Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Confidential Appointment
High‑Precision Engineering & Manufacturing
We are working on a confidential basis with a well‑established UK‑based specialist engineering and manufacturing business. The company has over 50 years of heritage and supplies high‑precision components and advanced engineered systems into aerospace, defence, space, medical and industrial markets. Operating within highly regulated, mission‑critical environments, the business is recognised for its engineering quality, technical credibility and long‑term customer relationships.
Following a multi‑year operational transformation programme, the organisation has significantly strengthened quality, delivery, governance and profitability, and is now entering a phase of accelerated and profitable growth, targeting sustained c.25% year‑on‑year expansion.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a hands‑on, commercially minded Chief Operating Officer (COO) to play a central role in scaling operations, embedding world‑class operational discipline and enabling growth. Reporting to the Managing Director and working closely with the Board, the COO will act as the integrating force across production, operations, people, safety, capital investment and growth enablement.
Key Responsibilities
Operational & Production Leadership
• Overall accountability for day‑to‑day operational performance across manufacturing and engineering.
• Senior escalation point for production and operations management.
• Ownership of monthly production targets aligned to budget and customer commitments.
• Driving throughput, efficiency, quality and delivery predictability.
Capital Projects & Scale Enablement
• Leadership of major capital expenditure projects from business case through delivery.
• Ownership of a rolling multi‑year capital investment plan aligned to growth ambitions.
• Ensuring infrastructure, systems and capacity are fit for scale.
People, Organisation & Health & Safety
• Overall leadership of organisational effectiveness and HR governance.
• Reduction of operational friction through clarity of accountability and cadence.
• Ownership of Health & Safety strategy, compliance and culture across the business.
Grants, Funding & External Programmes
• Identification and pursuit of grant and funding opportunities aligned to manufacturing and R&D.
• Oversight of grant delivery, reporting and compliance in conjunction with finance leadership.
Commercial Enablement
• Supporting commercial teams by ensuring operational feasibility of growth plans.
• Translating revenue ambition into executable operational capacity.
Candidate Profile
• Senior operational leadership experience within manufacturing, engineering or industrial environments.
• Strong production and operations credibility, ideally within regulated or high‑reliability sectors.
• Proven experience leading capital‑intensive scale‑up businesses (sub‑£50m revenue preferred).
• Demonstrable track record of supporting or delivering c.25% year‑on‑year growth.
• Hands‑on leadership style with the ability to operate from shop floor to board level.
• Experience with grants, funding programmes or R&D initiatives is advantageous.
Next Steps
This appointment is being managed on a strictly confidential basis. Further details will be shared following an initial discussion.