Chief Operations Officer – Marine MRO / Ship Repair | Saudi Arabia

Chief Operations Officer – Marine MRO / Ship Repair | Saudi ArabiaConfidential Executive SearchI am supporting a confidential international search for a senior marine operations leader to take on a Chief Operations Officer position within an established Marine Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) business in Saudi Arabia.This is a strategic leadership opportunity for an experienced ship repair / MRO professional who has operated at senior management level and understands the full commercial and operational demands of running a marine repair business.Please note: This is strictly an MRO / ship repair search. Candidates whose experience is primarily in new-build shipbuilding, without substantial ship repair or MRO exposure, will not be considered.The OpportunityThe successful candidate will have overall responsibility for the operational performance of the MRO business, covering areas such as:Lead overall ship repair and MRO operations, ensuring safe, timely, high-quality and commercially successful project delivery.Drive operational strategy, productivity, capacity utilization, profitability and continuous improvement across the business.Oversee vessel repair, maintenance, docking, overhaul, fabrication and associated marine service activities.Lead multidisciplinary operations, production and project teams, with responsibility for manpower planning, performance and organizational development.Manage operational budgets, project costs, resources and productivity while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and margins.Build and maintain strong relationships with ship owners, customers, suppliers, regulatory bodies and other key stakeholders.Establish robust operational, safety, quality and performance standards to support the continued growth of the MRO operation.What We're Looking ForDegree in Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, Offshore Engineering, or a related discipline.Strong and proven Marine MRO / Ship Repair experience is essential.Extensive experience in ship repair, vessel maintenance, dry docking, overhaul, marine fabrication or marine technical services.Proven senior leadership experience managing large multidisciplinary operations, production, project or shipyard teams.Strong understanding of ship repair operations, production planning, manpower utilization, cost management and project delivery.Demonstrated track record in improving operational efficiency, productivity, profitability and customer satisfaction.Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance operational performance with business objectives.Experience working with international customers, ship owners, suppliers, classification societies and regulatory authorities.Middle East / Saudi Arabia experience would be an advantage.The Profile We Are TargetingI am particularly interested in senior professionals coming from:Ship Repair | Marine MRO | Dry Docking | Vessel Maintenance | Overhaul | Shipyard Repair | Marine Fabrication | Marine Technical ServicesThe ideal candidate should have direct operational leadership within an MRO environment, rather than simply having general maritime, offshore, or new-build shipbuilding experience.If you have significant Marine MRO / Ship Repair leadership experience and would be open to exploring a confidential international opportunity in Saudi Arabia, please feel free to reach out to me directly.All enquiries will be treated with strict confidentiality.