Chief Operation Officer (Water Treatment Solutions)

The Greater Change; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Executive Compensation

Performance Bonus

Long-term Incentives

Executive Leadership Opportunity

Opportunity to build lastingenterprise

Significant autonomy and decision‑mak"

Job summary

The Greater Change seeks an experienced Chief Operating Officer to lead operations for an established, project-based engineering business in the United Arab Emirates. You will translate strategy into execution, drive efficiency, strengthen project delivery, and foster a high-performance operating culture to support sustained profitability and growth.

The role requires hands-on, commercially aware leadership with responsibility for operational performance, governance and stakeholder management at

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading large-scale, project-based engineering or B2B businesses.
• Strong commercial mindset with track record of profitability, growth and transformation.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management at senior level.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute long-term growth strategy for a project-based engineering business.
• Lead revenue growth through strategic business development and project sales.
• Improve project profitability through disciplined execution and governance.
• Build scalable systems, KPIs and performance management processes.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing leadership team.
• Oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.
• Prepare the organization for strategic investments, acquisitions or exits.

Job description

About the Company

Our client is a well-established engineering and project-based B2B organization with more than three decades of market presence and an excellent reputation for delivering technically complex solutions.

The company has built long-term relationships across industrial and infrastructure sectors and is entering its next phase of growth.

With a strong project pipeline, experienced technical teams and ambitious shareholders, the business is now focused on building a scalable, execution-driven organization capable of sustainable profitability and long-term enterprise value.

The organization is seeking a transformational COO who can lead the company through its next chapter and prepare it for significant strategic growth over the coming years.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) with strong expertise in Operational Excellence, Project Management, and Business Operations to strengthen and lead the operational engine of an established, project-based engineering business.

The role is suited to a hands-on, commercially aware operational leader who can translate strategy into execution, improve operational efficiency, strengthen project delivery, and drive sustainable profitability.

The COO will work closely with the shareholders and senior leadership team, with responsibility for operational performance, project execution, process improvement, resource optimization, and building a high-performance operating culture to support the company’s continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the company's long-term growth strategy.
• Lead revenue growth through strategic business development and project sales.
• Convert a healthy sales pipeline into profitable project wins.
• Drive operational excellence across engineering, project delivery and support functions.
• Improve project profitability through cost control, execution discipline and commercial governance.
• Build scalable business systems, KPIs and performance management processes.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing leadership team.
• Strengthen financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management.
• Improve accountability and ownership across all departments.
• Lead organizational transformation towards a process-driven business.
• Establish strong governance and management reporting.
• Prepare the organization for future strategic investment, acquisition or exit opportunities.
• Represent the company with key customers, partners and stakeholders.

Preferred Industries

• Water Treatment
• Wastewater Treatment
• Environmental Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• EPC Process Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Industrial Infrastructure
• Utilities
• Industrial Projects

Benefits

• Competitive Executive Compensation
• Performance Bonus
• Long-term Incentives
• Executive Leadership Opportunity
• Opportunity to build lasting enterprise value
• Significant autonomy and decision‑making authority

Proven experience as a COO, Managing Director, General Manager or Business Unit Head.

Requirements

• Strong background leading project-based B2B engineering businesses.
• Demonstrated success managing organizations of approximately 70-200 employees.
• Strong commercial mindset with proven ability to win and deliver profitable projects.
• Excellent operational leadership with focus on execution and delivery.
• Experience managing P&L responsibility.
• Strong financial acumen including budgeting, EBITDA improvement and cash flow management.
• Track record of organizational transformation.
• Experience building leadership teams and performance-driven cultures.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience preparing businesses for investment, acquisition or private equity involvement is highly desirable.