Job Title: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Location: Toronto, ON
Industry: Private Equity
Position Summary:
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will play a key leadership role in driving the strategic and operational execution of the firm. As a core member of the executive team, the COO will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, supporting portfolio company performance, optimizing internal systems and processes, and enabling scalable growth. The ideal candidate brings strong operational experience, a private equity mindset, and a track record of building high-performing teams and businesses.
Key Responsibilities:
- Oversee and optimize firm operations, including finance, legal, HR, IT, compliance, and investor reporting.
- Design and implement scalable processes to support the firm’s growth and investment strategy.
- Serve as a key liaison between investment professionals and operational teams to ensure alignment and efficiency.
- Partner with investment teams to improve operational performance across portfolio companies.
- Support value creation initiatives, operational due diligence, integration planning, and performance monitoring.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to portfolio company leadership on operational best practices.
- Work closely with the CEO and Managing Partners on firm-wide strategy and execution plans.
- Lead or oversee strategic initiatives including new market entry, product development, or platform growth.
- Drive continuous improvement through KPIs, dashboards, and data-driven decision-making.
- Ensure regulatory compliance and operational risk management across the firm and portfolio.
- Partner with legal and compliance advisors to implement best practices in reporting and governance.
- Build and mentor a high-performing operations team.
Qualifications:
- 10+ years of progressive experience in operations leadership, ideally with exposure to private equity, asset management, or growth-stage businesses.
- Proven track record of optimizing operations and scaling businesses.
- Strong understanding of finance, legal, compliance, and fund operations.
- Experience working with private equity-backed businesses or in a fund environment.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.
- MBA or relevant advanced degree is preferred.
- Strategic thinker with a hands-on, roll-up-the-sleeves approach.
- Results-oriented with strong execution capabilities.
- Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Integrity, discretion, and strong judgment.
Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply by sending their resume to blamarche@locksearchgroup.com.