Chief Operating Officer

Lock Search Group; Toronto; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a dynamic Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead operational excellence and strategic initiatives. This pivotal role involves optimizing firm operations, enhancing portfolio performance, and fostering a high-performing team. The ideal candidate will bring over a decade of operations leadership, particularly within private equity or growth-stage environments. With a focus on scalability and compliance, this position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of the firm through innovative strategies and effective execution. If you thrive in fast-paced settings and are passionate about operational success, this role is for you.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in operations leadership.
• Proven track record of optimizing operations and scaling businesses.
• Strong understanding of finance, legal, compliance, and fund operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and optimize firm operations including finance, legal, HR, and IT.
• Design and implement scalable processes to support growth and investment strategy.
• Drive continuous improvement through KPIs and data-driven decision-making.

Skills

Operations Leadership

Private Equity Mindset

Team Building

Strategic Thinking

Communication Skills

Results-Oriented

Education

MBA or Relevant Advanced Degree

Job description

Job Title: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Location: Toronto, ON
Industry: Private Equity

Position Summary:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will play a key leadership role in driving the strategic and operational execution of the firm. As a core member of the executive team, the COO will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, supporting portfolio company performance, optimizing internal systems and processes, and enabling scalable growth. The ideal candidate brings strong operational experience, a private equity mindset, and a track record of building high-performing teams and businesses.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee and optimize firm operations, including finance, legal, HR, IT, compliance, and investor reporting.
• Design and implement scalable processes to support the firm’s growth and investment strategy.
• Serve as a key liaison between investment professionals and operational teams to ensure alignment and efficiency.

• Partner with investment teams to improve operational performance across portfolio companies.
• Support value creation initiatives, operational due diligence, integration planning, and performance monitoring.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to portfolio company leadership on operational best practices.

• Work closely with the CEO and Managing Partners on firm-wide strategy and execution plans.
• Lead or oversee strategic initiatives including new market entry, product development, or platform growth.
• Drive continuous improvement through KPIs, dashboards, and data-driven decision-making.

• Ensure regulatory compliance and operational risk management across the firm and portfolio.
• Partner with legal and compliance advisors to implement best practices in reporting and governance.

• Build and mentor a high-performing operations team.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in operations leadership, ideally with exposure to private equity, asset management, or growth-stage businesses.
• Proven track record of optimizing operations and scaling businesses.
• Strong understanding of finance, legal, compliance, and fund operations.
• Experience working with private equity-backed businesses or in a fund environment.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.
• MBA or relevant advanced degree is preferred.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on, roll-up-the-sleeves approach.
• Results-oriented with strong execution capabilities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Integrity, discretion, and strong judgment.

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by sending their resume to [e-mail].