Chief Operations Officer

Leadership and Growth Opportunity

We are partnering with a respected Newcastle-based Design & Construct firm seeking a dynamic Chief Operations Officer to join their Executive Leadership Team. This pivotal leadership position offers the chance to lead high-performing design and delivery teams as the company advances through its next phase of growth.

About the Company

The client is known for delivering top-tier commercial projects in the region, securing most work through established client relationships, referrals, and loyal repeat customers rather than competitive tenders. Their reputation is built on trust, superior quality, and delivering excellent results consistently. With sustained growth and a robust project pipeline, the organisation is poised to evolve, requiring a strategic leader to enhance their people, systems, and processes accordingly.

Role Overview

This is a substantive leadership role requiring the management and development of multidisciplinary teams including project management, contract administration, site management, architecture, design, and estimating. Success in this role hinges not on individual problem-solving, but on cultivating team capabilities, fostering confidence, and establishing an environment that supports outstanding collective results.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and development opportunities to multidisciplinary design and delivery teams
• Drive operational excellence through implementation of continuous improvement initiatives
• Identify operational bottlenecks and design scalable systems and processes
• Promote a collaborative, accountable, and high-performance culture built on trust
• Partner with project managers to ensure projects meet safety, profitability, and quality standards
• Enhance organisational capability through coaching, mentoring, and leadership development activities
• Collaborate with the Executive Leadership Team to align with strategic objectives
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with clients, consultants, and key stakeholders
• Champion innovation, simplicity, and ongoing improvement throughout the organisation
• Ensure commercial, quality, and safety goals are consistently prioritized across projects

Candidate Profile

• Holds tertiary qualifications in relevant disciplines such as Construction, Civil Engineering, or Architecture
• Possesses significant leadership experience in construction, design, or project delivery sectors
• Demonstrates a strong grasp of construction and design principles with credibility to lead technical experts
• Exhibits executive-level communication skills with a proven ability to influence a broad range of stakeholders
• Brings strong commercial insight with a track record of enhancing operational efficiency and profitability
• Has successfully led organisational change, business transformation, and process enhancements
• Experienced in building high-performing teams through effective coaching and mentoring
• Adopts a leadership style centered on collaboration, accountability, trust, and respect

Additional qualifications such as leadership certifications, project management credentials, or formal change management training are highly valued.

Company Commitment and Invitation

Our client embraces diversity and inclusivity, encouraging applications from First Nations Peoples, all genders, culturally diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQA+ community, persons with disabilities, and individuals of all ages and experiences. The recruitment process aims to be equitable and barrier-free, with adjustments available upon request.

For those ready to lead with authenticity, humility, and a strong commitment to continuous improvement, this opportunity offers the chance to shape the organisation's future while guiding exceptional teams through their next growth phase.