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 Southport
If you’re scouring maps of Devon, Dorset or Sussex searching for Southport, stop now. It’s most definitely in the northern half of England, about halfway between Liverpool and Blackpool. Like the famous towered resort, it’s a tourist town, with miles of beach and the usual seaside attractions like boating lakes, a pier, a promenade and a famous model village. However it has close links with the city to its south, not least because both are in Merseyside.
The town grew up during the Victorian period as a fashionable spa town, and much of the architecture remains on the front. As workers’ holidays got a foothold, the town, with its good rail links, became a popular destination for the workers of places such as Liverpool, Preston, Wigan and Bolton to spend a week or a weekend in summer. With little of a manufacturing base, the town’s existence was threatened in the 60s and 70s as tourists got the option of flying to Spain or Greece instead of staying in Britain, but it managed to survive where others failed by focusing on short breaks and holding events such as air shows, flower shows and festivals.
Southport is best known in the area as having a large population of affluent people. It’s a favourite home of Liverpool and Everton footballers, as well as other celebrities, particularly those from the North West. There’s a thriving night life, with a wealth of bars, restaurants and clubs. Although it is not a traditional industrial town, sometimes Chief Operations Officer positions do come up in the Southport area. Tourist towns do require a good deal of movement of goods to service both the local population and the visitors. There are frequently building and civil engineering projects in the region, too.
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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