Chief Operating Officer – UK Construction & Fit-Out
£200,000 – £240,000 base + bonus + equity
Central London HQ | Full-time | Office-visible | Permanent
On behalf of one of the world’s largest construction and real estate firms, we are seeking an exceptional Chief Operating Officer to lead the UK commercial fit-out division, with a particular focus on high-spec office, hospitality, and residential environments.
This is a pivotal executive appointment at the heart of a Tier 1 organisation with an ambitious UK growth mandate. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will assume full operational leadership, driving both strategic and day-to-day execution across a complex, high-value portfolio. The role is based in the company’s Central London headquarters, with national travel as required.

Key Highlights:

• Equity participation: Shares issued post-probation, linked to a planned future liquidity event, offering significant six-figure upside potential.
• Transformation remit: You will lead operational transformation across people, systems, supply chain, and process – ensuring scalability, governance, and delivery excellence.
• Breadth of exposure: Oversight of full asset lifecycle – from new site delivery and refurbishments, to estate operations, maintenance systems, contract reviews, and financial performance.

Candidate Profile:

We are seeking a proven operational leader with a strong pedigree in the built environment – ideally from within commercial fit-out, high-rise residential, luxury hospitality, or large-scale workplace developments. You will bring:

• A track record of successfully delivering high-value construction or fit-out projects within complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Deep understanding of building regulations, health and safety, and operational readiness in high-footfall spaces.
• Proven leadership within a matrix or multi-site business, ideally with prior experience driving transformation across large teams and technical operations.
• Strong commercial acumen with comfort across financial reporting, systems implementation, subcontractor negotiation, and risk management.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and board-level communication skills.
• Academic background ideally includes an MBA and a degree in Construction, Engineering, Real Estate, or related disciplines.
• A stable, upward career trajectory within well-regarded organisations.
• A strategic mindset combined with hands-on delivery capability and the ability to build and resource high-performance teams.

This is a rare opportunity to shape and lead the UK arm of a global real estate powerhouse during a phase of high growth, innovation, and value creation. Please DO NOT apply if you had more than 2 roles in the last 5 years.
To Apply:
For a confidential discussion or to submit your CV, please contact:
ExecutiveSearch@owlrecruitment.co.uk
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £200,000.00-£240,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company car
• Employee mentoring programme
• Employee stock ownership plan
• Financial planning services
• Profit sharing
• UK visa sponsorship

Work Location: In perso

Please refer the Job description for details