Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Water treatment industry

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.

Strategic Leadership & Market Growth: Design and implement a multi-year corporate strategy leveraging Saudi Arabia’s water security needs; Develop partnerships within Municipal, Industrial, and Commercial sectors; manage P&L, EBITDA, and CAPEX for facility improvements. Manufacturing & Engineering Oversight: Manage fabrication/assembly of desalination and treatment technologies (RO, MED, MSF, STP); lead specialty chemicals manufacturing and distribution; promote R&D and sustainable tech adoption. Operations & Maintenance (O&M): Ensure plants meet KPIs for water quality, uptime, and energy efficiency; implement asset management and preventive maintenance; lead Local Content initiatives to meet IKTVA and NCEC standards. Compliance, HSE & Quality: Ensure regulatory compliance with NCEC and Saudi requirements; enforce HSE; uphold ISO and engineering quality standards. Stakeholder & Relationship Management: Serve as liaison with government agencies and major partners; negotiate global collaborations with equipment vendors and chemical suppliers; lead a diverse engineering and professional team.