Chief Operating Officer in Waterlooville

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for overseeing and optimising the day-to-day operations of the group’s publishing, digital and events businesses. This executive leader will translate strategic vision into operational excellence, ensuring scalable systems and processes, strong financial performance and consistent delivery of high-quality publishing products and live experiences within a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation. The COO will act as a key executive, providing management, leadership and vision to ensure the group meets its short-term and long-term objectives.

A key focus of the role is bringing systems and data together across the group, tightening cost control and improving delivery discipline, while building strong leadership across the functions listed in this job description. The role will include working with internal teams and external consultants to drive execution of operations across technology, digital platforms, IT infrastructure, data analytics, product development, production, design, marketing and subscriptions, while increasing efficiency, introducing cost savings and supporting revenue generation.

Our Organisation Mark Allen Group is values-led. We are looking for a COO who delivers results in a way that reflects our values of Passionate, Creative, Nurturing and Fair.

• Passionate: brings energy, pace and pride in quality, with a clear focus on outcomes and delivery.
• Creative: solves problems pragmatically, simplifies complexity, and improves systems without adding unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Nurturing: develops leaders, builds trust across teams, and fosters the conditions for people to excel in their work.
• Fair: acts with integrity, makes transparent decisions (especially when trade-offs are tough), and holds people to account consistently and respectfully.

We are looking for a leader who is hands‑on when required but who also builds scalable ways of working, sets clear expectations, and brings teams with them through change.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee operational systems, tools, and platforms supporting publishing, events, and internal operations.
• Review and implement operational processes and systems across technology, IT infrastructure, data analytics, product development, production, design, marketing and subscriptions to ensure that the group meets both its short‑and long‑term strategic objectives.
• Identify operational risks and opportunities and lead initiatives to improve efficiency and scalability across the group.
• Monitor, measure and report on operational issues, opportunities, development plans and achievements within agreed formats and timescales in accordance with the business plan.
• Support revenue growth through pricing strategies, cost controls, and operational support for sales and partnerships.
• Lead process improvement initiatives to enhance speed, quality and measurability of deliverables.
• Build, lead and mentor high-performing cross‑functional teams.
• Working with the Group HR Director to establish clear goals, KPIs, and accountability across departments.
• Manage and develop direct line reports, ensuring weekly meetings take place.
• Manage and control departmental expenditure within agreed budgets.
• Liaise with other functional/departmental managers to understand all necessary aspects and needs of operational development and to ensure they are fully informed of objectives, purposes and achievements.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory and contractual obligations.
• Establish and maintain operational policies, procedures and best practices.
• Drive integration and standardisation of systems, platforms and reporting across the group, improving data quality, visibility and decision-making.
• Ensure clear ownership, governance and ROI for major projects and key suppliers, in line with agreed budgets.

Specific Responsibilities

• Work with the Group IT Director, who will report directly to the COO, to recommend, establish and maintain appropriate systems for operational management and development of the business.
• Ensure that all IT implementations do not exceed budget or delivery deadlines, and establish clear governance, prioritisation and reporting for IT delivery across the group.
• Work with the Web Development Director, who will report directly to the COO, to ensure that both the group’s web in‑house platforms and third‑party platforms are appropriate for the developing needs of the business, as well as to research and recommend other platforms which would enable the group to meet its growth plans.
• Ensure that all web development implementations do not exceed budget or delivery deadlines. This includes improving the performance, reliability and scalability of group digital platforms.
• Work with the Subscriptions and Customer Services Director, who will report directly to the COO, to review subscription processes, systems, and platforms, including developing reports to analyse subscription performance and to help recommend further development of subscription options and packages.
• Work with the Group Subscription Marketing Director, who will report directly to the COO, to ensure all processes, systems and platforms are appropriate to deliver the group’s marketing strategies to drive revenue growth in subscriptions and related events and awards, as well as enhance brand awareness.
• Work with the Group Product Analyst Director, who will report directly to the COO, to put in place an integrated platform which connects the various systems, applications, and data sources within the business.
• Work with the group product analyst director and the Chief Commercial & Development Officer to analyse data across the platform to work out behavioural trends to aid decisions on product development.
• Ensure the platform enables consistent reporting and actionable insight across brands, supporting both cost control and revenue growth decisions.
• Work with the Group Data Operations Director, who will report directly to the COO, to work out the data requirements for the group, including strategies to increase the first‑party data sets required for each operating business and brand.
• To work with the data operations director to review data policies to ensure compliance with data legislation, as well as ensure data delivery systems and processes are appropriate so that data sent out by the group is successfully delivered to its intended recipient.
• Work with the Group Production Director, who will report directly to the COO, to oversee end‑to‑end publishing operations, including editorial workflow, production, design, distribution and digital platforms, as well as ensure cost‑effective purchasing of print and ensure strong operational delivery across print and digital channels.
• Work with the Group Production Director and the Chief Commercial & Development Officer to implement a commercial strategy for group photography, videography and podcasts.
• Work closely with the Chief Commercial & Development Officer on commercially viable digital strategies across the group.

Why join Mark Allen Group?

• Be part of a specialist media business with strong, trusted brands and loyal professional audiences.
• Work in a hybrid environment that supports focus, collaboration and flexibility.
• Learn and grow through tailored development, mentoring and hands‑on experience.
• Contribute to work that informs, connects and supports industries that matter.
• Join a culture grounded in passion, creativity, fairness and long‑term thinking.

How to apply

Upload your application and cover letter via our careers site. You may include a short video introduction if you wish (optional). References or recommendations can also be shared (optional).

Right to Work

Applicants must have the right to live and work in the UK. We do not offer visa sponsorship.

About Us

For over 40 years, Mark Allen Group has built and grown specialist media brands that inform, connect and support professional communities. We operate across healthcare, education, agriculture, business, finance, travel retail, exhibitions, and critical communications, combining trusted content, data, events, and insight. We are a commercial media owner with a long‑term mindset, balancing strong legacy brands with innovation and evolution. Our people play a central role in shaping how our audiences engage with us today and how we grow for the future.