Chief Operating Officer

Job Description
– Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Location:
Chennai, India

Experience:
20+ Years

Industry:
EPC / Infrastructure - Maldives & Africa

Reporting To:
Managing Director

Position Overview

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be responsible for leading and managing the overall operations of the company, focusing on Infrastructure and EPC projects across India and abroad (Maldives & Africa). This role will oversee project execution, business development, financial performance, operational efficiency, profitability, and strategic growth. The COO will provide leadership to multidisciplinary teams and ensure timely, safe, and cost-effective delivery of projects while driving operational excellence and business expansion.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Leadership

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across all Infra/EPC projects.

• Ensure seamless execution of projects within scope, budget, timelines, quality, and safety standards.

• Develop and implement operational policies, systems, and best practices to improve productivity and efficiency.

• Monitor project performance through KPIs, dashboards, and periodic reviews.
• Lead cross-functional coordination between Engineering, Procurement, Contracts, Planning, Finance, and Site teams.

1. Project Management & Delivery

• Oversee planning, mobilization, execution, monitoring, and completion of all infrastructure projects.

• Approve project schedules, budgets, resource deployment, and risk mitigation plans.
• Ensure compliance with tender specifications, client requirements, statutory norms, and QHSE standards.

• Resolve high-impact technical, contractual, and operational issues.

1. Business Development & Growth

• Identify new business opportunities within the infrastructure/EPC sector.

• Lead tendering, bidding, and customer presentations in coordination with BD and tender teams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients, government bodies, vendors, and external partners.

• Support strategic expansion into new geographies and business verticals.

1. Financial Management (P&L Ownership)

• Responsible for the overall profitability of the EPC vertical.

• Approve project budgets, cash flows, and cost-control strategies.

• Track financial performance, revenue projections, margins, and cost deviations.

• Drive operational cost-efficiency through process optimization and resource utilization.

• Coordinate closely with the Finance team for budgeting, audits, compliance, and MIS reporting.

1. Strategic Planning

• Contribute to the formulation of corporate strategy and long-term business goals.

• Develop operational roadmaps aligned with organizational vision and market trends.

• Assess risks and opportunities, initiate corrective or preventive actions.

• Drive digital and process transformation initiatives across the company.

1. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead a large multi-disciplinary team across corporate and project locations.

• Build capability through mentorship, performance management, and succession planning.

• Foster a culture of high performance, accountability, and continuous improvement. 7. Stakeholder Management

• Represent the company in senior-level meetings with clients, consultants, statutory authorities, and industry forums.

• Liaise with the Board/MD regarding operational updates, key risks, strategic initiatives, and investment decisions.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• B.E./B.Tech in Civil Engineering (mandatory); M.Tech/MBA preferred.

• Around 20 years of experience in infrastructure/EPC, with at least 5–8 years in a senior leadership/operations or P&L role handling large, multi-site projects in India/abroad.

• Proven track record of managing large-scale infra projects (marine, industrial, roads, bridges, ports, buildings, utilities, etc.).

• Strong experience in P&L ownership, business development, tendering, contracts, and strategic planning.

• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and analytical skills.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and teams across locations.

• Thorough understanding of EPC industry standards, regulatory requirements, and safety norms.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking & Execution

• P&L and Financial Acumen

• Project & Operational Excellence

• Risk Management & Decision-Making

• People Leadership & Team Building

• Client & Stakeholder Management

• Contractual & Commercial Knowledge

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement

Work Location

Chennai, India Frequent travel to project sites, client offices, and vendor locations is required.