Chief Operating Officer

مظلة الأعمال - التوظيف والتدريب والاستشارات والترخيص والرعاية الصحية والتعليم والعقارات; United Arab Emirates; Remote; AED 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work within UAE

Travel to head office and sites

Executive package including bonus

Job summary

Business Umbrella is seeking a Chief Operating Officer for a leading energy group operating in the United Arab Emirates. This is a remote role with periodic travel to head office, plants and field sites.

The COO will own end-to-end operational performance across upstream, midstream and downstream, including production, processing, trading, distribution, HSE, engineering, projects, supply chain and logistics. Requires 18+ years in oil & gas with 5+ years in COO roles and a strong P&L track record.

Qualifications

• 18+ years in oil & gas, petrochemicals or energy, including 5+ years as COO, VP Operations, General Manager or equivalent.
• Proven P&L ownership of a business, asset or region with substantial revenue and headcount responsibility.
• Deep operational knowledge of upstream, midstream or downstream assets (field, refinery, plant or terminal operations).
• GCC or Middle East experience strongly preferred; UAE market exposure is a distinct advantage.
• Excellent HSE, governance, risk and regulatory track record with board-level communication skills.
• Fluent English; Arabic is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Translate group strategy into an annual operating plan with clear KPIs for production, uptime, cost and margin.
• Lead day-to-day operations across all business units, assets, terminals and joint ventures in the UAE and wider GCC.
• Drive a zero-harm HSE culture and ensure full compliance with UAE regulatory authorities, ISO and international energy standards.
• Own operating and capital budgets; deliver cost optimisation, asset reliability, maintenance and turnaround programmes.
• Oversee major capital and EPC projects, delivering on time, on budget and to specification.
• Strengthen procurement, supply chain, logistics, trading and distribution operations, including vendor and contract governance.
• Build, lead and mentor a high-performing multicultural leadership team; drive Emiratisation and succession planning.
• Partner with the CEO, CFO and Board on growth, M&A, new markets, digitalisation and ESG commitments.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Petroleum) or related discipline; MBA preferred

Job description

Business Umbrella is mandated to appoint a Chief Operating Officer (COO) for a leading integrated oil & gas and energy group operating in the United Arab Emirates. This is a remote role based in the UAE, with periodic travel to head office, plants and field operations.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting to the Group CEO and the Board, the COO owns end-to-end operational performance across upstream, midstream and downstream activities, including production, processing, trading, distribution, HSE, engineering, projects, supply chain and logistics.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Translate group strategy into an annual operating plan with clear KPIs for production, uptime, cost and margin.

Lead day-to-day operations across all business units, assets, terminals and joint ventures in the UAE and wider GCC.

Drive a zero-harm HSE culture and ensure full compliance with UAE regulatory authorities, ISO and international energy standards.

Own operating and capital budgets; deliver cost optimisation, asset reliability, maintenance and turnaround programmes.

Oversee major capital and EPC projects, delivering on time, on budget and to specification.

Strengthen procurement, supply chain, logistics, trading and distribution operations, including vendor and contract governance.

Build, lead and mentor a high-performing multicultural leadership team; drive Emiratisation and succession planning.

Partner with the CEO, CFO and Board on growth, M&A, new markets, digitalisation and ESG commitments.

REQUIREMENTS

18+ years in oil & gas, petrochemicals or energy, including 5+ years as COO, VP Operations, General Manager or equivalent.

Proven P&L ownership of a business, asset or region with substantial revenue and headcount responsibility.

Deep operational knowledge of upstream, midstream or downstream assets (field, refinery, plant or terminal operations).

GCC or Middle East experience strongly preferred; UAE market exposure is a distinct advantage.

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Petroleum) or related discipline; MBA preferred.

Excellent HSE, governance, risk and regulatory track record with board-level communication skills.

Fluent English; Arabic is an advantage.

WHAT IS ON OFFER

Competitive executive package with performance bonus and benefits.

Remote working model within the UAE, with periodic travel to offices and operating sites.

The opportunity to shape operations and growth for a regional energy platform.