Chief Operating Officer - Energy Sector

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.