Job Description:VVater, a leader in innovative water and wastewater treatment solutions, seeks a dynamic, execution-driven Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead day-to-day operations and drive the scaling of our manufacturing and field deployment. Reporting to the CEO, the COO will shape and execute the operational strategy across manufacturing, automation, supply chain, project delivery, service operations, quality, safety, and administrative functions. The ideal candidate combines hands-on leadership, strategic program management, and a passion for operational excellence to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
Key Responsibilities- Operate the company day-to-day: establish the weekly/monthly/quarterly operating cadence (OKRs, KPI dashboards, business reviews), drive accountability across functions, and ensure commitments on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and cash.
- Lead end-to-end operations: capacity planning, site selection and build-out, factory start-up/scale-up, line design and standard work, OEE/TPM, Lean/Six Sigma, and continuous improvement.
- Drive industrial automation and digital ops (PLC/SCADA, robotics, MES/IIoT) integrated with ERP/MRP, QMS, and CMMS for real-time visibility and traceability.
- Oversee project delivery from award to commissioning (FAT/SAT) and handover to service; own forecasting, budgets, risk registers, change control, and customer communications.
- Own service/O&M programs: preventive/predictive maintenance, spares/kitting, SLAs, technician training, and field quality-closing the loop to product and process updates.
- Partner with the CFO on operating plans, budgets, and cash; manage OpEx/CapEx, inventory turns, and cost-reduction roadmaps; present performance and investment cases to the CEO/board.
- Lead supply chain and S&OP: strategic sourcing, contracts, vendor development and scorecards, logistics/fulfillment, and risk mitigation across critical parts and equipment.
- Ensure quality and compliance: implement ISO-aligned QMS practices, manage nonconformance and corrective actions, and uphold applicable safety and environmental requirements.
- Coordinate G&A enablers: partner with HR on workforce planning and org design; with IT/Security on systems reliability and data protection; with Legal on contracts, risk, and compliance, maintaining policy, SOP, and audit readiness.
- Build, mentor, and scale high-performance teams and leaders; model a high-urgency, roll-up-your-sleeves culture that prizes ownership and bias to action.
- Perform all other duties as instructed by the company
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field; advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MS) preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive operations leadership, including 5+ years managing large-scale manufacturing or multi-site operations, with a track record of successfully launching and scaling facilities or programs.
- Expertise in process optimization methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, TPM) and program/project management, from strategy development to execution and commissioning.
- Proven experience integrating automation, robotics, or digital operations (e.g., ERP, MES, or similar systems) to drive efficiency and scalability.
- Familiarity with water/wastewater, process industries, or engineered product sectors, with strong knowledge of commissioning, field deployment, or service operations.
- Strong financial acumen, with demonstrated success in improving throughput, cost efficiency, quality, delivery, and cash flow; exceptional leadership and communication skills to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-driven environment.
- Ability to build and lead diverse, high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and collaboration.
**As a part of our process to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of all applicants, assessment tests are required as part of our recruitment process. Unfortunately, should you elect not to participate in completing the assessment tests, your application will not be able to progress to the next stage or taken into consideration during evaluation.
