About the Role
The BMI Group is seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide executive leadership and operational oversight across its diverse business portfolio.
Working closely with the Executive Office, the COO will translate strategic direction into measurable operational and financial results, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and support sustainable growth.
The role will initially focus on BMI's industrial manufacturing pillar, including the integration of five manufacturing plants and approximately 700 associated jobs into the group. A key priority will be to assess and improve plant-level profitability, strengthen operational performance, and establish the structures and accountability needed to support long-term success.
The successful candidate will bring strong financial acumen, technical expertise, and demonstrated executive leadership capability, along with the ability to build effective relationships across business units and with BMI's investor group in the Netherlands. Conversational Dutch is considered a strong asset.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Execution & Business Alignment
- Translate strategic priorities established by the Executive Office into actionable plans, initiatives, and measurable outcomes.
- Align business units, leadership teams, resources, and operational capabilities with organizational objectives.
- Monitor operational performance, financial results, progress against priorities, and emerging business risks.
- Provide clear reporting and recommendations to support informed executive decision-making.
Operational Leadership & Financial Performance
- Lead initiatives to improve and sustain profitability at the individual manufacturing plant level.
- Assess financial and operational performance to identify gaps, inefficiencies, cost pressures, and opportunities for improvement.
- Establish appropriate performance measures, reporting practices, and accountability for operational and financial results.
- Implement initiatives to improve productivity, operational efficiency, cost management, and resource utilization.
- Promote consistent operating practices and continuous improvement across manufacturing operations and, where appropriate, the broader organization.
Organizational Development & Leadership
- Strengthen organizational structures, leadership capacity, management accountability, and operational independence.
- Clarify roles, responsibilities, decision-making authority, and escalation pathways across the organization.
- Promote a bottom-up decision-making approach that empowers employees and leaders to make decisions within their areas of responsibility, with appropriate escalation when required.
- Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Develop leadership and organizational capabilities that support scalability and long-term success.
Integration & Business Development Support
- Lead the integration of five manufacturing plants and approximately 700 associated jobs into BMI's organizational structure, operating model, and culture.
- Align newly integrated operations with BMI's operating expectations, reporting practices, and management structures while recognizing the distinct needs of individual businesses.
- Work closely with Business Development to assess operational capabilities, resource requirements, and execution considerations in support of growth opportunities.
- Support the effective integration and implementation of growth initiatives.
Operational Decision-Making
- Exercise broad operational authority over day-to-day decisions, hiring, budgets, resource allocation, and operational initiatives, within the strategic direction and governance framework established by the Executive Office.
- Identify and address operational challenges, make decisions within established authority, and escalate matters requiring executive direction or approval.
- Work collaboratively with business leaders, functional teams, and external stakeholders to support alignment and effective execution.
Qualifications & Experience
- A university degree in engineering, industrial automation, manufacturing technology, or a related technical discipline is required. A master's degree or other relevant postgraduate qualification is an asset.
- Progressive management and leadership experience, including a minimum of three years at the executive level.
- Senior leadership experience overseeing complex manufacturing or industrial operations, preferably across multiple facilities or business units.
- Demonstrated success in operational strategy, financial performance, and organizational integration or transformation.
- Strong financial acumen, including experience with budgets, cost management, financial reporting, and operational performance analysis.
- Experience leading organizational integration, operational transformation, and significant business improvement initiatives.
- Demonstrated ability to develop leadership teams, strengthen management accountability, and improve organizational structures.
- Strong technical aptitude and the ability to work effectively with business systems, operational data, and technology-enabled processes.
- Experience working across multiple business units, facilities, or operating environments.
- Strong communication, relationship-building, analytical, and decision-making skills.
- Conversational Dutch is considered a strong asset to support effective communication and relationship management with BMI's investor group in the Netherlands. Dutch reading and writing proficiency is also an asset.
Working Relationships
The COO will work closely with the Executive Office, manufacturing leadership, business unit leaders, Business Development, and functional teams across BMI. The role also involves building and maintaining effective relationships with BMI's investor group in the Netherlands.
Application Process
Interested candidates are invited to submit a résumé outlining their relevant leadership experience, operational and financial expertise, and qualifications for the role.
BMI is committed to a fair and consistent recruitment process. Artificial intelligence is not used to screen, assess, or make hiring decisions as part of our recruitment process.
