Chief Operating Officer – Student Living

We are working with a fast-growing, vertically integrated operating platform within the living sector to appoint a Chief Operating Officer. This is a genuinely broad, hands-on operational leadership role, reporting directly to the CEO, and working closely with the founder shareholders, you’ll take ownership of operations across a multi-site portfolio, spanning several core business functions.

What you’ll be doing:

• Owning day-to-day operations across a multi-site, asset-heavy portfolio
• Driving cost discipline and efficiency programmes tied directly to asset performance
• Setting and monitoring KPIs across all business functions
• Leading compliance, risk management, and governance standards across every site
• Unifying previously siloed functions under a single operational structure
• Building and developing internal talent, with a strong focus on succession planning
• Reporting directly to the CEO and Board on performance, risk, and strategic opportunity

What we’re looking for:

• A track record running multi-site, operationally intensive businesses within the living sector or a comparable operational environment
• Strong financial acumen, comfortable owning budgets, NOI targets and cost reduction programmes
• Proven ability to integrate and lead multiple departments under one structure
• A governance-first mindset, with experience embedding compliance and risk frameworks
• A genuine interest in developing people and building internal capability, not just process
• Comfortable operating in a founder-led business with high visibility and accountability

This is a rare opportunity to shape the operational backbone of a business at a pivotal stage of growth, with real influence over strategy, culture, and long-term value creation. Contact Alistair Carter on 020 7318 1774 or email at

…