Chief Operating Officer

Simpson Associates transforms raw data into actionable insights that drive positive change. Our Microsoft data expertise, our specialist sector knowledge, plus our innovative and trusted advice and guidance are just some of the reasons clients choose to work with us. Our mission is to help purpose-led organisations from within the public and private sectors to harness data as a lever for change and enable them to realise business value more quickly. We provide the full range of services to support organisations on their data transformation journey. From advisory support and data strategy, to developing Data & AI solutions, right through to providing a range of managed services.

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) is a senior leadership role responsible for establishing and managing the processes, systems and people that enable successful delivery in programme and project management and managed service delivery. The COO holds overall accountability for the successful and profitable delivery of client services. This includes building on the strengths of the existing operating model to deliver sustainable and profitable growth in the function. Working with “Heads of”, across all service delivery areas, the COO will build and maintain a delivery culture that facilitates the attraction and retention of a strong, talented and knowledgeable team. The COO will also hold accountability for the evolution and effective use of resource forecasts to ensure that resources can be managed to meet demand.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivering the post-sale client journey, including project and services delivery, revenue forecasting, WIP reporting, utilisation management and churn.
• Lead the evolution of an operating model which ensures efficiency of delivery and high client satisfaction.
• Drive continuous improvement of the operating model as the business grows, including structural and organisation design across all delivery functions.
• Define and implement improved tooling and processes across the function.
• Define, track, measure and report against key KPI stats – including but not limited to core functional P&L, functional performance vs target, services utilisation and project margin enhancement.
• Establish data-driven operations providing actionable insights and trends and driving the continuous evolution of systems and processes to mature our ways of working.
• Provide oversight on major client contracts and leverage personal experience to mentor delivery teams, engaging directly with high-value clients and partners as and when needed.
• Ensure working practices and escalation routes are in place to achieve successful delivery of client outcomes.
• Lead the implementation of strong governance and delivery discipline.
• Build and maintain the Simpson Associates culture within the delivery teams.
• Coach and develop the delivery leadership team.

Skills and Attributes Required

• Prior leadership experience in a technical delivery function, ideally in a similar specialism.
• Strategic problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess delivery processes and structures, and implement pragmatic, effective improvements.
• A strong leadership mindset, with proven experience of working with and through a leadership team to effect change.
• Experience of scaling a technical delivery function to become a mid-sized organisation (300+), building team structure, culture and working processes to support growth.
• Proven experience of managing a P&L to deliver profitability.
• The ability to drive effective collaboration and consensus between groups with opposing priorities, in order to achieve the best organisational outcome.
• Strong alignment with our organisational values: brave, empowering, collaborative and passionate.

Advantageous Qualifications and Skills

• Experience of integrating teams through incoming M&A processes.
• Experience of successful team leadership and growth in the context of private equity investment cycles.