Chief Operating Officer, Zurich

Role: Chief Operating Officer
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Salary: CHF 180,000 – CHF 270,000 gross per annum
Regular travel to Western Europe
 
Overview and Opportunity
 
An exceptional opportunity to join a highly successful private family as Chief Operating Officer, based in Zurich, with regular travel to Portugal. 
 
Job description
 
The COO will provide the structure, oversight and operational leadership required across the family’s residences, people, travel, projects, financial administration, suppliers and wider professional network. The role will also work closely with the family’s private foundation and commercial interests, ensuring that activity across these areas is properly coordinated and aligned.
 
This is a hands-on COO position within a private family environment, rather than a traditional corporate COO role. The successful candidate will be expected to operate at both strategic and operational level — setting direction and improving systems while also being prepared to personally take ownership of issues and ensure they are resolved.
 
The role will suit someone who is commercially minded, highly organised and comfortable operating with significant autonomy and discretion.
 
Main Responsibilities:
Operational Leadership & Strategy

• Take overall responsibility for the effective operation of the family’s private office, residences and associated activities.
• Develop and implement an effective operational strategy across the family’s European footprint.
• Establish appropriate systems, processes, reporting structures and governance to improve efficiency and visibility.
• Act as the central point of coordination between the family, household teams, advisers, foundation and commercial interests.
• Anticipate requirements, identify potential issues and ensure priorities are addressed proactively.
• Provide the family with clear visibility across operations, projects, expenditure, resources and upcoming commitments.
• Drive continuous improvement across the family’s operations without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Take ownership of complex operational issues and see them through to resolution.

Residences & Property Operations

• Oversee the operation and readiness of multiple private residences across Western Europe.
• Manage property maintenance, suppliers, contractors, inventories, security arrangements and operational projects.
• Oversee significant property improvements, refurbishments and other capital or operational projects where required.
• Ensure appropriate standards, systems and processes are in place across all residences.
• Coordinate external advisers, contractors, property managers and specialist suppliers.
• Maintain oversight of budgets, timelines and deliverables across property-related projects.

People & Team Leadership

• Lead, develop and coordinate the family’s domestic and operational teams.
• Establish clear responsibilities, reporting lines, schedules, service standards and performance expectations.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and development of key household and operational personnel.
• Build an effective culture of accountability, discretion and high service standards.
• Manage sensitive interpersonal matters and ensure effective communication across different teams and stakeholders.
• Determine when additional resource or specialist expertise is required.

Financial & Commercial Oversight

• Maintain senior oversight of operational budgets, cash flow, expenditure and financial commitments.
• Work closely with accountants, banks, lawyers and external financial advisers.
• Review and approve operational expenditure within agreed parameters.
• Ensure appropriate financial controls, approval processes and reporting are maintained.
• Provide concise management reporting to the family covering expenditure, budgets, upcoming commitments, projects and key decisions.
• Review supplier relationships and commercial arrangements to ensure appropriate value, service and accountability.
• Maintain a forward-looking view of operational and financial requirements.

Foundation & Commercial Interests

• Act as a senior operational liaison between the family and wider commercial interests.
• Coordinate with executives, advisers and professional teams across these organisations where appropriate.
• Ensure information, actions and decisions are communicated effectively between relevant parties.
• Support the family in progressing strategic and operational priorities across their wider interests.
• Build and maintain a strong network of trusted professional, institutional and service-provider relationships.

Governance, Systems & Risk

• Introduce and maintain appropriate operational policies, procedures and approval frameworks.
• Ensure key information, documentation, contracts, schedules and operational records are properly maintained.
• Identify operational risks and put appropriate mitigation measures in place.
• Maintain strong confidentiality and discretion across all family, financial and professional matters.
• Ensure the family has appropriate visibility and control over key operational decisions and commitments.

Ideal Candidate:

• The ideal candidate will have 10+ years’ senior operational leadership experience, with a proven track record of managing people, budgets, complex operations and multiple stakeholders in a high-trust environment.
• Proven senior-level operational leadership experience.
• Experience managing multiple teams, locations, suppliers and external advisers.
• Strong financial literacy, including budgeting, cash flow and management reporting.
• Proven people leadership and recruitment experience.
• Experience overseeing property, projects, travel and complex logistics.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to negotiate with suppliers and service providers.
• Experience implementing operational systems, processes and reporting structures.
• Excellent organisational and project-management skills.
• Strong stakeholder-management and communication skills.
• Ability to operate confidently with principals, senior advisers and professional teams.
• High level of discretion, integrity and emotional intelligence.
• Comfortable working autonomously and making decisions without excessive supervision.
• A practical, hands-on approach with the ability to move between strategic oversight and operational detail.
• Fluent/native-level English and French essential.
• Swiss / Zurich experience advantageous.

Benefits: 

• Salary: CHF 180,000 – CHF 270,000 per annum, depending on experience
• Zurich-based
• Regular travel across Western Europe
• Long-term senior leadership position within a private family environment
• Responsibility across multiple European residences and operations
• Opportunity to work across private family operations, foundation activity and wider commercial interests
• Highly confidential and trusted working environment

To apply for this role, please send your CV to: andrew@achieveprofessionals.com