Chief Operations Officer
The chief operations officer (COO) of a business occupies the second tier below the CEO and/or chairperson, which means that they have incredible influence and responsibility in the company, especially if it’s a large one. It’s an executive position, serving on the board, but the specific responsibilities vary from business to business and sector to sector.
There’s usually just one chief operations officer in a production and operations company, but they will usually be on a par with other executives such as finance, marketing, innovation or specific disciplines that are unique to the company. What makes the COO different is that their role will be to oversee the actual workings of the business, from sourcing resources to manufacture, design and delivery. Needless to say, they’ll have a dedicated team and possibly several layers of management between themselves and the shop floor, but as far as the core operations of the business are concerned, the buck stops with the COO.
In short, their responsibility is to ensure the decisions made by the CEO or chair (or other body depending on the structure of the company) are implemented within the boundaries set by the other executives.
The skills required
Chief operations officer jobs are usually filled by people who are already at the top of their game in the businesses they currently work in, and will be senior persons with highly impressive CVs and track records of delivering successfully wherever they have worked. If you’ve overseen the implementation of complex operations systems that have delivered on corporate goals for your previous employers, there will always be COO jobs with your name on them.
At this level, you’ll also be well connected in your industry and in the wider business world, as you’ll often need to draw on those connections to get things done. You’ll be excellent at communicating the often complicated plans and aims of the company to your subordinates, who may themselves occupy executive positions, while remaining on the ball and able to deeply monitor progress to steer projects in the right direction.
Chief Operations Officer Jobs in Northumberland
The most northern of the counties in the north-east of England, Northumberland is bordered by Cumbria, County Durham and Tyne and Wear. It also shares a border with Scotland and has coastline on the North Sea.
Those looking for Chief Operations Officer roles in Northumberland will have a variety of opportunities to consider, particularly in the major settlements, such as Morpeth, Ponteland, Prudhoe and Alnwick. Parts of the county are also common choices for those who want to work in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but live away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Northumberland has a tumultuous history. It was occupied by the Angles and Romans, and as an important location in the wars between Scotland and England, the region is known for having more castles than anywhere else in England. Many of these are now popular tourist destinations, such as Lindisfarne, Alnwick and Bamburgh.
The modern economy of Northumberland is predominantly based in tourism, as well as the service sector and retail.
A few large companies have factories in the area. These include SCA Hygiene - once part of Kimberly-Clark, the company manufactures paper products like tissues - and Hammerite Products, which makes paints and paint-thinning products.
Other large companies include Eclipse Translations, Barter Books and Thompsons of Prudhoe. There's also the Sanofi Alnwick Research Centre - it specialises in the research and testing of pharmaceuticals.
Popular locations
COO jobs are needed now
Companies are always looking for executive level talent to come in and manage radical changes or oversee efficiency drives. These are quite often on an interim or short-term contractual basis, but other times you’ll be steering a company for many years. If you’re an experienced COO and are used to working at this level of pressure and responsibility, please register your details with us by clicking the link below.
If you’re running a business and are looking for a talented chief operations office, please call Cast UK today on 0333 121 3345 and speak to one of our consultants. We only deal with professional level talent, and we’re sure to be able to bring you a superb shortlist.
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