Chief Operating Officer jobs in United Kingdom

Our client, a UK Private Equity business, invests in and strengthens software businesses with a view to increasing value. They operate across the public sector, retail, transport, media, and communication verticals and aim to bring 3-4 companies based in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands into their portfolio every year.

The companies they buy & build are in the range of £0.5-4M ARR and £0.5-3M EBITDA, and currently have around 10 companies. We are assisting the client in looking for a commercially minded Managing Director / CEO for a Supply Chain business.

The business offers compelling stand-alone supply chain software and has many large brands as customers, and with the right leader, they can scale their sub £1 million ARR and team of 7 people. The company is already well run from an operations perspective, so they are primarily looking for someone with an entrepreneurial mindset with experience in the Supply Chain software space who can develop and execute a new go-to-market plan, increasing pipeline and revenues.

The package will consist of a base salary and variable components, including long-term incentives. The role is a remote home-based position in the UK (no sponsorship will be provided)

Go-To-Market Planning: Creation of a revised GTM and the execution of that plan to grow the new business pipeline, improving conversion rates and att revenues. Given the size of the business (7 people) the CEO is expected to be hands-on in this function (this is the primary skill set required for the role).

Lead Strategic Planning: Ensure that the BU has long-range, annual, and quarterly financial and non-financial goals. Prepare and present annual strategic review to the management team.

Operations Planning: preparation of quarterly forecasts and long-range P&L projections to be reviewed at Quarterly Strategic Review (“QSR”) meetings.

Initiative Planning: preparation of annual and quarterly adjusted product roadmaps and initiative plans with monetized customer sponsorship and commitment.

Talent Management: ensure cascading scorecard objectives are in place for all employees within the BU

Business Metrics & Tracking: Ensure the BU tracks and publishes financial and non-financial metrics that assist with decision-making and problem-solving across all functional groups and initiatives. Organize and present Quarterly Operations Reviews.

Numeracy: With a keen eye on the financials, you will ensure: Core KPI’s for the BU are being achieved for all Functional Departments. The BU recurring revenue renewals are received on time, without shrinkage by customer or value, and carry out recurring revenue price Increase implementation methods as required.

Ensure all invoicing and collections are in line with contractual and scope requirements. Ensure continuous Working Capital improvement. Organize and present Quarterly Business Reviews (“QBR’s”).

Business Metrics & Tracking: Ensure the BU tracks and publishes financial and non-financial metrics that assist with decision-making and problems solving across all functional groups and initiatives. Organize and present Quarterly Operations Reviews.

People Management: Oversee all functional managers and drive organization to achieve and exceed financial and non-financial QSR and Score Card objectives. Monitor performance of management team, coach and develop team, upgrade where necessary.

Customers: Executive sponsorship of key partners and key customers. Participate in the strategic development of all customers, shore up revenue and drive change requests and other product advancements.

Issue-Resolution: Hands-on participation in resolving day-to-day issues including those related to sales performance, sales opportunity management, sales forecasting, R&D capacity management, services resourcing, global coverage, customer support, and customer project delivery

Risk Management: identify risk and put in place remediation and mitigation plans.

• Account Management and New Sales Business Development
• The role will cover high-level P&L leadership, but in this case, a sales background is more of a priority
• Product Management & Marketing
• Strong analytical skills, in parallel with a strategic yet action-oriented mindset
• High-energy and sense of urgency
• High levels of curiosity; ability to investigate and learn quickly
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Team player with an outstanding ability to work with and through others
• Knowledge of the Supply Chain software space
• Degree-level education, MBA (asset)
• Ability to travel