing innovative processes, harnessing new technologies to deliver competitive advantages and differentiators across the customer journey.

• Previous strategic operational management of the key areas of responsibility is essential. This could have been within manufacturing, or alternatively within a large retail distribution business.
• A clear knowledge of Lean and Six Sigma principles, providing a comprehensive approach to operational excellence.
• Involvement in/experience of business growth through acquisition, both the process of acquiring relevant companies and the streamlining of operations post-acquisition.
• Leader of people who can effectively flex between leading, coaching and managing, as required.
• Demonstrable competency in strategic planning.
• Able to communicate fluently and concisely across a range of different cultures and mediums.
• Proven hands on and task-oriented experience, comfortable at operating in a ‘sleeves rolled up’ manner.
• Ability to influence and challenge at all levels of the organisation.

The role is based at the UK manufacturing site in South Wales.

This is a key and senior executive appointment. The company is well respected in its sector; it is very profitable and fast-growing. The company has an outstanding working culture. The role will carry significant responsibility for successful operations and growth of the business. This executive appointment will enjoy significant levels of autonomy. The successful candidate will enjoy a stimulating and rewarding high profile leadership role.