Job Description

Chief Operations Officer (Interim)

Location: Remote UK
Status: Permanent, Full Time
Package: Competitive Salary, Remote/Home Working (with one-off allowance), Flexible Working, Development & Opportunity (Personal & Technical), Private Medical (Optical & Dental options), Matching Contributory Pension, 25 Days Leave (Buy & Sell Scheme), Life Insurance, Referral Scheme, Discretionary Bonus, Benefits Hub.

Why we\'re hiring a Interim COO? We are hiring for this role on a 3 Month basis with the possibility of the role extending.
The Chief Operations Officer (COO) is responsible for the strategy, planning, development and management of a world-class global Operations team - a group of client-facing and internal functions that support multiple market facing Business Units. One of the COO primary objectives is to closely match operations capacity/capability to BU demand to avoid staff under-utilization or resource constraints. You will play a key role in developing the capabilities of your leadership team into a cohesive high performing team.

Who\'s Instem? Well, we\'re a global provider of bespoke industry leading software solutions and services, which facilitate the pre-clinical, and clinical phases of the drug discovery process. We have over fifteen products in our portfolio, used by over 700 pharmaceutical clients (including all the top 20!)

Instem is a unique, solutions-based organisation. We\'ve doubled in size over the last 3 years through new business and product enhancement, but also via acquisition. Our 5-year growth plan is progressive, and we need you to help us reach that next level!

What\'s the culture/environment like? For a global business of over 500 staff, we very much have a family feel. You\'ll be part of a friendly, communal, solution based, flexible environment, where you\'ll feel empowered, valued and accountable. We\'ll invest in you as a person and encourage you to take part in companywide workshops for wellbeing, mental health, critical conversations, and strengths.

What are you responsible for?

o Work jointly with the other members of the Executive team to develop and implement company-wide business strategy and plans.
o Develop and implement the strategy and plans for Operations, including the preparation and management of operational budgets, forecasts and investment proposals.
o Develop, support and sponsor proposals for additional revenue generating solutions and services.
o Develop, review and report on key metrics, implementing continuous improvement initiatives to ensure we meet or exceed our goals.
o Assist your leadership team in defining key performance indicators for their teams, monitoring progress towards goals.
o Be involved in implementation of new technology and innovative solutions that can enhance the company\'s operations, streamline processes, and improve efficiency.
o Ensure our portfolio of software products continue to advance in line with technology trends, the needs of the BUs, clients and wider market.
o Implement strategies to retire end-of life solutions while minimizing client inconvenience.
o Maintain and enhance our 98%+ client retention rates and high levels of client satisfaction while continuing to build our substantial recurring revenue.
o Ensure our client and internal projects meet their time, quality, profitability/cost and cashflow targets.
o Communicate widely internally and externally, being an ambassador for Instem\'s capabilities and strengths, benchmarking our performance against other industry leaders and continually identifying ideas and opportunities for further improvements.
o Regular monitoring and measuring of the priorities, providing coaching and guidance to team members as required.
o Active involvement in strategic/ key account and partner management/relationships
o For matters requiring approval, develop relevant reports, models and investment cases, presenting as appropriate to the Board, Executive Team or Business Unit Leadership
o Review and approve cost estimates, human resources plans and significant project plans.
o Coordinate and collaborate widely and openly across the business to establish and implement business and operations objectives.
o Build a cohesive short, medium term plans in line with the long-term operations strategy.
o Drive key change and transformation initiatives across Operations.
o Identify and implement opportunities to increase process and product harmonization to simplify and lower cost of ownership for Instem and our clients.
o Coach, mentor and direct operations management and staff, monitoring and appraising the performance of departmental functions and ensuring the necessary coordination between activities.
o Coordinate activities of the assigned departmental functions with those of the business units. Seek mutual agreement on opportunities and issues involving coordination.
o Ensure that duties, responsibilities, authority and accountability of all direct reports are defined, understood and implemented.
o Establish/ manage out-sourced relationships to improve cost, fulfil specialist activities or address peaks in resource demand.
o Adherence to the Company\'s Quality Management System to ensure that all work is handled Securely, Professionally and Diligently.

Driving Results:

o The ability to make timely, sound judgements in uncertain and changing situations; makes calculated improvements and benchmarks towards the best.
o Proactively seeks to improve processes and implement best in class solutions, raising quality and productivity in a calculated way.
o Ability to structure, analyze, and solve complex business problems, as well as deliver impact against concrete business goals.
o Goal-oriented with comfort in setting measurable goals for others and him/herself.
Strategic Thinking:
o Ability to translate broad corporate/business strategies into a clear, compelling Operations vision and to set strategies that guide sound commercial development.

Leading People:

o Demonstrates inspirational leadership skills in a fast-growing organization.
o Drive a culture that values, recognizes and generates high performance, as well as organizational commitment by setting direction, rewarding achievements and encouraging others to take initiative.
o Be recognized as someone who takes decisive action in challenging situations and who will find new ways to achieve results where others might give up.
o Ability to generate and sustain trust and credibility by delivering results with integrity and ethical behaviour, and recognizing and rewarding honest and ethical behaviour in others.
o Establishes clear expectations, sets objectives and brings multiple parties together to drive key initiatives.
o Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills.
o Flexible work style - able to multitask, confident to work within an ambiguous, fast-moving innovative environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions.
o Excellent employee relations, communication and engaging presentation style. Able to garner trust and partner with a dynamic leadership team.
o High intellectual curiosity and analytical skills; possesses the desire to learn.
o High energy levels and a willingness to travel both domestically and internationally.

Skills you\'ll need:

o Educated to at least degree level, probably in a scientific, technical or management discipline.
o Minimum 10 years\' senior operational management experience in a technology/ services supplier to life sciences R&D, operating in a multi-location, ideally international environment leading teams of at least 200 people.
o Proven background and understanding of the operations within software development and SaaS delivery.
o Previous and successful experience leading an organization experience rapid growth is highly desirable.
o Extensive managerial experience of multi-disciplinary teams and well-developed management skills - both principles and people.
o Sound administrative and reporting skills.
o Proven ability to recruit, train and motivate personnel to deliver high quality products and services, profitably in a growth environment.
o Involvement in post-acquisition integration highly desirable.

Daily, millions of lives are improved by the Instem technologies and services that have been deployed by our clients. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to help save and prolong people\'s lives, by doing what you do best!

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