Chief Operating Officer at Michael Stevens Consulting

Position Summary

•  We are seeking an executive-level leader to join their executive suite as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
• Our client delivers complex, high-impact engineering solutions and is entering a strategic expansion phase requiring top-tier executive leadership to steer operational excellence and drive commercial growth
• The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will serve as a pivotal executive leader, taking full accountability for operational excellence, overall firm profitability, and long-term strategic execution. Working in close alignment with the Board and executive leadership, the COO will integrate operational delivery with aggressive market expansion.
• This role demands a seasoned industry veteran with a proven record of leading large multidisciplinary engineering teams, a deep mastery of P&L management, and strong business development capability to secure high-value consulting engagements across public and private sectors.

Key Responsibilities
Operational Excellence & Profitability Management:

• Hold primary accountability for overall P&L, ensuring project delivery meets top-line growth and target profit margins.
• Streamline operations, project delivery frameworks, resource allocation, and quality assurance to optimize operational performance.
• Establish robust risk management, financial controls, and governance protocols across all active engineering consulting engagements.

Strategic Planning & Execution:

• Champion the firm’s long-term corporate vision, driving the annual strategic planning process and translating vision into actionable operational roadmaps.
• Expand the firm's service offerings, operational capacity, and geographic footprint within Nigeria and across regional markets.
• Lead corporate restructuring initiatives, digital transformations, and technical capability upgrades to maintain market leadership.

Commercial Leadership & Business Development:

• Leverage strong business development acumen and high-level networks to drive business growth, win major tenders, and secure strategic partnerships.
• Spearhead client engagement strategies with high-net-worth developers, multinational corporations, multilateral agencies, and government bodies.
• Guide technical and commercial proposal teams to ensure winning strategies on high-stakes, multi-billion-naira bids.

Executive Leadership & Talent Mentorship:

• Inspire, mentor, and build a high-performing leadership team across engineering disciplines, operations, and business functions.
• Foster a high-performance culture grounded in safety, innovation, integrity, and client satisfaction.

Key Requirements & Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Structural, Electrical, or related field). A Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) or an advanced degree in Management is highly desirable.
• Professional Registration: COREN registration and relevant professional memberships (e.g., NSE, ICE, IEEE, or international equivalent) are required.
• Experience: Minimum of 20+ years of progressive professional experience, with at least 8–10 years in senior executive roles (COO, General Manager, Managing Director, or Regional Director) specifically within engineering consultancy, infrastructure development, or major construction firms.

Key Attributes & Capabilities:

• Commercial Acumen: Demonstrated history of growing top and bottom-line revenue, managing multi-million-dollar P&Ls, and executing winning BD strategies.
• Executive Presence: Outstanding negotiation, board-level communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Market Insight: Deep understanding of the Nigerian regulatory, economic, and infrastructure landscape.

What’s on Offer

• Executive-level compensation package including performance bonus structures and equity/profit-sharing incentives.
• Executive healthcare and benefit plans.
• The opportunity to shape the strategic direction of one of the region's top engineering consultancies.