Chief Operating Officer in Sheffield

Job description

Parkinson Lee Executive Search are the retained partner in the appointment of Chief Operating Officer for a high growth, global manufacturing and distribution business targeting £100m turnover in the next few years.

With operations across Europe, North America and Asia, the business is a market leader in its sector and has built a strong reputation for service, customer care, and supply chain excellence. It now seeks a proven, commercially minded operational leader to join its senior team and help drive the next stage of its growth journey.

The Opportunity:

This is a pivotal, board-level appointment, offering wide-ranging responsibility across operations, supply chain, logistics, customer delivery, and commercial execution. The successful candidate will act as a key interface between commercial, sales, and operational performance.

This role requires an experienced professional who has operated at Director level in a £50–£100m turnover international business and understands how to scale, optimise, and lead with autonomy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee all operational functions day to day and deliver the opportunity for growth over the 3-year plan
• Develop and deliver a group-wide stock holding strategy that balances working capital, growth, and customer service
• Lead global supply chain operations, including ocean freight and 3PL partners across Europe and North America
• Build strong cross-functional relationships, particularly with sales and commercial leadership
• Take ownership of strategic supplier relationships
• Drive delivery excellence — treating service and customer satisfaction as non-negotiable
• Lead pricing discussions, commercial contract negotiations, and long-term planning
• Influence across the senior team with a balance of commercial insight and operational control

The Candidate:

We are seeking a confident and experienced operator with deep commercial awareness and a proven ability to lead complex, international supply chains. You will be a trusted advisor and business partner with the founder Managing Director and will take ownership of all strategic operational relationships.

Key requirements:

• Senior leadership experience in a sales-led, product-based business with international supply chain complexity
• Strong understanding of warehousing, logistics, purchasing, delivery, and customer service functions
• Proven commercial acumen including contract negotiation, pricing, and stock strategy
• Experience managing multi-country operations and supplier relationships in the far east
• Gravitas, credibility, and a customer-first mindset
• Background in a £50–100m turnover business, ideally with international sites and strong year-on-year growth
• On-site presence essential — this is a highly visible and relationship-driven role

The Offering:

• A career-defining opportunity to shape the next phase of growth for a dynamic business
• High levels of autonomy, ownership, and executive influence
• A strong, experienced team with clear scope to evolve the structure over time
• Competitive six-figure base salary, performance bonus, and comprehensive benefits
• International travel to key operations and suppliers (minimum once per quarter)

Location: South Yorkshire & Derbyshire (On-site, Monday–Friday)

Package: Six-figure base salary + Bonus + Benefits

International Travel: Quarterly Global Travel including Europe, US, and Far East

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Sheffield

Type of Contract

Part-time jobs

Published at

01-08-2025

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English