Fractional COO

Bureau Veritas is a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services, operating across various industries to help clients manage risk, enhance performance, and ensure compliance with quality, health and safety, environmental, and social responsibility standards.

As an accredited certification body, Bureau Veritas attests that management systems, services, and personnel comply with specific standards, facilitating market access and enhancing brand reputation. We offer tailored services across multiple sectors, including Buildings and Infrastructure, Agri-Food, Automotive and Transport, Marine and Offshore, and Power and Utilities. Our services include laboratory and on-site analyses to verify that products and commodities meet required properties, standards, and regulations and on-site evaluations to ensure that products, services, assets, and installations are manufactured or operating as intended, thereby controlling quality and verifying compliance with regulatory requirements.

Bureau Veritas is a “Business to Business to Society” company aiming to foster trust among businesses, public authorities, and consumers. We integrate sustainability into our core strategy, offering services that help clients navigate challenges related to safety, environmental protection, social responsibility, and product or service quality throughout the supply chain.

Who we need

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, we are hiring a Vice President of Operations, North America, to play a pivotal role in overseeing and directing our environmental lab operations across North America. You will be responsible for long-term strategic planning, aligning with commercial and executive leadership to drive business expansion. This includes the development and execution of strategies that meet both operational and customer needs while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards for quality, safety, and reliability. You will focus on managing the operational budget, optimizing resources, and delivering cost-effective solutions that align with the company's quality and technical requirements. Additionally, you will oversee Quality Assurance (QA), ensuring that all laboratory and testing processes adhere to the highest industry standards. You will also assume responsibility for Test Facility Management, ensuring operations comply with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) principles, where applicable. This includes overseeing the appointment of qualified and experienced staff to maintain effective and compliant operations.

Who you are

You are a transformational leader and an experienced operations executive with a background in managing laboratory networks or large-scale testing facilities. You have a deep understanding of laboratory processes, strategic business management, financial oversight, quality assurance and continuous improvement. You have a firm grasp of environmental analytical chemistry fundamentals and an impressive and proven ability to influence teams and align strategies to enhance productivity and revenue growth.

What’s in it for you

Influence and impact.This is a highly visible leadership role where you will drive transformation across a network of laboratories. You will work with senior leadership to optimize operations, introduce efficiencies, and implement best practices, significantly impacting business performance and team engagement. Your leadership will be critical in building a high-performing, engaged team and driving a culture of innovation and accountability while ensuring adherence to quality assurance standards and best practices.

Purpose and possibility. At Bureau Veritas, you will be part of an organization committed to sustainability, environmental protection, and social responsibility. With a presence in 140 countries and nearly 400,000 clients, you will contribute to meaningful global change while shaping the future of environmental testing. The role provides the ability to affect change and take the business to the next level. You will have the autonomy to introduce new ways of thinking, adapt to shifting economic conditions, and drive sustained business growth while ensuring compliance with rigorous quality and regulatory requirements.

Career growth.Working alongside senior leadership, you will gain exposure to high-level decision-making while leading large-scale transformation initiatives. This role offers the opportunity to develop strategic programs, expand your leadership capabilities, and position yourself for future executive opportunities.

How you will make an impact:

• Collaborate with executive stakeholders.You will partner with executive leadership to develop and execute key operational initiatives. You will drive integration efforts across multiple locations, ensuring alignment between laboratories, business objectives, and company-wide goals.
• Drive transformation initiatives.You will oversee the integration and harmonization of acquired laboratories, streamlining processes and standardizing best practices across the network. You will work closely with general managers to foster collaboration, accountability, and leadership development. You will support large-scale strategic project proposals in partnership with the commercial team, ensuring alignment with profitability targets and client expectations. You will engage regularly with teams to drive strategic alignment and operational success.
• Optimize operations.You will apply Lean principles to enhance workflow, improve service levels, and introduce innovative solutions that boost productivity and revenue. You will establish and manage key operational KPIs in safety, quality, productivity, and cost control. You will develop and implement business strategies to maintain high-quality service delivery and accurate test results. You will lead automation and digitization efforts to improve efficiency and scalability. You will take ownership of profit and loss management, using data-driven insights to drive profitability and long-term sustainability. You will oversee Quality Assurance (QA), ensuring all testing and laboratory operations adhere to compliance, safety, and quality standards.
• Lead and manage laboratory operations.You will oversee the development and success of management teams across multiple sites. You will recruit, train, and evaluate laboratory staff to enhance engagement and operational effectiveness. You will promote and enforce safety policies, fostering a proactive safety culture to minimize risks and prevent incidents. You will identify training needs, implement development programs, and ensure all staff maintain the required competencies. You will also lead quality assurance efforts, ensuring that QA processes are seamlessly integrated into all lab operations.

What you bring:

• The industry expertise.You have extensive experience overseeing large laboratories, technical services, or laboratory networks and direct laboratory work experience in environmental or other scientific testing sectors. You have a strong understanding of industry regulations, quality assurance protocols, and safety standards governing laboratory operations.
• The business expertise.You have a demonstrated ability to apply strategic business acumen and lead complex organizational initiatives. You have a proven ability to drive post-acquisition integration and harmonization across diverse teams and locations. You have the industry and business expertise to confidently collaborate with the COO, senior leadership, and other key stakeholders. You are a thought leader who is logical and innovative, able to drive transformation, align teams, and integrate best practices across multiple locations. You have a proven ability to lead organizational change initiatives and foster a culture of innovation and accountability.
• The operational excellence.You have deep business and financial acumen with experience managing budgets and P&L, capital expenditure planning, and finances to maximize revenue while maintaining quality and compliance. You have expertise in driving continuous improvement, optimizing workflows, and enhancing productivity and efficiency across a network of labs. You can conduct analysis and interpretation to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions. You have experience overseeing Quality Assurance programs, ensuring regulatory compliance and consistent execution of QA policies.
• The people management.You are an exceptional communicator who can engage executive stakeholders, peers, managers, and teams to influence without authority and lead through change. You have excellent team-building, training, coaching and mentoring skills and can develop a team of general managers and hold them accountable for the success of their labs and teams. You have experience guiding a team through change management and adopting new processes and procedures.
• The technical skills.You have up-to-date knowledge of laboratory practices, techniques, processes and automation. You are proficient with MS Office Suite and a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), LabWare, and LabVantage, and you can learn new tools and technologies quickly.

Why join us

At Bureau Veritas, you will be part of a global team dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the world. With over 83,000 employees across 140 countries, we are committed to creating a safer, more sustainable future.

Our mission goes beyond compliance—protecting lives, preserving the planet, and driving positive change. As a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification, we embrace innovation and strive for excellence.

You will work alongside passionate experts shaping the future of environmental testing. Join a team united by shared values and a commitment to building a better tomorrow. Together, we are reimagining industries and leading the way in sustainability.