Chief Operating Officer

FWB; Telford; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Parkburn Precision Handling Systems seeks a Chief Operating Officer to own end-to-end operations across Hamilton and Telford. You will lead procurement, manufacturing, assembly, test, quality, HSE and project delivery to convert a growing order book into on-time, on-cost, on-specification delivery while building scalable systems and leadership depth.

The role requires senior leadership in engineered-to-order manufacturing, multi-site responsibility, and a proven ability to improve delivery

Qualifications

• Senior operational leadership in engineered-to-order, high-complexity manufacturing.
• Experience across multi-site manufacturing and operational responsibility.
• Proven track record of improving delivery performance and margin in capital equipment.
• Strong commercial acumen balancing customer, operational and financial priorities.

Responsibilities

• Operational leadership, delivery and performance improvement
• Project management and on-time contract execution
• Partnering with engineering to maximise efficiencies
• Quality, HSE and compliance to promote safety
• Systems and continuous improvement to support growth
• Contribute to strategy and stewardship of the business
• Coaching and people development

Skills

Senior operational leadership

Multi-site manufacturing

Project management

Supply chain & production planning

Quality, HSE & compliance

Change management & continuous improve

Job description

Parkburn Precision Handling Systems designs and manufactures precision cable and pipeline handling equipment for the subsea, offshore wind, telecoms cable-lay and naval/defence markets. We build complex, engineered-to-order systems — capstans, linear cable engines, winches, tensioners and integrated handling packages — for customers operating in some of the most demanding environments in the world.

Since 2022 Parkburn has been 100% employee-owned through an Employee Ownership Trust. Every colleague is a beneficial owner of the business. We operate from two sites, Hamilton in Scotland and Telford in England, employing approximately 80 people.

About the role

The Chief Operating Officer (COO), holds end to end accountability for procurement, manufacturing, assembly, test, quality, HSE and project delivery across both sites. The role exists to convert a growing and increasingly complex order book into on-time, on-cost, on-specification delivery — while building the operational scalability, systems and management depth the business needs for its next phase of growth.

Key responsibilities

• Operational leadership, delivery and performance improvement
• Project management and on-time contract execution
• Partnering with engineering to maximise efficiencies
• Quality, HSE and compliance to further promote a culture of safety
• Systems and continuous improvement to support growth
• Contribute strongly to strategy and stewardship of the business
• Coaching and people development

Candidate requirements

• Senior Operational Leadership experience in an engineered to order, project-based high complexity manufacturing environment.
• Multi-site manufacturing and operational responsibility, ideally in subsea, offshore energy, marine, cable-lay, defence or heavy lifting equipment environment.
• Demonstrable track record of improving on-time delivery and contract margin in complex capital equipment engineering and assembly
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to balance customer, operational and financial priorities.
• Credibility and gravitas with demanding industrial customers and internal technical teams

This is an outstanding opportunity to lead a world-class engineering business, drive efficiencies and performance and create lasting value.