Job Description

A substantial Australian construction business is seeking an accomplished Chief Operating Officer to lead its operational performance across New South Wales and the ACT.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this is a critical executive appointment with accountability for a large, geographically dispersed operation. The successful candidate will lead an experienced operations team and work closely with regional and functional leaders to improve delivery, productivity, customer outcomes and financial performance.

The business has an established market position, recognised brands, experienced people and access to significant operational data. The opportunity is to bring greater consistency, visibility and discipline to the operating model while building a strong, respectful and accountable leadership culture.

This is not simply a business-as-usual leadership position. The incoming COO will be expected to identify constraints, challenge existing practices constructively and translate strategy into practical operational improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead operational performance across a complex, multi-site construction environment
• Establish a clear and consistent operating rhythm across regional teams
• Improve scheduling, programming, capacity planning and workflow
• Identify bottlenecks and address emerging performance issues before they become systemic
• Strengthen accountability through meaningful operational and financial measures
• Improve productivity, margin, working capital and cost performance
• Build strong relationships across sales, finance, procurement, design, estimating and customer functions
• Enhance the customer journey while maintaining appropriate standards across safety, quality and compliance
• Review systems, processes and organisational structures to support future growth
• Develop the capability, confidence and succession depth of the operations leadership team
• Provide the CEO and executive leadership team with clear, commercially focused operational insight
• Create constructive challenge while remaining aligned with agreed business decisions

The Person

The successful candidate will be an experienced senior operational executive who has led a substantial and complex business through change.

You may currently be operating as a Chief Operating Officer, Executive General Manager, Divisional Managing Director or senior General Manager within construction, infrastructure, building products, industrial services, manufacturing or another operationally intensive environment.

Direct residential construction experience would be valuable but is not essential. The business is equally interested in executives from adjacent sectors who can introduce sophisticated operating disciplines, diversity of thought and proven transformation capability.

You will ideally demonstrate:

• Significant senior leadership experience across complex operations
• Strong scheduling, programming and operational planning capability
• Experience leading geographically dispersed teams and multiple operating locations
• The ability to interpret data, identify patterns and convert insight into action
• Strong commercial and financial acumen
• A record of improving operational performance, productivity and customer outcomes
• Experience leading organisational, systems or cultural transformation
• The confidence to challenge senior stakeholders constructively
• A collaborative, grounded and low-ego leadership style
• The ability to create clarity, develop leaders and hold people accountable respectfully

This role will suit an executive who enjoys working through complexity, improving the performance of established businesses and leaving behind stronger people, systems and operating disciplines.

A highly competitive executive remuneration package will be negotiated, comprising base salary, superannuation and short-term incentive.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Ben Drougas on 0439 968 031 or submit your application through SEEK.