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 Peterborough
Situated in the east of England, around 75 miles north of London, Peterborough is a cathedral city on the River Nene. As a centre of new business, the region has seen a significant amount of growth and it's a good choice for those seeking Chief Operations Officer roles.
For much of Peterborough's history it led a quiet existence as a market town. When the abbey was re-classified as a cathedral in 1541, Peterborough became a city and started to expand.
The start of the Industrial Revolution, as well as the arrival of the railway, further boosted Peterborough's economy and by the mid-19th century, products like ironwork, bricks and elastic webbing were manufactured here.
A corn exchange was founded in 1860 and a beet sugar factory opened in 1926 - British Sugar maintains its headquarters in nearby Woodston, although production has moved to other locations.
In 1932, Perkins Engines was established to manufacture diesel engines and a variety of other industrial machinery companies also called the area home. Today, businesses in the manufacturing sector include Baker Perkins, Indesit and Peter Brotherhood.
The financial sector is also a thriving part of the local economy, with organisations like Norwich & Peterborough Building Society, BNP Paribas, Barclays Personal Investment Management, Diligenta, BGL and Churchill Insurance all having offices in Peterborough.
What's more, Peterborough is a hub for environmental industry and innovation, with companies like Natural England and the Environment Agency being based here.
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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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