Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Water treatment industry

Rgheeb; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Rgheeb, partnering with a leading company in the water solutions and desalination sector, seeks a dynamic Chief Operating Officer to lead end-to-end operations across manufacturing, water treatment, and O&M. In this executive role, drive operational excellence, shape strategic direction, and deliver sustainable financial performance while ensuring compliance with Saudi regulations and IKTVA standards.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years in water/desalination, 5+ years as COO, and a strong track

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience in water treatment, desalination or industrial utilities.
• Proven ability to manage end-to-end operations (EPC/O&M) and specialty chemicals.
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and IKTVA/NCEC standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and drive multi-year corporate strategy aligned to water security and localized manufacturing.
• Oversee manufacturing, water treatment solutions and O&M, ensuring KPI targets and uptime.
• Manage P&L, capex, and revenue growth while optimizing operational processes.
• Lead stakeholder engagement with government, developers, vendors and partners.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Market growth

P&L / financial stewardship

Operations management

Project management

People leadership

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

MBA

Job description

Rgheeb is partnering with a leading company in the water solutions and desalination sector to identify a dynamic and experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join their executive leadership team.

In this critical role, you will oversee the company’s end-to-end operations across manufacturing, water treatment solutions, and operations & maintenance (O&M) activities. You will be responsible for driving operational excellence, optimizing processes, and leading performance improvement initiatives across all business units.

Working closely with the CEO and executive team, you will play a key role in shaping and executing the company’s strategic direction, enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening market position, and ensuring sustainable financial performance.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in the water treatment, desalination, or industrial utilities sector, with proven experience in managing complex operations, leading multidisciplinary teams, and delivering results in a highly technical and regulated environment.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Market Growth

• Visionary Planning: Design and implement a comprehensive multi-year corporate strategy that leverages Saudi Arabia’s growing water security needs and incentives for localized manufacturing.
• Market Expansion: Develop and secure valuable partnerships within the Municipal (NWC/SWCC), Industrial (Aramco/Ma’aden), and Commercial sectors.
• Financial Stewardship: Take full responsibility for P&L, driving sustainable revenue growth, enhancing Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA), and managing capital expenditures (CAPEX) for facility improvements.

Manufacturing & Engineering Oversight

• Industrial Production: Manage the complete fabrication and assembly processes for advanced desalination and treatment technologies, including Reverse Osmosis (RO), Multi-Effect Distillation (MED), Multi-Stage Flash (MSF), and Sewage Treatment Plants (STP).
• Specialty Chemicals Division: Lead the manufacturing and distribution of specialized water treatment chemicals, optimizing supply chains for raw materials and ensuring the effectiveness of formulations such as antiscalants, biocides, and coagulants.
• R&D & Innovation: Promote the adoption of sustainable technologies, including solar-powered desalination and high-efficiency membrane systems, to sustain a competitive technological advantage.

. Operations & Maintenance (O&M)

• Service Excellence: Ensure all commissioned plants consistently meet or surpass contractual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to water quality, uptime, and energy efficiency.
• Lifecycle Management: Implement advanced asset management and preventive maintenance programs to maximize infrastructure lifespan and reduce operational risks.
• Localization (Saudization): Lead "Local Content" initiatives to ensure the organization complies with or exceeds In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) and National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) standards through workforce development and local procurement.

Compliance, HSE & Quality

• Regulatory Alignment: Act as the ultimate authority on compliance with the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) and other Saudi regulatory requirements.
• Safety Culture: Foster a "Zero Harm" mindset by enforcing stringent Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) protocols across all plant locations and chemical laboratories.
• Quality Standards: Uphold the highest standards of ISO certification and international engineering quality for all manufactured products and chemical outputs.

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Executive Liaison: Serve as the key point of contact for government agencies, private developers, and major industrial partners.
• Strategic Partnerships: Negotiate and oversee global collaborations with equipment vendors and chemical suppliers to secure advantageous trading terms and exclusive distribution agreements.
• Talent Leadership: Manage a diverse team of engineers and professionals, cultivating a high-performance culture grounded in technical expertise and accountability.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, or. An MBA is strongly preferred.
• 15+ years in the water/desalination sector, with a minimum of 5 years in a Chief Operating Officer
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Saudi Arabian regulatory landscape, procurement laws, and the technical standards of SWCC and NWC.
• Proven ability to manage both "Hard Engineering" (EPC/O&M) and "Specialty Chemicals" (Formulations/Trading) business units.