Chief Operating Officer

FABRUM.; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Fabrum, a Christchurch-based global leader in cryogenic technologies and liquid hydrogen systems, is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer to drive operations and execution. Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead Engineering, Product Management, Project Management and Service, turning strategy into action and scaling delivery across international markets.

The role combines commercial acumen with safety and efficiency, offering a high-impact opportunity to shape Fabrum's

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience, including executive-level responsibility.
• Experience in engineering, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure or similarly complex industry.
• Strong operational leadership across multiple functions.
• Track record of building capable teams and strong leaders.
• Commercial and financial acumen and decision-making.
• Strong health and safety leadership and culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead Engineering, Product, Project Management and Service.
• Turn strategy into clear operational priorities and outcomes.
• Build accountable leaders and high-performing teams.
• Drive safe, efficient and high-quality project delivery.
• Strengthen operational systems, processes and ways of working.
• Align delivery capability with customer demand and commercial priorities.
• Collaborate with Finance on budgets, investments and resource planning.
• Partner with technical leaders to turn innovation into scalable products.
• Grow Fabrum’s global service capability.
• Improve how the business operates at scale.

Skills

Senior leadership

Executive responsibility

Engineering leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Commercial & financial acumen

Job description

About Fabrum

Fabrum has built a reputation of pioneering world-first technologies in cryogenics and hydrogen solutions, fuelled by our exceptional R & D capabilities. Now, we're leveraging that innovative passion to take our solutions to the world.

Headquartered in Christchurch, we lead the world in industrialized small to medium scale liquefaction systems and composite cryogenic vessels. We deploy end to end liquid hydrogen solutions globally across heavy transport, mining and aviation markets. Our core competencies include hydrogen production, storage, dispensing and system integration. We have a presence in international markets for liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen and LNG solutions with customers ranging from animal husbandry to hi-tech research institutions, manufacturing and defence.

About The Role

Fabrum is looking for an experienced Chief Operating Officer to lead our operational functions and help shape the next stage of our growth.

Reporting to the Managing Director and sitting on the Executive Leadership Team, you’ll lead Engineering, Product Management, Project Management and Service.

Your focus will be simple: turn strategy into execution, bring teams together, and make sure Fabrum has the operational capability to deliver complex technology safely, efficiently and at scale.

The role

This is a broad, high-impact executive role where you’ll have real influence across the business.

You’ll Be Responsible For

• Leading Engineering, Product, Project Management and Service.
• Turning strategy into clear operational priorities and outcomes.
• Building strong, accountable leaders and high-performing teams.
• Driving safe, efficient and high-quality project delivery.
• Strengthening operational systems, processes and ways of working.
• Aligning delivery capability with customer demand and commercial priorities.
• Working closely with Finance on budgets, investment and resource planning.
• Partnering with technical leaders to turn innovation into scalable products.
• Growing Fabrum’s global service capability.
• Improving and simplifying how we operate as the business scales.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for a commercially minded operational leader with experience in a complex technical environment.

You’ll Bring

• Significant senior leadership experience, ideally including executive-level responsibility.
• Experience in engineering, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure or a similarly complex industry.
• Strong operational leadership across multiple functions.
• A track record of building capable teams and strong leaders.
• Commercial and financial acumen.
• Strong health and safety leadership.
• Confidence navigating complexity, change and competing priorities.
• A practical, collaborative leadership style.

Most importantly, you’ll know how to turn strategy into action and bring clarity, pace and accountability to a complex business.

Why Fabrum?

Fabrum is a global leader in advanced cryogenic technologies and liquid hydrogen systems, designing and delivering highly specialised solutions from Christchurch to customers around the world.

This is an opportunity to join a technically ambitious New Zealand company, work alongside exceptional engineering talent, and have a genuine impact on how the business grows and delivers.

If you’re excited by complex technology, operational leadership and building for scale, we’d love to hear from you.