Chief Operating Officer

A mission-led scale-up at the forefront of sustainability, technology, and the circular economy is seeking an experienced and action-oriented Chief Operating Officer to lead its operational transformation. With year-on-year growth and a clear social and environmental mission, the business is entering a pivotal phase — scaling physical infrastructure, professionalising operations, and preparing for long-term growth.

Backed by a strong purpose and a fast-growing customer base across enterprise services, this tech-enabled company operates in a unique space combining logistics, hardware, and software. The team is now looking for a commercially minded operator who can simplify complexity, drive throughput, and build scalable systems from the ground up.

The Opportunity

This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role suited to a COO who thrives in high-growth environments. The company is undergoing rapid operational expansion — with new physical sites being scoped, supply chains under development, and increasing demand requiring more sophisticated processes and data infrastructure.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Leading the implementation of scalable operations, systems, and workflows to support growth.
• Overseeing warehouse expansion and day-to-day physical operations.
• Developing robust, data-driven processes — including real-time reporting and performance tracking.
• Driving improvements in output quality, efficiency, and cost management.
• Supporting supply chain evolution and managing third-party logistics partners.
• Collaborating on financial planning — from pricing strategy to gross margin optimisation.
• Playing a central role in major cross-functional initiatives, including potential international expansion.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for a pragmatic, execution-led leader with a track record of scaling operational functions in growth-stage businesses. The ideal candidate will bring both strategic oversight and a willingness to get into the weeds to drive results.

You’ll likely have:

• Experience leading operations at scale within a £5–50M turnover business.
• Background in physical infrastructure — including logistics, manufacturing, warehousing, or hardware refurbishment.
• A data-first approach, with comfort across unit economics, FP&A, and commercial strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to build lean, effective processes that unlock growth.
• Experience working in B2B environments blending physical and digital delivery models.
• A strong alignment to mission-driven work — ESG experience is a bonus.
• Ideally, exposure to Series A/B fundraising or investor relations, though not essential.

Why This Role?

• High Impact, Day One: You’ll be at the heart of tackling operational pain points immediately.
• Builder’s Mandate: This is about enabling scale without bureaucracy.
• Clear Progression: Starts as interim with a well-defined path to permanent, subject to mutual fit.
• Strategic Involvement: Influence the selection and setup of new sites and infrastructure.
• Purpose-Driven Mission: Be part of a business delivering real-world social and environmental value — not just commercial outcomes.

This is a standout opportunity for a sharp, grounded and mission-aligned operator to help shape the future of a rapidly scaling, impact-led business.