41 Chief Operating Officer jobs in London

Chief Operating Officer

Salary:  Competitive

Location:  Fair Shot Café, London, WC2E 9AB

About Fair Shot

Fair Shot is a registered charity on a mission to become the UK’s leading neurodiversity employment model. We help young adults with learning disabilities and autism gain the skills and experience they need to secure sustainable jobs through our training café in Covent Garden and specialist employment programmes. While we continue to fundraise, our goal is to be as self-sustainable as possible. We achieve this by running our café, delivering events, supplying wholesale coffee, offering DEI workshops, and constantly seeking creative ways to raise awareness of our cause and diversify revenue streams.

Summary of the Position

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will act as the CEO’s strategic partner and trusted deputy, leading both the charitable programmes (training, neuro-inclusion, and employment support) and the trading operations (café, events, wholesale coffee, and partnerships).

This role combines operational leadership with commercial acumen, ensuring excellent programme delivery while also driving business growth, increasing sales, and shaping a commercial strategy that supports Fair Shot’s long-term sustainability. The COO will oversee finance, compliance, people and culture, and organisational development, while also building partnerships and identifying new opportunities for business development and income diversification. By fostering a high-performing, values-led culture and strengthening Fair Shot’s internal foundations, the COO enables the CEO to focus on external growth, partnerships, and brand leadership, ensuring the organisation continues to expand its impact while remaining financially resilient.

Ideal Candidate

We are seeking a senior leader who:

• Has experience at Director/COO/Deputy CEO level within a charity, social enterprise, or purpose-driven business.
• Is commercially minded, with proven experience in growing business, driving sales, shaping commercial strategy, securing partnerships, and spotting opportunities for business development.
• Can demonstrate a track record of managing multi-disciplinary teams and senior managers.
• Brings knowledge of charity governance, safeguarding, HR, and regulatory compliance.
• Has significant financial management experience across both charitable and trading activities.
• Can translate strategy into clear operational plans and deliver tangible results.
• Thinks laterally and creatively to diversify revenue streams and amplify impact.
• Understands fundraising models and income diversification, with an entrepreneurial mindset for sustainable growth.
• Is resilient, hard-working, emotionally intelligent, kind and empathetic, courageous, warm, purpose-driven, and a strategic leader.
• Is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, with experience embedding a values-led culture.

Benefits:

• One Friday off a month (in addition to 30 annual leave days)
• Flexible working arrangements (2 days per week working from home)
• Complimentary beverages at the Café
• Free staff lunch
• Organised social events with learners and staff
• DBS enhanced check provided
• Safeguarding vulnerable adults course provided
• Monthly work coach session for six months

Top Responsibilities

As COO, you will:

• Act as the CEO’s deputy, providing leadership continuity and ensuring the effective running of the organisation. 
• Lead and drive the day-to-day operations across both charitable programmes and commercial activities (café, events, wholesale coffee, and workshops), implementing our strategy and ensuring organisational goals are met.
• Oversee all financial management, reserves, compliance, and risk across the organisation.
• Manage senior leaders and foster a positive, inclusive, and values-driven culture.
• Drive organisational growth by strengthening infrastructure, growing the team, diversifying income, and scaling impact.
• Build strong relationships with funders, employers, and stakeholders, while also bringing in potential partners to enhance both impact and sustainability, and ensuring CRM systems support engagement and growth.

Fair Shot Commitment

Fair Shot is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of background.

Kappa Lab is a digital assets market maker committed to delivering 24/7 deep liquidity and enhancing market efficiency.

Our proprietary technology enables us to provide swift and effective solutions to our partners, while our sophisticated algorithms ensure efficient and consistent pricing across all trading venues. We fuel the Web3 ecosystem, driving innovation in pioneering projects with the professionalism and dedication of our exceptional team.

Join Kappa Lab as Chief Operating Officer (COO) , where you will act as the bridge between strategy and delivery. This role requires a leader with strong technical fluency and project execution skills to design operational processes, oversee technology development, and coordinate cross-functional teams.

As COO, you will play a central role in scaling Kappa Lab’s global operations , shaping how we deliver new products, expand into new markets, and embed technology into every aspect of the business. Your work will directly impact the firm’s growth trajectory and the future of our trading platform.

• Operations Oversight : Design and oversee operational processes, support licensing and regulatory requirements, manage third-party relationships, and coordinate the firm’s Book of Work.
• Technology & Project Management : Lead execution of core initiatives, build project management frameworks (dashboards, OKRs, sprints), deploy new workflow tools, and partner with developers to drive innovation and scalable impact.
• Market Intelligence : Monitor industry trends and product launches, translating insights into actionable inputs for strategy and product development.
• Administration & Reporting : Deliver a clear reporting and monitoring framework, coordinate with auditors, accountants, and regulators, and maintain oversight of budgets and resource allocation.

Required

• 5+ years in operations or project/program management, ideally in fintech, trading, or crypto.
• Strong technical fluency; able to work closely with engineers, data teams, and product owners.
• Proven track record of delivering complex, cross-functional projects under tight deadlines.
• Excellent organisational and execution skills; thrives in high-growth, fast-paced environments.
• Experience embedding automation or AI into processes is a strong plus.

Desirable

• Familiarity with trading systems, order-book mechanics, or crypto market infrastructure.
• Experience scaling operational frameworks for global technology or trading firms.
• Demonstrated ability to design and execute OKRs at an organisational level.

• The opportunity to shape the operational backbone of a global trading firm .
• Direct impact on the delivery of flagship products and technology initiatives.
• A chance to scale operations in new markets and product lines.
• A lean, entrepreneurial environment where execution and innovation are rewarded.
• A central role in building an AI-first proprietary trading firm .

Kappa Lab is an equal opportunities employer committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applications from all individuals and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, disability, or age. We value and respect the unique contributions each person brings, and strive to ensure everyone can thrive and grow in our organisation.

What We’re All About at Kroo
Kroo has a big vision: to be the first bank that is both trusted and loved by its customers. We are helping people take control of their financial future and achieve their goals while making a positive impact on the planet. At Kroo, doing what is right is in our DNA. We act with integrity, transparency, and honesty. We think big, dream big, and relentlessly pursue our goals. We like to be bold, break new ground, and we never stop learning. Most importantly, we are on this journey together.

How you’ll contribute:
We are looking for an experienced and visionary Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our executive team and play a critical role in shaping the future of Kroo. This is a Senior Management Function (SMF24) role under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR), responsible for ensuring the safe and effective running of the bank’s operations. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), you will be accountable for driving operational efficiency, ensuring regulatory compliance, and safeguarding customer outcomes.

The COO will lead key operational areas including payments, collections, financial crime operations, and customer support. As a member of the Executive Committee, you will bring extensive experience in UK retail banking operations and contribute to the strategic leadership of the bank. If you are a proven executive with strong regulatory knowledge and a passion for building scalable, resilient, and customer-centric operations, we would love to hear from you.

The Kroo is growing, and we would be delighted to hear from you if you are interested in joining us on our journey.

Requirements

About You
Although not essetnail, the following experience is highly preferred for the ideal candidate for this position:

Here’s what you’ll be doing:

• Develop, execute, and regularly review the bank’s operations strategy to align with business goals, governance standards, and UK regulatory requirements
• Lead customer and financial crime operations, including service delivery, complaints management, fraud prevention and detection, and lending arrears and collections
• Maintain accountability for outsourcing and third-party arrangements, ensuring compliance with PRA outsourcing and third-party risk management guidelines
• Oversee payment services operations to ensure reliable, efficient, and compliant delivery
• Ensure operational processes meet Consumer Duty requirements and deliver fair outcomes for customers
• Chair the Operations Committee and provide strong governance over day-to-day operational performance
• Oversee operational risk management, business continuity planning, and regulatory engagement
• Ensure clear accountability and timely reporting of operational risks to the CEO, Board, and Board Committees

Here’s what we are looking for ideally:

• Executive-level leadership experience in UK retail banking operations with a strong understanding of UK regulatory frameworks including Consumer Duty, outsourcing rules, and payment services regulation
• Extensive experience managing customer service, payment operations, financial crime prevention, and outsourcing within a regulated financial services environment
• Strong knowledge of FCA and PRA requirements, including SMCR accountability, operational resilience, and customer complaints
• Proven experience engaging with UK regulators, including managing regulatory reviews and responses
• Demonstrated ability to build scalable operational frameworks that deliver growth, resilience, and customer-centric outcomes
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at Board and Executive Committee level
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and vendor management skills with a continuous improvement mindset
• A track record of building and leading high-performing teams and promoting a culture of accountability and operational excellence

About Our Process:
We aim to conduct all interviews via Google Meet wherever possible. We can be flexible with the structure of our interview process if someone’s circumstances or timescales require it. Please note that there is no fixed order to the interviews, as scheduling will depend on availability. However, candidates will go through the following stages:

• Interview with the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer – 45 mins
• Interview with the Chief Product Officer and Lead Product Manager – 45 mins
• Interview with the Head of Customer Service Operations and Head of Financial Crime Operations – 45 mins
• Interview with the Chief Executive Officer – 30 mins

Benefits

What we offer:
At our cutting-edge fintech company, we know that attracting and retaining the best talent means offering top-notch benefits that help our employees thrive both in and outside of work. Check out what we currently offer:

• Generous holiday time: 25 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays, 1 Kroo bank holiday (June 24th), and 1 day off during the week of your birthday
• Personal days: 3 personal days to use as needed
• Employer-sponsored volunteer program: Up to 4 hours per month of employer-sponsored volunteer time
• Mental health support: Access to Spill, our mental health support partner
• Workplace pension: 5% employee contribution and 3% employer top-up
• Top-notch equipment: A MacBook laptop and support for home office setup if required
• Modern office: Access to our Central London workspace
• Cycle to Work scheme and Electric Car scheme
• Enhanced parental leave policy
• Full healthcare for you and your immediate family via Vitality
• Room for growth in a fast-paced, high-growth start-up environment

Hybrid Working:
At Kroo Bank, we have a hybrid and flexible policy that gives both individuals and teams freedom in using the office space to boost productivity. Our London office is a fantastic resource when used effectively, and candidates who can occasionally attend the office are a good fit for how we work. This role is full-time, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, with a mix of remote and office work. Regular commuting expenses to the designated office will not be reimbursed.

Diversity and Inclusion:
We wholeheartedly uphold our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Every employee is highly regarded, respected, and supported without any form of judgement or prejudice. We consider Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion as fundamental pillars guiding our path in all aspects of our bank. We also ensure that reasonable adjustments are made available to all candidates throughout the recruitment process.

Regulatory Approval:

This role is subject to approval by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMF24). The successful candidate must demonstrate that they meet the regulators’ fitness and propriety requirements, including integrity, competence, and financial soundness.

To all Recruitment Agencies:
At Kroo Bank, agency resumes are strictly prohibited. Do not submit agency resumes or forward them to our job advertisements or Kroo Bank employees. Be aware that Kroo Bank will not assume any responsibility for fees incurred due to unsolicited resumes. To ensure a fair and efficient application process, all candidates are kindly requested to submit their applications directly through the advertised platform. Please refrain from contacting the company or its employees via email, LinkedIn, or any other communication channels for inquiries or updates. Any attempts to contact us through these channels will not receive a response. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

THIS IS AN UNPAID ROLE

The Blockchain & Climate Institute (BCI) is an international volunteers-led think tank supporting and advocating the application of blockchain technology in the global fight against climate change.

We are looking to recruit a highly motivated and enthusiastic Chief Operating Officer / Assistant Director-General to join our Executive leadership team (based remotely). The ideal candidate is driven and experienced, and looking to make a difference in international climate change governance.

The successful candidate will support the Director-General and head up the Human Capital & Administration Division to discharge relevant operational management duties. With the support of Principal Executive Officers leading two branches (IT & Recruitment), your main responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Coordinating the operations of the volunteers' recruitment branch and IT support branch;
• Drafting and preparing all relevant internal policy documents;
• Developing and implementing operational policies and procedures under the instruction of the Director-General;
• Managing personnel matters among volunteers; and
• Managing other ad-hoc administrative activities, and project requirements as needed, etc.

Requirements

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent English writing skills, including the ability to develop effective working relationships, work flexibly across professional and operational boundaries, and communicate professionally with internal and external stakeholders at all levels;
• Proven ability to effectively multitask and prioritise work;
• Excellent problem-solving skills;
• The ability to follow instructions, respect authority and excellent reporting skills is a must; and
• Excellent attention to detail and proactive attitude is an indispensable skills required for this role

General & Specialist Knowledge

• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office; and
• Some knowledge on topics central to the BCI such as climate change, climate finance and blockchain technology preferred.

Education & Training 

• Educated to degree level (second degree and/or professional qualification preferable, but not essential)

Relevant Experience

• At least five years of experience working in a similar role is essential, preferably acquired in a not-for-profit environment, the experience can be varied;
• Excellent use of Microsoft Office package, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint is essential to perform in this role.
• Experience in building constructive relationships with stakeholders; and
• Experience in working independently and with teams to drive forward projects using own initiative.

Benefits

This is a great first step to take to gain experience for an industry change into climate action and/or emerging tech. It is also a great opportunity for those wanting to take some time to get involved in changing the world and work with like-minded people in a prominent global event with ministerial delegations and renowned thought leaders on climate change in the world.

Blockchain and other emerging technologies. Climate change and sustainability. These are two hot topic groups that have been headlining media outlets, dominating conferences & events, and gaining increasing traction in research and pilot projects. BCI is here as an expert platform to help governments, inter-governmental and regional organisations as well as relevant corporates to negotiate the complex landscape of emerging technologies for environmental good. We cement our expertise by putting in the hard work in researching, identifying and analysing the applications of emerging technologies so that informed decisions can be made by the stakeholders in the climate change and action network.

The BCI Communications team aims to tell the BCI story and our role in driving innovation to mitigate climate change and create a cleaner and greener future. As a think-tank and advocacy group for such a major issue, we understand the importance of being a credible expert and advisor which is why it is essential to demonstrate our research-driven approach to the relevant stakeholders.

Selection Process

As a voluntary organization, we are pleased to open the door for candidates who may not have the prior experience they need to start, progress, or switch their careers. To recruit the most suitable, talented, or potential new members out of the volume of applications received, it is the BCI’s policy to also consider inexperienced candidates to fill our voluntary unpaid roles as long as they can demonstrate the skills required in the written assessment. In the selection process, most candidates will be invited to complete the following assessment.

Section A: Verbal and Numerical Reasoning (20 multiple-choice questions)

Section B: Situation Judgement Test (20 multiple-choice questions)

Section C: In-Tray Exercise (An open-ended assessment relevant to the duties of the role)

Candidates who pass all three sections will be invited to attend a phone screening, first interview, and final interview online.

• Develop and refine the organization's strategic plan, ensuring alignment with market trends and competitive positioning.
• Oversee the implementation of strategic initiatives, monitoring progress, and making necessary adjustments.
• Drive operational improvements across all departments to enhance efficiency, productivity, and cost-effectiveness.
• Conduct market research, competitive analysis, and feasibility studies to identify new growth opportunities.
• Develop and manage the annual budgeting process, financial forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Lead and mentor a team of strategic planning and operations professionals.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and performance metrics to track progress against strategic objectives.
• Prepare comprehensive reports and presentations for the executive team and board of directors.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation throughout the organization.
• Manage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including investors and partners.

• MBA or Master's degree in Business Administration, Strategy, Finance, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in strategic planning, corporate development, and operations management.
• Proven track record of successfully developing and implementing strategic plans that have driven significant business growth.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and P&L management.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent leadership, team management, and interpersonal communication abilities.
• Experience in change management and driving organizational transformation.
• Proficiency in business analytics tools and software.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and execute tactically in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in the (Specific Industry, e.g., Technology, Finance, Retail) sector is highly advantageous.