At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operational delivery and strategic growth plans in a fast-paced events business.
- Company: Join a high-growth direct marketing company with an entrepreneurial culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, travel support, and potential equity opportunities.
- Other info: Genuine influence over business direction and significant long-term progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the operational backbone of a growing business and drive international expansion.
- Qualifications: Proven operational leadership experience in events or experiential marketing.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 80000 € per year.
Position Overview
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Location & Compensation
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.
About the Company
High‑growth direct marketing and events business. Clients: Leading consumer subscription and FMCG brands. Culture: Entrepreneurial | Hands‑On | Fast‑Paced | Collaborative | High Accountability.
Reporting To
CEO.
Leadership Scope
Sales performance, operations, logistics, workforce planning, finance, people governance.
Background / Skills
Operational leadership, events, experiential marketing, field sales operations, workforce management, commercial operations, change management, organisational design, team leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- Co‑develop and execute the company’s strategic growth plans alongside the CEO.
- Act as a strategic advisor and operational counterpart to the CEO on major business decisions.
- Lead operational delivery across nationwide events and exhibition campaigns.
- Oversee staffing, logistics, scheduling, accommodation and equipment planning.
- Drive organisational design and operational scalability as the business grows.
- Manage operational budgets, event‑level P&L and cost‑control initiatives.
- Lead and develop operational management and performance structures.
- Oversee freelance workforce planning, recruitment, and retention strategies.
- Build leadership capability through coaching, accountability and management development.
- Manage relationships with venues, organisers, suppliers and brand stakeholders.
- Act as the senior escalation point for operational, workforce and compliance issues.
- Support governance across people operations, culture and workforce strategy.
- Drive systems, reporting, KPI and process‑improvement initiatives.
- Build scalable SOPs, workflows and operational frameworks.
- Champion operational technology, reporting dashboards and process automation.
- Support change management, restructuring and operational transformation activity.
- Support international operational expansion initiatives including the US market.
- Present 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.
About Croci Collective
We are 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. The business is now entering an exciting new stage of growth, including recent US expansion activity, and we’re looking for a COO who can help build the operational infrastructure, leadership capability and strategic discipline needed to scale successfully.
Core Focus
As COO, you will operate as the CEO’s strategic counterpart, helping co‑create business direction while taking ownership of the operational engine that powers the organisation. You will 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 will play a key role shaping leadership capability, operational structure and scalable systems while helping the business prepare for continued national growth and international expansion.
Chief Operating Officer - High-Growth. FMCG/Consumer Events in London employer: RecruitmentRevolution.com
Croci Collective is an exceptional employer that offers a dynamic and entrepreneurial work environment, perfect for those looking to make a significant impact in the fast-paced world of FMCG and consumer events. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to partner directly with the CEO, shape operational strategies, and drive international expansion while enjoying competitive compensation, performance bonuses, and potential equity opportunities. Our collaborative culture fosters innovation and accountability, ensuring that every team member can thrive and contribute to our exciting journey ahead.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Operating Officer - High-Growth. FMCG/Consumer Events in London
✨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!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they operate. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly fits into their entrepreneurial and fast-paced environment.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of COO. Highlight your operational leadership skills and any relevant experience in scaling teams or managing logistics. Confidence is key, so rehearse until it feels natural.
✨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 take the initiative to engage directly with us. Let’s make this happen together!
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Operating Officer - High-Growth. FMCG/Consumer Events in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in operational leadership and events. We want to see how your background aligns with our fast-paced, entrepreneurial culture.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you’ve driven growth or improved processes in previous roles. We love seeing quantifiable results that demonstrate your impact!
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 what makes you unique and how you can contribute to our team.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to submit your application directly through our website. This helps us keep track of all applications and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at RecruitmentRevolution.com
✨Know Your Numbers
As a COO, you'll need to demonstrate strong commercial and financial acumen. Brush up on your P&L management skills and be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed budgets in previous roles. Prepare specific examples that showcase your ability to drive cost-control initiatives.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires strong leadership capability, so think about how you can convey your approach to developing managers and building accountability. Be prepared to share stories about how you've led teams through change or operational transformation, highlighting your hands-on attitude and adaptability.
✨Understand the Event Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the UK exhibition and consumer events circuit, including key venues like NEC and ExCeL. If you have experience in subscription or continuity sales models, make sure to weave that into your conversation. This knowledge will show that you're not just a strategic thinker but also someone who understands the operational nuances of the industry.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Since you'll be acting as a strategic advisor to the CEO, think about the major business decisions you've influenced in the past. Prepare to discuss how you've co-developed growth plans and what metrics you used to measure success. This will demonstrate your ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution.
