Advisory COO / Non-Executive Operations Advisor — UK
Operations
RemoteFractional Quest
United Kingdom£650-950/day
View Operations job
Advisory Operations Leadership
Advisory COO Jobs UK
Find advisory COO and advisory Operations Director roles across the UK. Premium advisory operations leadership positions with day rates from £650-£950.
1+
Advisory COO Roles
£800
Avg Day Rate
1
Remote/Hybrid
Updated 28 January 2026
Last Updated
Latest Advisory COO Jobs
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Advisory COO & Operations Director Jobs UK
1+ live advisory operations roles
Advisory COO Rates
Advisory COO Day Rate Calculator
Fractional COO Earnings
Calculate Your Potential Income
£950
£750Avg: £950£1400
2.5 days
1 day5 days
2 clients
14
Weekly
£4,750
Monthly
£20,568
Annual
£228,000
Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. COO UK average day rate: £950.
BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.
Who's Hiring
UK Companies Hiring Advisory COOs
Fractional Quest
The UK Advisory COO Market in 2026
The advisory COO market in the UK is growing as businesses seek strategic operational expertise without full-time commitments. According to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), demand for advisory operations roles has increased as companies navigate scaling challenges, operational efficiency initiatives, and organisational transformation.
Unlike interim COO roles, advisory positions focus on strategic counsel rather than operational management. Advisory COOs typically work with multiple clients simultaneously, providing high-value input on critical operational decisions.
When Companies Need Advisory COOs
Organisations typically engage advisory COOs for specific strategic situations:
- Scaling operations — Designing operational frameworks and processes for rapid growth.
- Operational due diligence — Assessing operational capabilities during M&A or investment.
- Board-level oversight — Providing independent operational perspective to boards and investors.
- Process improvement — Identifying and implementing efficiency gains across the organisation.
- Organisational design — Structuring teams and responsibilities for optimal performance.
- Leadership development — Mentoring operations leaders and building management capability.
Essential Skills & Experience for Advisory COOs
Operations Expertise
- • Scaling and growth operations
- • Process design and improvement
- • Organisational design
- • Supply chain and logistics
- • Quality and compliance
Advisory Capabilities
- • Board-level communication
- • Strategic planning facilitation
- • Team mentoring and coaching
- • Change management
- • Stakeholder alignment
Top UK Sectors Hiring Advisory COOs
| Sector | Typical Day Rate | Key Drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Scale-ups / Growth | £750-£1,100 | Scaling operations, team building |
| Private Equity | £800-£1,200 | Operational improvement, due diligence |
| Manufacturing | £700-£1,000 | Lean operations, efficiency |
| Professional Services | £650-£950 | Service delivery, capacity planning |
| Retail / E-commerce | £700-£1,000 | Supply chain, fulfilment |
Day Rates & IR35 Considerations
- Day rate range: £650-£950 standard, up to £1,200 for specialist engagements
- Monthly commitment: Typically 2-4 days per month for advisory roles
- IR35 status: Advisory roles often fall outside IR35 due to their consultative nature
- Retainer models: Some advisory COOs work on monthly retainers for ongoing availability
Career Path: Transitioning to Advisory COO Work
- Building deep expertise in operational scaling and improvement
- Developing frameworks and methodologies (EOS, lean, etc.)
- Building relationships with founders, investors, and boards
- Starting with 1-2 advisory clients while maintaining other income
- Gradually building a portfolio of 3-5 advisory relationships
Related Resources
Fractional COO Jobs
Part-time COO roles for portfolio careers
COO Salary Guide
Day rates and compensation benchmarks
What is a Fractional COO?
Understanding the fractional model
Hire a COO
Guide to hiring operations leaders
Interim COO Jobs UK
Full-time interim operations roles
Advisory CFO Jobs UK
Finance advisory roles
Authority Resources
- Chartered Management Institute (CMI) — Professional management body
- Institute of Directors (IoD) — Business leadership organisation
- CIPS — Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply
- HMRC IR35 Guidance — Off-payroll working rules
- IPSE — Association of Independent Professionals
IR35 Calculator for Advisory COOs
UK Tax Calculator
IR35 Take-Home Pay Calculator
See how IR35 status affects your earnings as a fractional executive
£800
4 days
48 weeks
Gross Annual: £153,600
Inside IR35
Umbrella company or deemed employment
- Gross Revenue
- £153,600
- Employer's NI
- -£5,962
- Income Tax
- -£43,616
- Employee NI
- -£4,786
Take-Home Pay
£98,036
Outside IR35
Limited company - salary + dividends
- Company Revenue
- £153,600
- Corporation Tax
- -£36,578
- Dividend Tax
- -£27,789
Take-Home Pay
£86,233
Being Outside IR35 Saves You
-£11,803
per year (-12.0% more)
BetaEstimates only. Consult a tax accountant. gov.uk/IR35
FAQ
Common Questions About Advisory COO Jobs UK
An advisory COO is a senior operations professional who provides strategic operational guidance and expertise on a consultative basis. Unlike interim COOs who take on full operational responsibility, advisory COOs offer high-level counsel on specific challenges such as scaling operations, process optimisation, organisational design, or operational due diligence. They typically work fewer hours but bring deep expertise to critical operational decisions.
Advisory COO day rates in the UK typically range from £650-£950 per day, depending on experience, sector expertise, and complexity of the engagement. Specialist areas like PE operational improvement or rapid scaling can command rates of £950-£1,200/day. Advisory roles often involve fewer days per month than interim roles, making them cost-effective for specific strategic needs.
Advisory COO engagements are typically structured around specific deliverables or time allocations (e.g., 2-4 days per month). The advisory COO might review operational strategy, attend board meetings, mentor operations leaders, assess process efficiency, or provide guidance on scaling challenges. Engagements can be ongoing retainers or project-based.
Advisory COOs provide strategic counsel without operational responsibility, typically working 1-4 days per month on high-level guidance. Fractional COOs take on part-time operational leadership (1-3 days per week), managing operations teams and processes. Advisory roles suit companies with capable ops teams needing strategic oversight; fractional roles suit those needing hands-on leadership.
Most advisory COOs have 15+ years of operations experience including prior COO, VP Operations, or Operations Director roles. Essential qualifications include experience with operational scaling, process improvement, organisational design, and board-level communication. Many have specific expertise in EOS/Traction, lean operations, or particular industry verticals.
The highest demand for advisory COOs comes from: venture-backed startups and scale-ups (scaling operations), private equity portfolio companies (operational improvement), established businesses undergoing transformation, and boards seeking independent operational oversight.
Advisory COO roles often fall outside IR35 due to their consultative nature, lack of day-to-day control, and project-based scope. However, each engagement must be assessed individually. Key factors include: no substitution restrictions, working for multiple clients, providing genuine advice rather than filling a role. Always obtain a status determination statement (SDS).
Advisory COO hiring focuses on expertise fit and chemistry. The process typically includes: initial discussion with CEO/founders about operational challenges, assessment of relevant experience and track record, discussion of working style and availability, and agreement on scope and deliverables. Decisions are often made within 2-3 weeks.
Yes, advisory COO relationships often expand. Many advisory engagements lead to: increased scope (from advisory to fractional), board positions (NED or advisory board), equity opportunities, and referrals. The advisory model is excellent for building a portfolio of strategic relationships.
Focus on: specific scaling outcomes achieved, process improvements delivered, team building and organisational design experience, board-level communication skills, and sector expertise. Highlight your advisory approach and how you complement existing teams rather than replacing them.
Meet the Expert
Written by a Practicing Fractional Executive
Dan Keegan
Founder & Fractional GTM Expert
With over 15 years of experience in executive leadership, go-to-market strategy, and business development, Dan brings real-world fractional expertise to help professionals navigate the executive job market.
Dan founded Fractional Quest after working as a fractional executive himself, understanding firsthand the challenges of finding quality opportunities and the value fractional leaders bring to growing businesses.
15+ Years Executive ExperienceFractional GTMStrategy & Growth
Prior executive experience includes
SONY
SonyO
OrangeH3G
HutchisonCurrent fractional client
1U
OneUp Productions1U
OneUp Productions
Gaming & Esports Production
Fractional GTM Lead3
New Markets Entered
GTM
Strategy Delivered
2-3
Days Per Week
The Challenge
OneUp Productions needed to expand into new international markets but lacked the in-house expertise for go-to-market strategy. They needed senior GTM leadership without the commitment of a full-time hire.
Our Approach
Engaged as Fractional GTM Lead to develop and execute market expansion strategy, working 2-3 days per week alongside the existing leadership team.
Cost Effective
Senior GTM expertise at a fraction of full-time hire cost
Immediate Impact
Hit the ground running with proven playbooks
Flexible Scale
Adjusted involvement as needs evolved
Fractional GTMMarket ExpansionGaming IndustryInternational Growth
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