Chief Operating Officer

Company overview

Local Eats, which operates under The Eats Group Limited, is a UK-based marketplace and food-ordering technology business focused on giving local hospitality operators the digital tools they need to grow at scale. Established in 2019, it provides a complete franchise-style “business in a box” offering that includes branded platforms, mobile applications, and operational systems designed to help independent restaurants and regional entrepreneurs compete with major delivery brands.

The business works across several UK markets and uses a licensing-led model with multiple revenue streams and strong unit economics to support steady expansion. Its services include round-the-clock customer support, integration with delivery networks, legal support coverage, and custom app development for partners. The company has been recognised as the UK’s fastest-growing franchise in 2022 and is also known as a high-growth startup with a mission to strengthen local communities through technology-driven solutions.

Role summary

The Chief Operating Officer will take ownership of day-to-day operations for The Eats Group / Local Eats, making sure strategy, processes, and teams work together to deliver dependable, scalable service across all markets. This full-time role is based in Barrow-In-Furness and follows a hybrid working arrangement, with the option to work from home for part of the week.

Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, the COO will lead operational planning and delivery, coordinate cross-functional teams across operations, customer support, business development, franchisees, and logistics partners, and keep improving workflows, systems, and performance outcomes. The role also includes designing operational structures to support franchise and licensing expansion, improving delivery and support functions, and maintaining compliance with regulatory and contractual commitments.

The position involves contributing to long-term planning with the leadership team, overseeing budget control and resource allocation, supporting investor updates, and representing operations in strategic partnerships and senior stakeholder discussions.

Key responsibilities

• Direct everyday business operations so that strategy and execution remain aligned across all markets.
• Lead operational planning and implementation alongside the CEO.
• Manage and coordinate teams across operations, customer service, business development, franchise partners, and logistics providers.
• Build and refine systems, workflows, and operating processes to improve quality, efficiency, and scale.
• Create and roll out frameworks that support franchise and licensing growth.
• Optimise delivery and support operations to improve service performance.
• Ensure the business meets all relevant regulatory, legal, and contractual requirements.
• Work with leadership on longer-term business planning and organisational priorities.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and allocation of resources.
• Support investor-facing reporting and business updates.
• Represent the operations function in key partnerships and stakeholder meetings.

Candidate profile

Applicants should bring strong senior-level operations experience, ideally from technology, marketplace, franchise, or food-tech businesses. The role calls for a solid background in operations management and business planning, together with a strong ability to use data to guide decisions, define KPIs, and improve performance.

Hands-on finance and budgeting capability is important, including experience with P&L ownership, forecasting, and resource planning in a fast-growing environment. Experience scaling multi-site or multi-market operations, particularly in the UK, is preferred, along with a clear understanding of regulatory and contractual frameworks.

The successful candidate will need excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the confidence to work closely with founders, franchisees, partners, and internal teams. A history of building and leading strong, diverse teams is essential, along with a collaborative approach that encourages accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. The environment is fast-moving and entrepreneurial, so strong problem-solving skills and comfort with change are important.

Additional information

This is a full-time position. The job is onsite in Barrow-In-Furness with hybrid flexibility, meaning some work from home is available during the week.