Chief Operating Officer

Black & Grey is partnering with a leading UAE-based organization operating at the intersection of Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Sustainability, Engineering and Advanced Infrastructure Solutions to appoint a Chief Operating Officer (COO).

This is a high-impact executive leadership opportunity for an accomplished operations leader who can translate business strategy into scalable execution, strengthen operational performance, and build the organizational capabilities required for the next phase of growth.

The organization operates across a diverse portfolio encompassing Renewable Energy, Solar EPC, Energy Efficiency, EV Infrastructure, Sustainability, Utility-as-a-Service, Building Performance, Engineering and Consultancy. The COO will play a central role in ensuring that this portfolio is delivered with operational discipline, commercial rigour, technical excellence and a strong customer focus.

The Opportunity

This is not a conventional Head of Operations position. The successful executive will have enterprise-wide responsibility for the organization’s entire operational engine, spanning project and service delivery, engineering, procurement, supply chain, QHSE, governance, operational performance and people leadership.

A key element of the mandate will be ensuring that the organization is operationally ready for sustained growth across the UAE, GCC and international markets, while maintaining strong project execution, customer satisfaction and profitability.

1) Strategic & Operational Leadership

-Translate the company's corporate vision and annual business plans into clear operational strategies, execution plans and measurable performance objectives.

-Lead the continuous improvement of operational processes, systems and capabilities across the organization.

-Drive a culture of operational excellence, accountability, efficiency and continuous improvement.

-Build the operational infrastructure and organizational capabilities required to support future business growth.

-Contribute to the development of new business lines, markets and strategic partnerships

2) Project & Service Delivery

-Provide executive oversight across the organization’s portfolio of EPC, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, EV Infrastructure, Sustainability, Utility-as-a-Service, Building Performance and Engineering/Consultancy projects.

-Ensure projects and services are delivered safely and to the highest quality standards.

-Ensure delivery is on schedule, within approved budgets and aligned with contractual commitments.

-Monitor project performance, customer satisfaction, resource utilization and operational KPIs.

-Establish consistent operational standards and best practices across business units.

-Ensure the organization can scale its delivery capabilities as the business expands.

3) P&L, Commercial & Financial Performance

-The COO will have direct accountability for operational P&L performance, EBITDA and profitability.

-Drive project and operational profitability.

-Improve project margins through close collaboration with Procurement, Engineering, Design and Business Development.

-Identify opportunities for cost optimization and operational efficiency.

-Improve working capital performance.

-Ensure disciplined budget management across operations.

-Strengthen commercial and financial visibility across the project portfolio

4) Procurement & Supply Chain

-Develop strategic sourcing approaches aligned with operational requirements.

-Improve supplier and vendor performance.

-Strengthen supply-chain resilience.

-Optimize inventory management.

-Ensure procurement supports project timelines and delivery requirements.

-Optimize supplier contracts and overall commercial outcomes

5) QHSE, Risk & Governance

-Champion a strong culture of Health, Safety, Quality and Operational Excellence.

-Oversee QHSE management systems and compliance.

-Ensure adherence to regulatory, statutory and contractual requirements.

-Establish effective operational governance.

-Lead business continuity and enterprise risk-management initiatives.

-Identify operational risks and implement appropriate mitigation strategies

6) People & Leadership

-Build and lead multidisciplinary operational teams.

-Develop and coach senior leaders.

-Establish clear accountability and performance expectations.

-Drive succession planning and leadership development.

-Create a collaborative, innovative and performance-driven culture.

-Build organizational capability required for long-term growth

7) Client & Stakeholder Leadership

-Build strong relationships with key clients, consultants, contractors, strategic suppliers and government authorities.

-Provide operational and commercial input into tendering, bid preparation and business-development initiatives.

-Ensure proposed commitments are aligned with delivery capabilities.

-Represent Operations within the Executive Leadership Team

8) Performance Management & Executive Reporting

-Establish a data-driven operational management framework covering operational KPIs, project performance, resource utilization, customer satisfaction and financial performance.

-Develop executive dashboards and operational performance reports.

-Monitor business performance against strategic objectives.

-Provide regular operational updates to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team

Requirements

-Our Client is seeking an accomplished operations/business leader who has progressed through increasingly senior leadership positions within a project-driven, technically complex environment.

-15+ years of progressive leadership experience within Renewable Energy, Solar/Energy, EPC, Energy Efficiency/ESCO, Sustainability, Engineering, Infrastructure, Utilities or Facilities Management.

-At least 7 years in executive leadership positions, with responsibility for multidisciplinary operational teams and client-facing responsibilities.

-Proven track record of delivering Solar EPC, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, EV Infrastructure, Sustainability, Utility-as-a-Service and/or Engineering projects.

-Demonstrated ownership of operational P&L, project delivery, procurement, supply chain, QHSE and overall business performance.

-Experience leading complex, multidisciplinary operational organizations.

-Strong client and stakeholder-management experience

Benefits

Attractive Salary + Benefits