Turn growing complexity into a business that works.

Permanent recruitment for Heads of Operations, Operations Directors, Chiefs of Staff and Chief Operating Officers at UK startups and scaleups.

Start with the work

Operations roles only make sense when the decision rights are clear.

A Chief of Staff, Head of Operations and Chief Operating Officer can all reduce pressure on a founder, but they do it in different ways. One may improve decision flow. Another may own service delivery, planning or the company operating system. We define the work first, then search for the title and background that fit it.

Typical mandates

Titles change. The work decides the level.

Chief of Staff

Head of Operations

Operations Director

Chief Operating Officer

Evidence we test

What needs to survive a proper conversation.

Operating clarity

Evidence of turning unclear ownership and informal routines into decisions, measures and dependable execution.

Cross company influence

The judgement to align teams without becoming an extra layer between the founder and the work.

Scale with control

Experience improving capacity, quality and margin while protecting the parts of the business that customers value.

Practical change

A record of making systems usable and earning adoption, rather than producing process for its own sake.

When the role is ready

Signals that the brief is worth writing.

Important decisions repeatedly return to the founder.
Growth is exposing gaps between teams, systems or customer promises.
Planning exists but ownership and follow through remain inconsistent.
The company needs greater operating control before the next stage of growth.

Our initial target

Three to five people worth meeting.

We target an initial shortlist of three to five screened and interested candidates within seven working days of an agreed brief and signed terms.

See the full shortlist standard

Useful answers

Before you brief the search.

Should we hire a Chief of Staff or a Head of Operations?

It depends on the work. A Chief of Staff often improves decisions and follow through around the founder. A Head of Operations usually owns a defined operating function. The brief should settle that before the title.

Which operations leadership roles does Search Studio recruit?

We recruit permanent Chiefs of Staff, Heads of Operations, Operations Directors and Chief Operating Officers for UK startups and scaleups.

Will candidates be screened before they are presented?

Yes. Shortlisted candidates have discussed the role, been assessed against the essential criteria and confirmed that they want to progress.

Other functions

Search across the leadership team.

Permanent operations leadership search for UK startups and scaleups.

Bring us the role. Leave with a clearer brief.

Book a discovery call