Interim Chief Operating Officer for Retail Network Performance
Spain·Consumer & Retail·Multi-site retail and distribution· Madrid·Posted 25 September 2026
Applications close 3 December 2026
Multi-site retail and distribution
Partner-sourced
Sourced through a partner search firm or the sponsor's own nomination committee, and verified before listing.
The problem this seat exists to solve
A retail network has inconsistent store performance, excessive operating variation and weak visibility of the causes. The COO will improve execution across the network while ensuring service standards, labour deployment and inventory decisions support store-level economics.
Start with the network evidence
You will segment locations by profitability, customer demand, operating issues and potential for improvement. First month: establish a location-level performance baseline and identify priority interventions.
Change day to day execution
- Reset store operating standards, management routines and escalation for recurring service failures.
- Align staffing, inventory and replenishment decisions with actual demand and local operating requirements.
- Coach regional leaders and clarify accountability for store performance and implementation of changes.
Decide where to invest
You will recommend targeted investment, format changes or network adjustments using evidence rather than uniform cost cutting.
Pilot before scaling
1. By day 90: pilot revised operating routines in a representative set of locations.
2. By month six: demonstrate measurable improvement in contribution, stock availability or productivity and scale successful practices across the network.
Operating leadership and appointment scope
The role requires COO or senior multi-site operations experience, store economics literacy and evidence of leading regional teams through operational change.
Additional useful experience includes international retail market experience and responsibility for networks combining owned and partner-operated locations.
The role carries executive delivery responsibility within an agreed budget and delegation. It reports to the CEO, or to the board where the appointment is for CEO. Major decisions follow the organisation’s reserved matters.
An initial six to nine months is envisaged, normally four to five days a week, including diagnosis and an orderly handover. Start date, remuneration, travel and on-site attendance will be agreed for the appointment.
Terms
- Where the board sits
- Madrid, Spain
- Applications close
- 3 December 2026
- Appointment
- Interim executive
- Engagement
- An initial six to nine months is envisaged, normally four to five days a week, including diagnosis and an orderly handover.
- Cross-border
- International candidatures are accepted.
Before you apply — this is an executive role
An interim mandate needs work authorisation. A board seat in Spain usually does not.
This is the single most common way a cross-border interim engagement falls apart after it has been agreed. The visa-free position that applies to a non-executive director attending board meetings does not extend to an executive or operating role.
- Position in Spain
- A non-executive director attending board meetings requires no authorisation. Executive roles for non-EU nationals require a work and residence permit.
- On this brief
- International candidatures are accepted.
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