Chief Operating Officer Location: Derby / Derbyshire Up to £75,000 Basic OTE Executive Benefits The Opportunity We are a well-established British luxury manufacturing business with a strong heritage of craftsmanship, quality, and product excellence. Operating within a vertically integrated model, manufacturing and operational excellence sit at the heart of our identity and future growth strategy. As the business enters a significant phase of operational transformation and modernisation, we are seeking an exceptional Chief Operating Officer to lead the next stage of operational development. This is not a traditional oversight role. We are looking for a highly engaged, hands-on operational leader who can bring structure, pace, accountability, and proactive problem-solving across a complex manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will play a central role in strengthening operational performance, improving planning and workflow efficiency, modernising infrastructure and systems, and building a scalable operation capable of supporting long-term growth. Initially, the role will focus heavily on manufacturing operations, production performance, planning, and operational alignment, while also providing leadership across wider operational functions including systems, facilities, infrastructure, and operational support services. The Role As COO, you will take ownership of operational performance, efficiency, and infrastructure across the business, with particular focus on: Manufacturing performance and operational stability Production planning and workflow efficiency Operational scalability and readiness for growth Workforce planning and resource optimisation Waste reduction and efficiency improvement Operational quality and right-first-time performance Cross-functional operational alignment Building a high-performing operational culture This role requires both strategic leadership and exceptional operational execution. You will be a visible presence within the business, comfortable operating at both strategic and detailed operational levels. Key Responsibilities Operational Leadership Lead and integrate operational functions across the business Drive operational performance, efficiency, and delivery standards Build a scalable operational structure to support future growth Align operational priorities with commercial demand and customer expectations Embed a culture of accountability, ownership, pace, and continuous improvement Lead operational KPI management, reporting, and performance visibility Manufacturing & Production Operations Lead all aspects of production and manufacturing performance Improve operational flow, efficiency, and departmental coordination Reduce downtime, inefficiencies, and reactive disruption Improve labour utilisation, workflow balancing, and operational productivity Identify operational risks proactively and drive timely resolution Strengthen operational visibility, reporting, and decision-making capability Planning, Forecasting & Operational Alignment Develop robust production planning and forecasting capability Improve planning accuracy, schedule adherence, and workflow coordination Align operational plans with sales demand, production capacity, workforce availability, and material supply Work closely with Commercial and Finance teams to improve forecasting discipline and cross-functional planning Quality & Continuous Improvement Drive operational quality improvement across manufacturing processes Embed a right first time culture across operational teams Reduce operational waste, rework, inefficiencies, and repeat quality issues Strengthen accountability for quality ownership within operational leadership teams Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, consistency, and operational standards Workforce & Leadership Capability Lead workforce planning to support future operational growth Develop stronger leadership capability across operational management teams Coach and support operational leaders to improve accountability and performance Build a proactive, engaged, and solutions-focused operational culture Operational Infrastructure & Systems Provide leadership across operational systems, infrastructure, facilities, and support services Support the modernisation of operational reporting, automation, and systems capability Contribute to future operational systems and infrastructure planning Ensure facilities and infrastructure support operational reliability and efficiency Investment & Operational Readiness Support operational investment planning and infrastructure development Ensure capital expenditure decisions are commercially justified and operationally effective Balance short-term operational priorities with long-term sustainability and modernisation objectives About You Experience Significant senior operational leadership experience within manufacturing, luxury, retail, consumer goods, product-led, or related environments Proven track record of improving manufacturing performance and operational efficiency Experience leading operational transformation and continuous improvement initiatives Strong background in production operations, planning, workflow management, and operational leadership Experience operating within complex, fast-paced manufacturing environments SME, owner-led, or vertically integrated manufacturing experience would be advantageous Capabilities Strong operational and strategic leadership capability Excellent organisational discipline and attention to detail Commercially aware with strong financial understanding Strong planning, workflow, and problem-solving capability Comfortable balancing immediate operational delivery with long-term improvement initiatives Ability to influence effectively across all levels of the organisation Personal Style Highly driven, hands-on, and operationally focused Pragmatic, resilient, and solutions-oriented Calm under pressure and comfortable operating within transformational environments Strong people leader with high emotional intelligence Visible, collaborative, and highly engaged Structured, disciplined, and action-oriented Passionate about operational excellence and continuous improvement Whats on Offer Executive salary package Performance-related bonus Car allowance / executive benefits package Pension contribution Life assurance Generous holiday allowance The opportunity to play a pivotal role within a respected and evolving British manufacturing business This is a rare opportunity to take on a highly influential leadership role where operations sit at the centre of business performance, transformation, and long-term growth.