Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Competitive, commensurate with experience

About the Role
The International COO operates across a complex, multi-region platform connecting strategy, execution, governance, risk management and transformation across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Japan. As the business scales, the COO platform needs to evolve with it. This role offers an opportunity to rethink how core business management activities are run: reducing manual effort, improving information flow, strengthening visibility of risks and priorities, and using AI to make work more efficient, scalable and insight-led.

We are seeking a highly organised, analytical and AI-enabled Business Manager to support the International COO directly and help the COO office operate more effectively. The role requires strong business management discipline, curiosity for technology, and the ability to turn complex, manual or fragmented processes into repeatable ways of working.

The successful candidate will support the International COO in the day-to-day running, governance, business management and strategic priorities of the region. This is not a like-for-like business management role. The individual will take on core responsibilities from the existing role, while actively identifying where work can be stopped, simplified, moved, standardised, redesigned, automated or AI-augmented. They will be expected to challenge the underlying process, not simply use AI to make existing ways of working faster.

Over time, the role will help identify practices, workflows and AI-enabled tools that can be shared across other COO teams, and may partner with regional AI and transformation leads to support broader adoption.

Key Responsibilities
1. Business Management and International COO Support
Manage key COO forums including agendas, materials, presenter readiness, actions and follow-up. Prepare concise briefing materials, talking points, presentations and summaries for senior meetings, boards, committees, business reviews and regional engagements. Maintain visibility of key priorities, risks, issues, decisions and open actions across EMEA and the wider International platform. Coordinate across regional COOs, client channels and functional partners to connect priorities, resolve issues and move work forward. Support ad hoc escalations, business updates and strategic requests requiring judgement, structure and senior stakeholder coordination.

2. Process Redesign and AI-enabled Ways of Working
Redesign core business management processes to be clearer, lighter and more scalable, using AI and automation to improve outcomes rather than simply digitising existing manual steps. Identify manual, fragmented or repetitive processes and determine whether they should be stopped, simplified, standardised, moved, redesigned, automated or AI-augmented. Assess the purpose, ownership, inputs, outputs, controls and decision points of recurring COO processes before proposing changes. Develop improved workflows for board, committee and executive preparation including input gathering, gap identification, first-draft materials, action tracking and follow-up. Explore AI-enabled approaches to coordinate recurring processes, prompt stakeholders for updates, monitor actions, surface risks and prepare structured summaries for review. Build reusable templates, playbooks and reporting routines for briefings, forums, decision logs, travel packs, project updates and leadership materials. Improve how updates are collected, synthesised and shared across COOs, business managers and functional partners. Develop knowledge repositories, dashboards or information hubs that improve visibility of risks, priorities, dependencies, decisions and recurring management themes. Partner with technology, data, AI and business teams to test practical solutions, ensure appropriate controls and align with BlackRock standards.

3. Strategic Projects and Transformation Support
Support selected strategic projects and transformation initiatives for the International COO, bringing structure to ambiguous or cross-functional priorities. Scope problems, define workstreams, agree owners, track milestones and drive follow-through. Prepare SteerCo materials, leadership updates and decision papers. Track actions, risks, dependencies and outcomes across initiatives. Identify where process redesign, AI, automation or better workflow management can improve project execution and reporting. Ensure transformation work is connected to the broader operating model and priorities of the International COO office.

Our Benefits
We offer a wide range of employee benefits including retirement investment and tools to help build a sound financial future; access to education reimbursement; comprehensive resources supporting physical health and emotional well-being; family support programs; and Flexible Time Off (FTO) to relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our Hybrid Work Model
BlackRock's hybrid work model supports collaboration and apprenticeship while providing flexibility. Employees are required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the option to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more office time depending on roles. This model accelerates learning and onboarding for new joiners.

Experience
- Business management, Chief of Staff, COO, consulting or transformation roles within complex, matrixed organisations.
- Practical experience redesigning processes, improving operations or changing ways of working.
- Practical experience using AI, automation or technology to improve workflows, reduce manual effort or generate better insight.
- Strong judgement on where processes should be redesigned, simplified, automated or kept human-led.
- Excellent organisation, attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities at pace.
- Strong analytical and communication skills, able to turn fragmented information into clear insights, executive summaries and decision materials.
- Strong project management skills including scoping problems, structuring plans, tracking actions and driving follow-through.
- Confidence working with senior stakeholders and building trust across regions, functions and business areas.
- Curiosity, sound judgement, a change mindset and comfort operating in ambiguity, including taking ownership of work that may not have a natural home.
- Strong proficiency in PowerPoint, Excel and collaboration tools, with experience using AI tools (CoPilot, ChatGPT, Claude or similar) to improve productivity and ways of working.
- Power BI and workflow automation experience advantageous.
- Understanding of client businesses, COO, risk, governance or regulatory environments helpful but not essential.

About You
Highly organised, analytical and curious about technology with a passion for improving ways of working. You are proactive in identifying opportunities to simplify and automate processes and comfortable challenging existing practices. You thrive in complex environments and enjoy collaborating with diverse stakeholders to drive meaningful change.

Qualifications
No specific qualifications are mandated, but a background in business management, consulting, transformation or related fields is preferred. Demonstrated experience with AI and automation tools is highly valued.