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.

Requirements

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.