At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operational excellence and strategic growth in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join Croci Collective, a rapidly growing experiential marketing business.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, equity potential, and travel support.
- Other info: Dynamic culture with significant long-term progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a scaling business with real influence and autonomy.
- Qualifications: Proven operational leadership and strategic partnership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 80000 £ per year.
Ready to step into a true executive leadership role where your influence, decision‑making and operational expertise will directly shape the future of a scaling national business? Do you thrive in fast‑moving environments where strategy and execution go hand in hand and where no two weeks ever look the same?
At Croci Collective, we are entering a major new phase of growth and are looking for a commercially minded, operationally strong COO to act as the CEO’s strategic right hand while building the operational infrastructure required to scale successfully. This is not a back‑office operations role. This is a genuine executive leadership opportunity for someone equally comfortable shaping strategic direction in the boardroom as they are solving operational challenges on‑site at live events.
You’ll operate as a true counterpart to the CEO, helping shape business strategy, organisational design, workforce scalability and operational transformation across a rapidly growing business with UK‑wide operations and exciting international ambitions. As COO, you’ll operate as the CEO’s strategic counterpart, helping co‑create business direction while taking ownership of the operational engine that powers the organisation.
You’ll oversee event operations, workforce planning, logistics, performance management, organisational design, operational scalability and people governance while helping translate commercial ambition into operational reality. This role combines strategic leadership, operational delivery, people leadership and commercial accountability inside a scaling SME environment where adaptability, ownership and resilience are critical.
You’ll play a key role shaping leadership capability, operational structure and scalable systems while helping the business prepare for continued national growth and international expansion.
The Role at a Glance:
- Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- Hybrid (London Based with Regular UK Event Travel)
- £65,000 - £80,000 Salary Depending on Experience
- Plus Performance Bonus, Car Allowance / Travel Support, Potential Profit Share / Equity Opportunity & More
- Full Time - Permanent
- Reporting to: CEO
- Leadership Scope: Sales, Performance, Operations, Logistics, Workforce Planning, Finance, People Governance
Your Background / Skills:
- Operational Leadership, Events, Experiential Marketing, Field Sales Operations, Workforce Management, Commercial Operations, Change Management, Organisational Design, Team Leadership
Who we are:
We are Croci Collective - one of the UK’s fastest‑growing direct marketing businesses specialising in subscription product sales through consumer events and exhibitions nationwide. We partner with major venues, exhibition organisers and leading consumer brands, deploying high‑performing sales teams across a packed annual calendar of live events and campaigns throughout the UK. Our success is built on execution, energy and people. We are proud of our collaborative culture whilst being highly selective about both the clients we partner with and the people we bring into the business. We move quickly, think commercially and genuinely care about creating an ambitious environment where talented people can thrive.
What your day might look like:
- Co‑developing and executing the company’s strategic growth plans alongside the CEO.
- Acting as a strategic advisor and operational counterpart to the CEO on major business decisions.
- Leading operational delivery across nationwide events and exhibition campaigns.
- Overseeing staffing, logistics, scheduling, accommodation and equipment planning.
- Driving organisational design and operational scalability as the business grows.
- Managing operational budgets, event‑level P&L and cost control initiatives.
- Leading and developing operational management and performance structures.
- Overseeing freelance workforce planning, recruitment and retention strategies.
- Building leadership capability through coaching, accountability and management development.
- Managing relationships with venues, organisers, suppliers and brand stakeholders.
- Acting as the senior escalation point for operational, workforce and compliance issues.
- Supporting governance across People operations, culture and workforce strategy.
- Driving systems, reporting, KPI and process improvement initiatives.
- Building scalable SOPs, workflows and operational frameworks.
- Championing operational technology, reporting dashboards and process automation.
- Supporting change management, restructuring and operational transformation activity.
- Supporting international operational expansion initiatives including the US market.
- Presenting operational reporting, workforce metrics and commercial insights at leadership level.
About You:
- Proven operational leadership experience within field marketing, direct sales, experiential marketing or events.
- Demonstrable experience operating as a strategic partner to a CEO, founder or MD.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen with P&L management experience.
- Experience scaling teams, operational structures and organisational processes.
- Strong leadership capability with experience developing managers and building accountability.
- Experience managing distributed or freelance workforces within fast‑paced operational environments.
- Experience managing logistics across multiple concurrent events, campaigns or field operations.
- Excellent relationship management and stakeholder communication skills.
- Comfortable operating within fast‑paced, founder‑led SME environments.
- Hands‑on, adaptable and willing to roll sleeves up when needed.
- Strong change management and operational transformation capability.
- Experience driving operational structure, governance and scalable systems.
- Highly organised with excellent decision‑making and problem‑solving skills.
- Comfortable balancing strategic thinking with operational execution.
Desirable:
- Knowledge of the UK exhibition and consumer events circuit including NEC, ExCeL and Olympia.
- Experience within subscription or continuity sales models.
- Familiarity with contractor or freelance workforce management.
- Exposure to US expansion or international operational growth.
- Background within entrepreneurial or scaling businesses.
Why Join Croci Collective?
- Genuine strategic seat at the leadership table.
- Direct partnership with the CEO and real influence over business direction.
- Opportunity to shape and scale the operational backbone of a growing business.
- Executive‑level ownership with highly visible impact.
- Fast‑paced, entrepreneurial and collaborative culture.
- Opportunity to help drive international expansion.
- Significant long‑term progression opportunity including potential profit share or equity discussion.
- Autonomy to build systems, structures and operational excellence your way.
Apply today, step into your next executive leadership challenge and help shape the next chapter of Croci Collective’s growth journey. If you thrive on building high‑performing teams, creating structure in fast‑paced environments and turning ambitious growth plans into operational success, this is your opportunity to make a genuine impact inside one of the UK’s fastest‑growing experiential marketing businesses. In return, you’ll gain real influence, high autonomy and the opportunity to help shape a scaling business at executive level.
Hybrid COO to Scale a Growing SME — Equity Potential employer: RecruitmentRevolution.com
At Croci Collective, we pride ourselves on being one of the UK’s fastest-growing direct marketing businesses, offering a dynamic and collaborative work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. As a COO, you will enjoy a strategic leadership role with significant influence over business direction, alongside competitive benefits such as performance bonuses, travel support, and potential equity opportunities. Our commitment to employee growth and operational excellence ensures that you will have the autonomy to shape scalable systems while contributing to exciting national and international expansion plans.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Hybrid COO to Scale a Growing SME — Equity Potential
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their mission and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as someone who’s genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills and experiences make you the perfect fit for the COO role. Focus on your operational leadership and strategic thinking abilities, and don’t forget to highlight your adaptability in fast-paced environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining Croci Collective and ready to take on the exciting challenges that come with scaling a growing SME.
We think you need these skills to ace Hybrid COO to Scale a Growing SME — Equity Potential
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your operational leadership experience and strategic thinking. We want to see how your skills align with our needs at Croci Collective, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Impact:When detailing your past roles, focus on the impact you’ve made rather than just listing responsibilities. Use metrics and examples to illustrate how you've driven operational excellence and contributed to growth in previous positions. We love seeing tangible results!
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who fits into our collaborative culture, so don’t be afraid to show us who you are and what motivates you. Authenticity goes a long way in making a connection!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. This way, we can ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s the best way to stay updated on your application status!
How to prepare for a job interview at RecruitmentRevolution.com
✨Know Your Numbers
As a COO, you'll need to demonstrate strong commercial acumen. Brush up on your P&L management skills and be ready to discuss how you've driven financial performance in previous roles. Bring specific examples of how you've managed budgets and improved profitability.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
This role requires a strategic partner to the CEO, so prepare to discuss your experience in shaping business direction. Think about times when you've co-developed growth plans or transformed operational processes. Be ready to articulate your vision for scaling operations effectively.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Highlight your experience in leading teams and developing managers. Share examples of how you've built accountability and fostered a collaborative culture. The interviewers will want to see that you can inspire and lead a diverse workforce, especially in fast-paced environments.
✨Be Ready for Operational Challenges
Expect questions about how you've tackled operational issues in the past. Prepare to discuss logistics management, workforce planning, and how you've handled compliance challenges. Show that you're hands-on and adaptable, ready to roll up your sleeves when needed.
