Chief Operating Officer

Organisation: Invictus UK 2027 Ltd
Salary: 120000
Location: London/Birmingham
Contract type: Fixed Term (Full time)
Closing date: 13 February 2026
Interview date: 24 February 2026
Job Description: About Invictus UK 2027 Ltd.  

IUK27 is a registered company and charity that has been set up to deliver the Invictus Games Birmingham in the summer of 2027. The team are split site working from either Borough High Street, London, or Birmingham City Centre / NEC.  

About the Role

The Invictus Games Birmingham Chief Operations Officer (COO) is a senior leadership role focused on delivering a safe, secure, effective and impactful Games in line with IUK27’s vision and strategy.

The role reports directly into the CEO and sits within the Senior Leadership Team. The SLT is comprised of the Chief Strategy Officer (who has the Director of Impact, Director of Communications and Director Special Projects reporting lines), the Chief Commercial Officer (responsible for Income, Commercial and Marketing), and the Chief Financial Officer (responsible for Finance and Corporate Services). There is a layer of Directors which sit underneath the C-suite as per the organogram at Annex.

This role will oversee the operations and sports departments to ensure that the Games are executed to the highest order and within budget.

This role is being advertised as a full time role, but applications from suitably qualified and experienced candidates preferring to work on a fractional basis would also be considered. However as the Games approaches, the time required may increase to full time support. The Games delivery period requires presence in Birmingham for the duration.

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Direct Reports: Sports Director, Operations Director.

Role Purpose

Lead the Games delivery planning and integration:

Oversee the planning required to deliver the Games including functional and venue planning and the management of risk, via the PMO function.

With the Operations Director, manage the venue relationships and ensure delivery from IUK27 and the venues for contract deliverables.

With the Sport Director, manage the relationships with stakeholders and ensure delivery from IUK27 and suppliers for contract deliverables.

Integrate the Games delivery planning with broader IG27 planning and ensure the Games delivery is consistent with IUK27’s vision.

With the support of the CFO, develop and manage value for money budgets for the delivery of the Games, including resilience and processes for quick procurement/decision making especially during the Games delivery period.

Provide operational input to the Board.

Conduct oversight of supplier contracts

Manage the delivery of the sports programme through the Sports Director:

Oversee the sporting programme including development of the sports schedule, time, scoring and results and liaison with sporting organisations

Manage the delivery of the Games operations through the Operations Director:

Have oversight of the Games operations including ticketing, accreditation and registration; relations with Participating Nations; logistics, transport, accommodation, venue operations; food and beverage services and hospitality.

Oversee the venue and security planning and integrate with broader city and national level security planning.

Oversee the Protocol and dignitary programme.

4) Oversight of the Games Readiness and rehearsal

Development and oversight of the Games readiness and rehearsal regime

Prerequisites:

The successful candidate is required to have at least five years experience combining:

Senior executive experience including managing large, diverse teams; experience managing budgets; and experience as part of a senior leadership team.

Experience leading the delivery of multi-sport, multi venue games, integrating teams across an organisation ideally with an understanding of adaptive sports.

Demonstrated ability to develop strong relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and proven experience managing multiple contractor agreements

Proven programme management skills, designing improvement processes, issue resolution and change management.

A skill for developing creative solutions to deliver high service levels within a constrained budget.

Operational excellence, decision making ability and risk management.

Employee Benefits:

£120k base salary with potential for end of Games bonus.

30 days annual leave with an additional 8 days public holidays (England and Wales).

Flexible working arrangements to be discussed (the team is hybrid London / Birmingham / allowing home working). With the Operations and Sport teams based in Birmingham, the COO would be leading the broader Birmingham office and teams.

CLOSING DATE 1700 Friday 13 February 2026

INTERVIEW DATE: Tues 24 February 2026, London
How to apply: To apply, please send a CV and covering letter outlining how you meet the experience and knowledge requirements set out in the job description to: recruitment@invictusgames2027.org