A transformational executive leadership opportunity

Exceptional organisations don’t need leaders who simply maintain performance—they need leaders who can redefine it.

Our client is entering a pivotal stage in its evolution, with an ambitious strategy that will reshape how services are delivered, strengthen commercial performance and position the organisation for sustainable long-term growth. As part of this journey, we are seeking an inspirational Chief Operating Officer to lead one of the most significant transformation programmes in the organisation’s history.

This is far more than an operational leadership role. It is an opportunity to influence strategy at Board level, build a high-performing operating model and create an organisation that is agile, commercially focused and ready for the future.

If you thrive on leading change, creating momentum and inspiring people to achieve ambitious goals, we’d love to hear from you.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working as a key member of the Executive Board, the Chief Operating Officer will translate strategic ambition into operational excellence.

You’ll lead a complex, multi-site operation through an exciting period of transformation, driving improved commercial performance while embedding new ways of working that enable sustainable growth.

This role calls for a leader who can balance strategic thinking with operational execution—someone who can unite teams behind a shared vision, challenge the status quo and build an organisation that is fit for the future.

What You’ll Lead

You’ll be responsible for delivering a broad transformation agenda, including:

• Driving operational excellence that improves customer outcomes, commercial performance and profitability.
• Leading large-scale organisational change, creating a modern, integrated operating model that enables collaboration, consistency and scalability.
• Building a high-performing leadership culture where accountability, innovation and continuous improvement become the norm.
• Preparing the organisation for future commissioning opportunities, ensuring operational readiness for new programmes, services and evolving market demands.
• Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, embrace technology and simplify operations while maintaining exceptional service quality.
• Strengthening financial performance through improved productivity, contract performance and commercial decision-making.
• Developing future leadership capability, ensuring the organisation has the talent and structure required to support long-term growth.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re looking for an inspirational executive leader with a proven track record of leading complex service organisations through periods of significant transformation.

You’ll bring experience of delivering measurable improvements in operational performance, commercial outcomes and organisational capability, alongside the credibility to influence at Executive and Board level.

Most importantly, you’ll be recognised as someone who brings people with you—creating clarity, inspiring confidence and building cultures where high performance thrives.

You are likely to bring:

• Executive leadership experience within a complex, multi-site service environment.
• A strong track record of delivering business transformation, operational change and organisational growth.
• Commercial acumen with the ability to improve profitability while maintaining exceptional service delivery.
• Experience leading large operational teams through change, ambiguity and continuous improvement.
• The ability to translate ambitious strategy into practical, measurable delivery.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills across executive, board and external partners.
• A collaborative leadership style that develops people, empowers teams and builds lasting organisational capability.

Experience within employability, justice, skills, outsourced services or other commissioned public service environments would be advantageous, although we are equally interested in exceptional operational leaders from broader service-led organisations who have successfully delivered transformation at scale.

Why This Role?

This is a rare opportunity to leave a genuine legacy.

You’ll join an organisation with a clear strategic vision, ambitious growth plans and a genuine commitment to innovation. The successful candidate will play a defining role in shaping its future—leading transformation, delivering sustainable growth and creating an operating model that will underpin success for years to come.

If you’re an ambitious executive who is energised by change, motivated by impact and excited by the opportunity to shape the future of a purpose-driven organisation, we’d welcome a confidential conversation.