COO

A leading international engineering and consultancy group specializing in mobility is currently seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead its operations in Brazil. This professional will play a key role in overseeing technical and operational activities, ensuring strategic alignment, and optimizing project execution across both rail and road sectors, as well as being responsible for the Project Management Office, ensuring efficient governance, risk management, and project delivery.

About the COO Role

The COO will be responsible for the overall operational performance, technical leadership, and project execution across all business units. This individual must have a strong technical background in both rail and road infrastructure and be able to drive operational excellence while maintaining high-quality service standards. Key Responsibilities include:

• Operational Leadership: Oversee and optimize day-to-day operations, ensuring efficient resource allocation, cost control, and high-performance delivery;
• Technical Expertise: Provide strategic direction and technical oversight in metro-rail and road transportation projects, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements;
• Project Management & PMO Oversight: Lead the Project Management Office (PMO), establishing best practices, methodologies, and governance frameworks to improve project efficiency and risk management;
• Business Strategy & Growth: Support the CEO and executive team in defining business strategies, identifying growth opportunities, and expanding market presence;
• Stakeholder Management: Maintain strong relationships with clients, government entities, regulatory bodies, and internal teams to ensure seamless project execution;
• Process Improvement: Drive continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging industry best practices to enhance operational effectiveness and service quality;
• Financial & Budget Management: Work closely with finance teams to monitor budgets, forecasts, and profitability across all operational projects.

For this role, a degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems or related field) with a strong technical background in both railway and road infrastructure is required, along with a 10y+ experience in technical and operational leadership roles, ideally as a Technical Director or senior executive in the transportation or infrastructure sectors.

Proven track record of leading large-scale projects in metro-rail and road transport, with a deep understanding of industry regulations and best practices; experience in PMO leadership, project governance, risk management, and performance monitoring are essential.
Finally a strong ability to manage multidisciplinary teams, ensuring operational efficiency and strategic execution, as well as exceptional leadership, communication, and negotiation skills are mandatory. Fluency in Portuguese and English (French or Spanish is a plus) is preferred.

This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned executive with a dual technical background in railway and road infrastructure to take on a pivotal leadership role within a globally recognized engineering group. If you have a passion for operational excellence, technical innovation, and strategic growth, apply now for this exciting COO position in Brazil.