Chief Operating Officer

Adjacency Recruitment Ltd; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Adjacency Recruitment Ltd is seeking a dynamic Chief Operating Officer based in Derbyshire to lead operational excellence and drive commercial growth. This pivotal role focuses on aligning the organization with ambitious growth targets in a competitive market.

The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor's degree, significant operational leadership experience, and strong analytical capabilities. Responsibilities include managing operational functions, improving processes, and ensuring compliance with regulations.

Qualifications

• Significant senior operational leadership experience required.
• Strong commercial and strategic capability essential.
• Proven track record in a UK manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead all operational functions and daily performance.
• Translate business strategy into operational plans.
• Continuously improve processes for efficiency.

Skills

Operational leadership

Strategic planning

Analytical capability

Leadership development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Finance or related field

MBA or postgraduate qualification

Job description

Our client is a rapidly growing, industrial manufacturing and service organisation based in Derbyshire, who are now looking for a dynamic Chief Operating Officer to drive operational excellence, fuel commercial growth, and shape the future of a fast-scaling UK business. You’ll play a pivotal role in tightening operations, boosting efficiency, and aligning the entire organisation to deliver ambitious growth targets in a competitive market.

Key Responsibilities

Lead all operational functions and drive day-to-day performance

Translate business strategy into clear, deliverable operational plans

Continuously improve processes to boost scalability, efficiency, and consistency

Inspire and lead senior operational teams and managers

Set high-performance standards and track delivery against KPIs

Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Champion leadership development and succession planning

Own operational budgets, costs, and resource allocation

Work closely with Finance on forecasting and planning

Ensure resources are focused on maximum impact and growth

Maintain full compliance with UK employment law, health & safety, and regulatory standards

Proactively identify and mitigate operational risks

Strengthen governance, controls, and business continuity

Executive & Stakeholder Engagement

Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board

Partner with the executive team to align operations with strategic goals

Build strong relationships with key partners and suppliers

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Business, Operations, Finance or related field

MBA or postgraduate qualification is advantageous

Significant senior operational leadership experience

Strong commercial, strategic, and analytical capability

Proven track record operating in a UK focused manufacting environment

Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills

What We Are Looking For?

Proven experience driving transformation and best practice excellence within an Industrial Manufacturing environment