Compliance & Business Operations Manager
This is an opportunity to join COEL in a pivotal operations role at the heart of how the company is run, controlled and assured. It’s varied, hands‑on and visible – the kind of role where you can genuinely make things work better, week by week, while helping to build the infrastructure that supports the People agenda.
* Salary: £40,000 to £43,000 (dependent on experience)
The Compliance and Business Operations Manager provides the organisational ‘spine’ of COEL – ensuring Board governance is robust, compliance obligations are met, contracts are properly controlled, and core operating disciplines are sustained without unnecessary bureaucracy. The role also enables consistent HR support, effective partnership with the culture team, and the development of the One COEL concept, helping leaders embed the People strategy across the business.
Working closely with the Managing Director and senior leadership, the role balances structure with pragmatism across governance, assurance and people-related operating disciplines. It will suit a highly organised, confident professional who enjoys variety, autonomy and influence — bringing clarity, grip and order to complex environments, and being trusted to spot risks early, simplify processes and drive follow‑through.
You’ll be the person who creates a calm operating rhythm behind the scenes — building simple tools, routines and standards that help teams move faster with less friction. There’s plenty of scope to improve how things are done, shape ways of working, and take on stretching projects as COEL continues to evolve.
Purpose of the Role
The role exists to strengthen COEL’s governance, compliance and operational discipline by:
* Providing reliable Board and company secretariat support
* Owning and maintaining the compliance register and assurance cadence
* Bringing grip to contract lifecycle governance (non‑legal)
* Supporting the company’s operating rhythm, information management and core business systems
* Providing operational support to the People agenda (e.g., enabling HR processes and documentation, partnering with the culture team, developing and embedding the One COEL concept, and supporting consistent use of the People strategy).
The role is specifically designed to improve control and assurance while avoiding unnecessary complexity or duplication of leadership accountability.
About you:
Experience & Capability
* Strong background in governance, compliance, operations or business administration
* Experience supporting Boards or senior leadership teams
* Confidence managing registers, evidence packs and structured reporting
* Strong written communication, particularly minutes and concise summaries
Skills & Attributes
* Highly organised, reliable and discreet
* Comfortable holding boundaries and escalating issues
* Pragmatic, solutions‑focused mindset
About COEL:
COEL is a well‑established commercial design and build, fit out business based in Cambridge, delivering inspiring spaces that challenge conventional thinking, elevate employee experience and transform workplaces into hubs of innovation and collaboration across the region.
The company combines strong delivery capability with a reputation for professionalism, long‑standing client relationships and high repeat business. COEL operates with the discipline of a mature business while continuing to evolve its systems, governance and operating model to support sustainable growth.
Strong governance, compliance and operational control are central to how the business protects value, manages risk and enables people to do their best work.
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