Chief Operating Officer

About the Role

The Chief Operating Officer (COO), located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, holds a senior executive leadership position responsible for driving operational excellence and executing strategic business objectives. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the COO manages the company's day-to-day operations, aligning operational activities with institutional goals to ensure effective performance and financial achievements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the establishment and operational readiness of the company by developing governance structures, policies, procedures, organizational frameworks, and securing necessary resources and systems.
• Supervise daily operations across departments and business units, track performance, and work to improve efficiency and productivity to meet targets.
• Ensure compliance with licensing, statutory, legal, and regulatory requirements, maintaining ongoing adherence.
• Contribute to strategy formulation, planning, and policy development; translate these into actionable initiatives and programs.
• Manage operational plans, budgets, performance metrics, and monitor financial and operational outcomes, reporting pertinent insights and recommendations.
• Drive business development and revenue growth by identifying opportunities, assessing feasibility, negotiating deals, and advising accordingly.
• Oversee the company's financial, accounting, and control functions, liaise with external auditors and relevant professionals, ensuring accurate reporting and adherence to authority limits.
• Deliver periodic reports to the CEO and Board on operational, financial, and organizational status, facilitating follow-up on decisions.
• Recruit and develop qualified talent, fostering high-performing teams, cultivating a culture of accountability, innovation, and institutional excellence.
• Manage operational and organizational risks proactively, recommending solutions to sustain business continuity and meet objectives.
• Establish and maintain robust relationships with clients, partners, investors, consultants, and service providers, ensuring proper engagement and oversight.
• Act on behalf of the CEO during their absence or as delegated, within approved regulatory and authority boundaries.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the CEO or Board within the role's scope.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Political Science, Economics, Business Administration, Management, Operations Management, or a closely related discipline.
• At least 10 years in professional operations or executive management roles, with leadership experience overseeing multiple departments and diverse teams.
• Expertise in operational planning, performance management, process improvement, project management, and KPI development and monitoring.
• Strong knowledge of governance, risk management, regulatory compliance, and business continuity practices.
• Proficient in managing budgets, controlling costs, and optimizing resources.
• Experience in building and managing stakeholder, partner, and external entity relationships.
• Familiarity with enterprise software, including ERP and project/performance management tools.
• Fluency in both Arabic and English languages.