Engagement details:

Job Title: Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Energy Sector

Client: Prominent business conglomerate

Employment type: Permanent

Location: Onsite in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering with an MBA is preferred

Experience level: 15+ years

Role Overview:

Our client, a prominent business conglomerate, is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead the Industrial & Energy Division's operations across KSA and Bahrain. The role carries overall operational responsibility for diverse business activities in machinery distribution, leasing, and energy products & services, with a strong mandate to achieve revenue and profit targets while driving the transformation from trading into a services- and local value-addition-led sustainable business model.

Key Responsibilities:

- Design, plan, and implement business objectives, operational procedures, and staff structures for the Industrial & Energy Division.

- Set comprehensive goals for business growth and success, ensuring alignment with the division's strategic business plans.

- Establish and enforce policies and procedures that promote company culture, vision, and compliance with group guidelines.

- Oversee daily operations across machinery distribution, leasing, and energy products & services, providing direction to divisional general managers and executive teams.

- Lead employees by example, fostering a performance-driven, customer-focused, and collaborative culture.

- Evaluate business performance by analyzing and interpreting financial and operational data, metrics, and KPIs.

- Create regular reports and presentations for the CEO and Executive Committee, covering strategic implementation, financial performance, and operational progress.

- Take the lead in business expansion activities, including new business lines, offerings, and regional growth within KSA and Bahrain, and support the CEO in executing strategic plans.

- Maintain and strengthen relationships with key customers, principals, partners, and vendors, including senior management teams of key accounts.

- Ensure positive cash contribution to the group through focused management of stocks, receivables, and working capital.

- Continuously evaluate and improve core processes against industry best practices across planning and budgeting, workforce management, operations, customer satisfaction, and staff performance.

- Drive succession planning for key positions, maintain prescribed localization levels in each country of operation, and attract and retain local talent.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering with an MBA is preferred.

- Minimum 15+ years of experience providing products and services into core sector industries such as energy, oil & gas, power & utilities, construction, mining, and manufacturing within the GCC region, with more than 10 years in an operational leadership position in a diverse business environment. KSA experience is preferred.

- Proven ability to run a large, independent profit centre with diverse business activities, including responsibility for revenue, profit, and cash flow objectives.

- Strong leadership, people management, and execution skills, with experience leading senior managers and cross-functional teams.

- Demonstrated capability in strategic planning, budgeting, and forecasting, as well as in implementing and monitoring KPIs and MIS for decision-making.

- Track record in business expansion, customer relationship management, and developing close working relationships with senior stakeholders, customers, and principals.

- Strong analytical thinking skills, perseverance, people management skills, high emotional intelligence, and a consistently customer-focused approach.