Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Overview

Role/Job Title - Chief Operating Officer

• Hours - Full Time Position
• Holiday entitlement - 20 Days
• Closing date - 18th December 2026
• further info- https://kick.org.uk/careers/?et_fb=1&PageSpeed=off

KICK’S MISSION

We are a Christian Charity who aspire to see a generation of young people who will reach their God given potential; where communities have been socially impacted; and where spiritual change has transformed a nation. Our mission is to transform young people’s lives, with God's love, through sport and support . We do this through values-driven physical education, street dance, mentoring, chaplaincy in schools and community KICK Academies to impact a sense of hopelessness and give them a hope for the future and a joy in the present.

KICK work in Infant, Primary, Secondary, Pupil Referral Units, Private and Special Schools to deliver the following services with Christian values embedded throughout every session:

• PE National Curriculum - Transformational Street Dance
• Solutions Focused Mentoring - Schools based Chaplaincy

In all that we do, we seek to live out our values to encourage young people to be aspirational , to be compassionate in all circumstances, to deliver excellent quality sessions, and to be intentional in building relationships and sharing the gospel with young people every day and to show integrity in our decision making at all times. KICK are currently working with over 100 schools and have established 29 KICK Academies.

Role Purpose:

To build capacity for the growth of KICK. Bringing operational clarity and focus to operational

implementation of KICK’s strategic aims, overseeing and coaching key Directors. To assess and

enhance the efficiency of KICK through key resource management approaches. To innovate and

improve key functions within the organisation. It will be important that the applicant is able to

collaborate well with leaders as well as other key stakeholders in order to support the growth of KICK

in size and development.

We currently have some additional responsibilities which the Chief Operations Officer will hold during

an interim period. These responsibilities will have a focus on business development through sourcing

new schools, pitching KICK's services and securing new work in schools to extend KICK’s reach. It will

also involve sourcing new partnerships with churches through pitching sports ministry and securing

new KICK Academy provision within the local communities KICK deliver in.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

Operational Implementation

• Oversee and optimise operations, to review and improve efficiencies that can be made by the

organisation to ensure tight controls of finances, resources and contracts to meet budget,

targets and outcomes.

• Implements the strategic initiatives to execute KICK’s strategy and mission with smooth

execution.

• Leadership of the quality improvement plan, matrix managing various stakeholders to delegate

work and hold others to accountable to deadlines to ensure timely project completion.

• Project management of strategic projects, fundraising and operational priorities as allocated by

the CEO to improve organisational sustainability.

• Line Management and coaching of Directors to empower leaders to improve operations and

performance internally.

• Providing insight to human resources and recruitment as KICK continues to grow nationally.
• Establishing policies that improve and promote KICK’s vision, mission and culture.
• Visiting schools, churches and partners to observe and ensure high standards of delivery, and

relationship management

• Oversee external communications, developing it’s strategy and our social media presence to

grow a larger audience and reflect KICK’s mission enhancing the KICK brand.

Organisational Development

• Evaluating organisation performance and the recommendation of strategies to improve results

and outcomes.

• Assessing and enhancing the efficiency of both internal and external processes in line with the

KICK values.

• Planning for future budgets in line with the KICK strategy including setting

strategic targets and driving organisational growth.

• Manages mitigations towards reducing operational risks to ensure tight controls of finances,

resources and contracts to meet budget, targets and outcomes.

Innovation

• Manages operational aspects of market penetration
• Co-ordinates product manufacturing and delivery
• Enhances service delivery to facilitate both client acquisition and retention

Interim responsibilities – Business Development

• Sourcing new schools, Pitching KICK's services and securing new work in schools to extend

KICK’s reach.

• Sourcing new churches, pitching sports ministry and securing new KICK Academies with

churches to extend KICK’s mission.

Person Specification:

Proven Experience

• Degree in Business Administration or industry-relevant equivalent.
• Proven experience in a senior executive role.
• Experience of strategic planning and business development.
• Has broad practical experience across multiple professional disciplines, combining theory &

past practical experience for KICK’s practices with particular focus on key areas of operations.

• Experience of identifying new opportunities, considering market forces and customer needs.
• Experience of complex and multi-dimensional problem solving whilst having a clear knowledge

of the options, impacts, and risks when suggesting a resolution.

• Experience of accountability for Directors’ performance, ensuring tight controls of finances,

resources and contracts to meet budget, targets and outcomes.

• Experience of communicating with senior executive leadership in matters of strategic

importance. The applicant should have the ability to influence internal and external partners to

understand and accept concepts, practices and approaches of the job area.

Skills and Abilities

• Outstanding written and communication skills.
• A good understanding of IT packages and systems.
• A forward thinker with the ability to be proactive in improving current activities and processes.
• Ability to empower, motivate and lead others through supporting teams to succeed, investing

in the capabilities of staff and providing clear feedback.

• Effective in the ability to delegate and matrix manage Directors.
• Ability to show responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes whilst keeping a firm

focus on priority management.

Pay: £60,000.00-£62,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Free or subsidised travel
• Sick pay

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Richmond (Greater London, Greater London Region)