Chief Operations Officer

Get Golfing CIO is a charity dedicated to improving lives through golf. We are a thriving and innovative organisation operating 13 sites, serving over 7,000 members and welcoming more than 160,000 visitors each year. With a team of circa 500 people and annual revenues of approximately £26m, we reinvest all operating surpluses back into our venues, courses, the development of our people, and community-focused charitable initiatives local to each of our sites.

Our Head Office is based at Redlibbets Golf and Country Club in Kent. We generate revenue through a diverse range of activities including memberships, golf days, green fees, retail, events, functions, and food & beverage. We believe that “our courses are for golfers, while our clubhouses are for everyone”, a principle that underpins our approach to accessibility, community engagement, and commercial growth.

Our values are Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Enjoyment.

For more information, please visit: www.getgolfing.org

Role

Job Title: Chief Operations Officer

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer

Direct Reports: Group Chef Manager, Group Facilities Manager, Selected General Managers

Role Purpose

The COO will lead all aspects of clubhouse operations across Get Golfing CIO, with primary responsibility for food & beverage, facilities management, and clubhouse capital investment. The role will be instrumental in shaping and delivering a group-wide food & beverage strategy, driving operational consistency, improving commercial performance, and enhancing the overall customer experience across the estate. As a member of the Executive Team, the COO will contribute to the strategic direction and leadership of the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Food & Beverage Strategy & Performance

• Develop and deliver a group-wide F&B strategy aligned to organisational growth and customer experience objectives

• Drive revenue growth and margin improvement across all sites

• Oversee menu development, pricing, supplier strategy, and procurement

• Lead the Group Chef Manager to ensure consistency, quality, and innovation

• Establish and monitor KPIs (e.g., GP%, spend per head, labour ratios)

2. Clubhouse Operations & Experience

• Define and implement operational standards and service models across all clubhouses

• Ensure a consistent, high-quality customer experience across the portfolio

• Support and challenge General Managers to deliver operational excellence

• Develop playbooks, SOPs, and training frameworks

3. Facilities Management & Estate Oversight

• Lead the strategic and operational management of facilities across all sites

• Oversee planned and reactive maintenance programmes

• Drive improvements in asset condition, compliance, and safety

• Manage utilities strategy and cost efficiency initiatives

• Lead the Group Facilities Manager to deliver a proactive FM function

4. Capital Expenditure (Clubhouses)

• Develop and manage clubhouse-related capex programmes

• Ensure robust investment appraisal and prioritisation

• Oversee delivery of projects on time and within budget

• Align capex with brand, customer experience, and commercial objectives

5. Leadership & Governance

• Act as a senior leader within Get Golfing CIO, contributing to overall strategy

• Build and lead high-performing teams across central and site functions

• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration

• Work closely with CFO, CCO, and CPO to ensure aligned delivery

6. Financial & Operational Performance

• Own and manage operational budgets relating to clubhouse functions

• Deliver against agreed financial and performance targets

• Identify and execute opportunities for cost optimisation and revenue growth CIO

Person Specification: Chief Operations Officer, Get Golfing CIO

1. Experience

Essential

• Senior operational leadership experience (Director/COO level or equivalent)

• Proven track record in multi-site operations (hospitality, leisure, retail, or similar)

• Strong experience in food & beverage operations at scale

• Experience managing facilities / estate functions

• Demonstrable success in improving operational performance and profitability

Desirable

• Experience in leisure, golf, or member-based organisations

• Experience in a scaling or transformation environment

• Experience overseeing capex programmes

2. Skills & Capabilities

Strategic & Commercial

• Strong commercial acumen with ability to translate strategy into delivery

• Deep understanding of F&B economics and operational drivers

• Data-driven decision making

Operational Excellence

• Ability to design and implement scalable operating models

• Strong understanding of multi-site complexity

• Experience driving standardisation without losing local identity

Leadership

• Credible, visible leader with the ability to influence at all levels

• Experience managing both central teams and site-based leaders

• Strong coaching and performance management capability

Change & Transformation

• Experience leading change programmes

• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and building new functions

• Ability to bring structure and pace to a growing organisation

3. Personal Attributes

• Pragmatic and delivery-focused

• Hands-on but strategic

• High levels of ownership and accountability

• Strong relationship builder

• Passion for customer experience and hospitality

• Alignment with the social purpose of Get Golfing CIO