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Fractional COO Jobs · Operations Leadership

Operations leadership that scales.

Fractional COO opportunities across the UK. Operations executives for scale-ups and growth companies. Part-time leadership roles with strategic impact. Day rates £800-£1,400, typically outside IR35.

What fractional COOs do

⚙️
Operations at scale
Fractional COOs bring systems thinking, process optimization, and operational excellence to rapidly growing businesses that need structure without bureaucracy.
👥
Team and culture development
From hiring frameworks to performance management, organizational design to culture development. Professional people operations when you need them most.
📊
Strategic execution
Bridge strategy and execution. Fractional COOs translate board-level vision into operational reality, ensuring strategic objectives become measurable outcomes.

Typical COO responsibilities

Day rate range
£800–£1,400
Typical engagement
2-3 days/week
Average duration
15-18 months
IR35 status
Outside IR35
Typically

How to work with a fractional COO

1

Operations assessment

Evaluate current operational challenges, team structure, process gaps, and growth constraints. Define the COO scope and impact areas.

2

COO sourcing

Access our network of 250+ pre-vetted fractional COOs with expertise in your sector, business stage, and operational requirements.

3

Operational planning

Shortlisted COOs assess your operational maturity and propose strategic improvements. Clear 90-day priorities and success metrics.

4

Leadership interviews

Operations-focused interviews with founders and leadership team. Cultural fit assessment and operational philosophy alignment.

5

Operations transformation

COO engagement begins. Operational excellence, team development, process optimization. Measured impact with ongoing support.

Looking for fractional COO opportunities?

Browse current fractional COO roles or get in touch to discuss your availability.

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Authority Sources · Independently Verified
McKinsey & Company

UK Operations Excellence Report 2026

"84% of UK scale-ups cite operational complexity as their primary growth constraint, creating demand for fractional operations leadership."

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HMRC

IR35 Off-Payroll Working Rules

"Intermediaries legislation applies to services supplied to clients through an intermediary, such as a personal service company."

View source
fractional.quest

UK COO Market Rate Index Q2 2026

"Analysis of 450+ COO day rates from operations leadership engagements across UK growth companies."

View source