Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Emeraid International Group

The opportunity

The COO will take ownership of day-to-day operating performance: turning commitments into practical plans, ensuring managers deliver, resolving bottlenecks, protecting project margins and strengthening the systems needed for sustainable growth.

Core responsibilities

• Execute Group strategy: Translate approved priorities into practical operating plans, budgets, milestones and clearly assigned responsibilities across active businesses and projects.
• Own project delivery: Oversee mobilisation through close-out, ensuring contracts, funding arrangements, technical plans and acceptance criteria are confirmed before implementation. Resolve bottlenecks and drive recovery of delayed assignments.
• Drive operational performance: Maintain a reliable portfolio dashboard, lead weekly performance reviews and hold managers accountable for deadlines, results and corrective actions.
• Protect margins and cash: Work alongside the CFO to monitor budgets, cost-to-complete, invoicing readiness and collections. Keep operational commitments within approved funding and authority limits.
• Lead people and shared services: Clarify responsibilities, coach managers, address underperformance and strengthen coordination. Improve existing capacity, procedures and backup coverage before proposing additional permanent staff.
• Manage client and partner commitments: Ensure timely communication, accurate reporting, prompt issue resolution and complete documentation for approvals, acceptance and payment.
• Strengthen risk, safety and quality: Maintain operational risk controls, enforce required technical approvals and safety standards, and ensure incidents, quality failures and audit findings receive corrective action.
• Reduce dependence on the CEO: Personally own routine operational decisions and follow-through. Escalate material exceptions with clear options, a recommendation and a decision deadline, not unresolved problems alone.

Essential capability and relevant experience

• At least 10 years of progressive experience, including five years of substantial operational leadership across multiple projects, departments or business units.
• A relevant degree or an equivalent professional qualification pathway supported by demonstrable operating leadership. A relevant master’s degree or project-management certification is advantageous, not a substitute for results.
• Evidence of delivery recovery, resource allocation, budget or margin accountability, manager development and personally introduced operating systems.
• Strong spreadsheet and management-reporting capability; able to interpret financial forecasts and challenge assumptions while respecting the CFO’s finance ownership.
• Experience in at least two relevant settings is desirable: development consulting/programmes, renewable energy, enterprise or agribusiness services, technology projects or a multi-business group.
• Sound judgement, integrity and a constructive record of working with founders, clients and specialist leaders. A prior COO title is not required where the responsibility is evidenced.