Our client is a privately-owned retail and wholesale business who are looking to recruit a COO to lead all commercial and operational aspects of the business. The company has recently undertaken a strategic review with PwC and is in a great place both financially and culturally to embark on a significant growth plan. Therefore, we require a strong leader, capable of guiding the board in identifying and implementing a future vision and strategy, who is equally ambitious to make a dream reaching the next level of growth a reality.
- Salary: Strong base salary plus a benefits and rewards scheme.
- Location: Hampshire
The Role
The goal of the Chief Operating Officer is responsible for improving and securing the functionality of business to drive extensive and sustainable growth:
- Set comprehensive goals for performance and growth.
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the business.
- Evaluate the performance of senior team members reporting to the COO.
- Design and implement business strategies, plans and procedures.
- Assist the CEO in maintaining a competitive position within the industry.
- Keep the CEO fully informed in a timely and candid manner of the conduct of the day-today operations towards the achievement of its established goals.
- Foster a culture that promotes ethical practices, customer focus and service and encourages individual integrity.
- Maintain a positive and ethical work climate that is conducive to attracting, retaining and motivating top-quality employees at all levels.
- Ensure that there is an effective succession plan in place for the COO position and other key executives of the corporation reporting to the COO.
- Perform other functions related to the office of the COO or as may be requested by the CEO or the Board.
The Person:
The new COO will ultimately have a transformational impact on the business. This individual will play an integral part as the business matures operationally and culturally.
Specific requirements include:
- Substantial general management experience; an expert in leading and inspiring sizeable teams, preferably within a fast-paced, ethically oriented, environment.
- A commercially astute, highly strategic leader with a strong and intimate focus on the customer.
- Strong financially, with excellent budgetary, forecasting and future planning skills.
- Experience of managing a substantial growth programme and a strong project management mind set.
- Sharp intellect and well-developed analytical and critical reasoning skills. Natural self-confidence and awareness combined with extremely high levels of emotional intelligence.
- Ideally, experience of operating in both a larger corporate with high opa SME business with ambitious growth plans.
- Ability to integrate their own leadership style in to a business with a strong existing culture and identity.
- Strong leadership, coaching, development and change management skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. A willingness to roll-up-the-sleeves, when appropriate, and lead from the front.
- High levels of drive, energy and resilience.
- Ideally located, or willing to be based, in the Hampshire area.
If you have the skills and experience and are looking for a new challenge, we would be delighted to discuss this opportunity further.