Job Opportunity: Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Construction Sector position available at OVID HOLDING in Addis Ababa. Engineering, Business Development, Development and Project Management jobs in Ethiopia are in high demand. Apply now through GeezJobs - Ethiopia's leading job portal.

Position Overview/Scope of Role:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a core executive leader responsible for overseeing the operational backbone of the company. The role ensures seamless planning, execution, and control across the company’s three key operational domains: Engineering & Construction, Plant & Equipment, and Procurement & Logistics. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO translates strategic objectives into operational performance through robust systems, integrated resource deployment, and measurable accountability frameworks.

The COO supervises the Managing Directors of each core division and collaborates closely with executive functions including Finance (CFO), Human Resources (CHR), Project Management Office (PMO), Legal, Internal Audit, and Safety to ensure optimal operational efficiency, compliance, and sustainable growth. The role requires deep construction industry expertise, operational excellence, and strategic coordination across multiple sites and functional domains.

Top Roles and Responsibilities:

Operational Strategy & Leadership

• Translate the CEO’s strategic vision into measurable operational plans, targets, and performance benchmarks.
• Lead execution across the three major divisions through their respective Managing Directors.
• Drive operational integration between project execution, equipment readiness, and supply chain logistics.

Supervision of Managing Directors

• Ensure timely delivery, cost-efficiency, and quality assurance across all engineering and construction projects.
• Oversee plant and equipment availability, preventive maintenance, and asset lifecycle planning.
• Ensure procurement planning aligns with project timelines, quality standards, and compliance frameworks.
• Monitor logistics, warehousing, transportation, and supplier relationship management.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with the CFO for cost control, project budgeting, and capital spending optimization.
• Collaborate with the CHR to ensure workforce availability, labor planning, and performance alignment.
• Work with the PMO to synchronize project timelines, critical path tracking, and reporting.
• Coordinate with Legal, Audit, and HSE teams to ensure compliance, governance, and risk management.
• Collaborate with other functional departments.

Operational Excellence & Efficiency

• Institutionalize operational standards, policies, and KPIs across all divisions.
• Implement continuous improvement programs, resource optimization initiatives, and cost-saving measures.
• Drive adoption of construction technology, process digitization, and lean construction practices.

Financial Oversight & Resource Planning

• Approve major procurement plans and operational budgets in alignment with strategic priorities.
• Monitor division-wise expenditure, resource utilization, and financial variance.
• Align plant and material investments with the long-term infrastructure development roadmap.

Performance Management & Reporting

• Define performance targets for each division and monitor actual vs. plan achievement.
• Consolidate operational reports for CEO and board-level presentations, highlighting risks, opportunities, and milestones.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to construction, asset failure, supply disruptions, or regulatory violations.
• Ensure full compliance with national regulations, safety laws, contract terms, and ISO standards where applicable.

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Provide strong, ethical, and accountable leadership to all operations teams.
• Represent OVID Construction in external engagements, partnership negotiations, or high-level forums as delegated by the CEO.

Other Duties

• Perform any other tasks as assigned by the CEO in alignment with organizational priorities.

Success Metrics / Key Deliverables:

• On-time, within-budget completion of all construction projects
• Reduction in equipment downtime and improved utilization rate
• Procurement cycle time reduction and supplier performance improvement
• Cross-departmental coordination efficiency
• Operational cost savings and margin improvements
• High team engagement and performance across operational divisions
• Full compliance with safety, labor, and quality standards
• Timely delivery of reports and executive dashboards

Educational Qualification:

• Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Construction/Project Management, Engineering, or equivalent.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, CCM, or Lean Six Sigma are a strong advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in construction, infrastructure, or project-based industries.
• At least 7 years in senior executive or director-level leadership, with oversight of multiple functional divisions or multi-site operations.
• Demonstrated success in leading large-scale projects, managing plant & logistics operations, and coordinating multi-functional executive teams.

How To Apply

We invite enthusiastic and qualified individuals to apply for our open positions. To be considered, please submit your CV as a single PDF file to hr@ovid-holding.com. Ensure you mention the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email.

We value every application and appreciate your interest in joining our team. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only candidates who meet our criteria will be contacted for further steps.

We look forward to reviewing your application and thank you for considering a career with OVID Holding!