Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Perm

Evolution Consulting Partners; England; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A global consulting firm is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead manufacturing and operational strategy on a global scale. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in multi-site international operations and expertise in Lean manufacturing. This role focuses on operational efficiency in alignment with private equity growth targets, requiring strong leadership and strategic planning skills.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as COO or senior operations leader in manufacturing.
• Ability to lead multi-site international operations in Europe and Asia.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end global manufacturing operations.
• Drive operational KPIs including throughput and cost efficiency.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean methodologies.

Skills

Operations leadership

Lean manufacturing

Supply chain optimization

Private equity understanding

Data-driven decision making

Job description

Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Perm

Location: Flexible within Europe (preferably Belgium or Poland)

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer / Board of Directors

Type: Full-time, Executive Leadership

Ownership: Private Equity-backed

Role Overview

The Chief Operating Officer will lead our clients global manufacturing and operational strategy, ensuring excellence across its core facilities in the U.S, Europe and Far East. This role is critical in driving operational efficiency, scalability, and alignment with private equity value creation plans.

Key Responsibilities

Global Operations Leadership

• Oversee end-to-end global manufacturing operations.
• Ensure consistent quality, safety, and compliance standards across all sites.
• Drive operational KPIs including throughput, cost efficiency, and delivery performance.

Operational Excellence & Lean Transformation

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
• Implement best-in-class manufacturing practices and digital tools to enhance productivity.
• Optimize supply chain and logistics across regions to reduce lead times and costs.

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Translate strategic goals into operational plans aligned with PE growth targets.
• Support capacity planning, CapEx investments, and technology upgrades.
• Collaborate with commercial and finance teams to align operations with market demand.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build and mentor high-performing plant and operations leadership teams.
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and innovation.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across engineering, quality, procurement, and logistics.

Private Equity Engagement

• Partner with PE sponsors to deliver operational insights and performance reporting.
• Support due diligence and integration efforts for potential M&A activity.
• Contribute to exit strategy planning through operational scalability and margin improvement.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Proven experience as COO or senior operations leader in manufacturing, ideally in industrial, infrastructure, or engineered products.
• Track record of leading multi-site international operations, including in Europe and Asia.
• Strong understanding of private equity environments, value creation levers, and transformation programs.
• Expertise in Lean manufacturing, supply chain optimization, and operational digitization.
• Fluent in English; Polish, French, or Mandarin is a plus.
• Hands‑on, data‑driven, and results‑oriented leadership style.