My client- am ever growing Fashion Brand Licensing business, are looking to appoint into their senior leadership team in their Central London offices.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for the end-to-end operational performance of the business. This role oversees Sales Operations, Demand Planning, Trade Procurement, Logistics, and Fulfilment, ensuring the company delivers reliable service, efficient cost, and consistent execution across all channels.
The COO drives operational strategy, builds scalable processes, and leads the teams responsible for daily operational delivery.
Chief Operating Officer- The Role: Sales Operations
- Oversee order management, allocation, and customer service processes.
- Ensure accurate order entry, tracking, and fulfilment across B2B and eCommerce.
- Maintain strong communication with commercial teams to align demand, availability, timelines, and customer expectations.
- Improve workflow efficiency, order accuracy, and service levels.
- Implement and govern standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all sales support activities.
Demand Planning
- Lead the demand planning function to deliver a reliable, data-driven forecast.
- Coordinate with Sales, Product, and Supply Chain to align forecasts with market trends and business targets.
- Run the monthly demand and S&OP cycle, ensuring decisions are made and communicated to all stakeholders.
- Improve forecast accuracy, reduce variability, and drive better availability and inventory efficiency.
Purchasing
- Manage procurement of finished goods and trade items from suppliers.
- Ensure timely purchase order placement, tracking, and inbound coordination.
- Optimise supplier relationships and lead-time performance.
- Align procurement decisions with inventory strategy, demand plan, and budgeted commitments.
- Maintain visibility of supplier capacity, production windows, and delivery risk.
Logistics & Fulfilment
- Own the performance of all 3PL partners, warehouses, and transport providers.
- Drive productivity, throughput, and cost optimisation in B2B and B2C channels.
- Ensure service level agreements (SLAs) for shipping, picking, packing, returns, and delivery are achieved.
- Oversee inbound logistics, customs, and handover processes from factory to warehouse.
- Prepare the network for seasonal peaks, promotions, and large account deliveries.
Operational Strategy & Process Leadership
- Build and maintain an integrated operating model across Planning, Procurement, Logistics, and Sales Ops.
- Introduce performance management frameworks, KPIs, and clear governance.
Simplify processes, eliminate duplication, and improve data quality across systems. Lead operational readiness for new product launches, market expansions, or structural changes. Ensure strong cross-functional collaboration with Sales, Marketing, Product, and IT.
Team Leadership
- Lead a multi-disciplinary operational organisation across planning, procurement, logistics, fulfilment, and sales operations.
- Build capability, coach leaders, and develop succession plans.
- Establish a culture of discipline, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure teams have clear priorities and operate with a calm, structured cadence.
Key KPIs
- Forecast accuracy
- Service levels (On time Availability, OTIF, order accuracy, fulfilment time)
- Inventory availability and turns
- Logistics cost per unit
- Warehouse productivity and throughput
- Customer satisfaction for B2B and eCommerce
- Supplier on-time delivery
- Process adherence and operational stability
Chief Operating Officer- The Person:
- Minimum 15 years of relevant experience with at least 3-4 years of leadership experience.
- Proven senior leadership experience in operations, supply chain, or general management within consumer goods, retail, fashion, footwear, or FMCG.
- Strong background in demand planning, procurement, logistics, or fulfilment.
- Demonstrated ability to build, run, and improve end-to-end operational processes.
- Experience managing 3PLs, warehouses, and order management systems.
- An understanding and experience on long lead time and product sourcing.
- Excellent cross-functional leadership and communication skills.
- Comfortable operating in fast-moving, high-growth or transformation environments.
- Hands-on, structured, and able to simplify complex operational challenges.
- Preference will be given to someone from sportswear, fashion and footwear experience
Please send your CV to m.coote@peoplemarketing.co.uk.
If the e mail address is not displayed in this advert, then please contact People Marketing directly on 0115 922 3335 quoting the job reference number, and we shall supply you with the correct address.
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We regret that due to the high amount of interest that we receive for each of our vacancies, if you do not hear from one of our consultants within 5 days then unfortunately you have not been shortlisted for this role.