Chief Operating Officer

London | On-site | Engineering & Consultancy

SF Search Partners are supporting the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer to join the board of a fast-growing engineering and consultancy business headquartered in London.

This is a critical hire for an experienced, hands-on operator who thrives in pace-driven, project-led environments and brings strong commercial and delivery discipline.

The Opportunity

• Board-level COO role with a mandate to scale the business
• Strong focus on customer service, mobilisation, and delivery excellence
• Operating across a diverse customer base including Local Authorities, Social Housing providers, and NHS Trusts

The Business

• Engineering and consultancy model successfully applied into the Public Sector space
• Design and build capability with strong margins relative to the sector
• Growth mindset embedded across the leadership team - speed, efficiency, and execution matter
• Likely private equity involvement, or well-suited to a PE-backed operating model

The Person

This role will suit a confident, commercially astute operator with:

• Proven experience scaling project-led, design & build or engineering businesses
• Strong exposure to multiple concurrent projects in fast-paced environments
• A hands-on leadership style with pace, urgency, and decisiveness
• Deep understanding of margin management, delivery risk, and operational efficiency
• Experience from commercial fit-out, offices, or similar D&B environments highly regarded
• Respect for existing culture, paired with the confidence to drive change
• Ideally experienced in, or highly credible for, PE-backed growth journeys

This is a rare opportunity to step into a true growth COO role.