Chief Operating Officer

Aerospace Bristol; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A heritage organization in the UK is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead the museum's daily operations and core business functions, including finance and visitor experience. The ideal candidate will possess extensive senior leadership experience, financial management skills, and a commitment to community involvement. This role offers an opportunity to shape strategic plans and enhance the visitor experience, fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace culture. Salary is £65,000 with flexibility for home working.

Qualifications

• Extensive senior leadership experience in operational or corporate services.
• Proven ability to build and lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong financial and business management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead all commercial activities to ensure financial resilience.
• Oversee financial planning and reporting processes.
• Develop plans to enhance revenue in commercial areas.
• Ensure compliance with operational policies and legal standards.
• Act as a key advisor to the Board on financial decisions.

Skills

Senior leadership experience

Stakeholder engagement

Financial and business management skills

Team building and leadership

Organizational skills

Job description

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Job Title: Chief Operating Officer

Organisation: Aerospace Bristol (Bristol Aero Collection Trust)

Reports to: CEO

Location: Patchway, North Bristol with flexibility to work from home

Contract: permanent, 37.5 hrs. per week, flexibility required to meet job requirements.

Salary: £65,000

Closing date for applications: 25 January 2026

Interview dates: 9 & 10 February 2026

Aerospace Bristol is where imagination takes off.

Based on the historic Filton Airfield, where a community began and an idea became an industry, our purpose is to inspire, educate and connect people through the legacy of aerospace in Bristol.

Aerospace Bristol are looking for a commercially astute and visitor focused leader to be our first Chief Operating Officer. This is an important role overseeing the day‑to‑day running of the museum and site and leading some of the organisation's core business functions, including finance, commercial, operations, and HR. The post holder will develop a motivated staff and volunteer community, continuously seeking to improve the quality of the visitor offer and increase the commercial success of the museum.

The Role

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a new role within the museum and forms an integral part of the Senior Management Team (SMT), overseeing the day‑to‑day running of the site and leading some of the organisation's core business functions, including visitor experience, finance, commercial and operations. The post holder will develop a motivated staff and volunteer community, continuously seeking to improve the quality of the visitor offer and increase the commercial success of the museum.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead all commercial activities, including retail, café, venue hire, hospitality ensuring they contribute to Aerospace Bristol's financial resilience.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes and financial reporting, working closely with the Head of Finance.
• Develop and implement plans to increase revenue across all commercial areas.
• Take responsibility for the day‑to‑day operation of the museum through collaborative working with managers and functions.
• Ensure Aerospace Bristol's operational policies (health and safety, data protection (GDPR), and safeguarding) and processes are compliant with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Lead on contract negotiation and management, ensuring best value for services and effective supplier relationships.
• Ensure Aerospace Bristol's IT systems support operational efficiency.
• Ensure the visitor experience delivers the highest standards of customer service.
• Oversee training and development policy in key areas such as safeguarding, first aid, health and safety/risk, equality, and inclusion.
• Regularly review and develop the organisation's appraisal and personal development processes.
• Provide clear and effective leadership to managers, ensuring administration, finance, marketing, visitor experience, and commercial functions work together strategically.
• Foster high performance and an inclusive culture, supporting professional development and talent retention.
• Act as a key advisor to the Board, ensuring transparency and accountability in financial and operational decision-making.
• Prepare clear, data‑driven reports on financial performance, operational efficiency, and strategic outcomes.
• Play an integral role within the management team to shape and develop the strategic plans for the charity, and be collectively responsible for their successful delivery.
• Deputise for the CEO during periods of absence and represent Aerospace Bristol at a range of partnership and networking events.
• Undertake any task that may be requested from time to time by the CEO or Board of Trustees, in line with the nature and scope of this post.

Person Specification

• Extensive senior leadership experience in operational or corporate services, ideally with experience of the heritage, cultural, tourism or non‑profit sector.
• Proven ability to build and lead multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement capabilities, with the ability to build and maintain relationships across departments and with external partners.
• Significant experience and expertise in at least one of the following areas: Finance, Visitor Experience, Operations, Retail or Catering and Events.
• Strong financial and business management skills, including budgeting and governance.
• Ability to work at both a strategic and tactical level as needed in a small organisation.
• Deep understanding of governance, compliance, and accountability, including financial and regulatory standards.
• Commitment to heritage, public engagement, and community involvement.
• Highly organised and flexible in approach.
• Approachable, collaborative and supportive, with the ability to communicate effectively with people and lead teams across all areas of the museum.

To apply for this role, please send your CV and a cover letter outlining why you would be suitable for the position.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on 9 or 10 February. The interview process will include a structured Q&A, and candidates will also be asked to prepare a short presentation on What you would tackle first and how you would drive lasting change. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase both your strategic thinking and your ability to drive impact from day one.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your needs.