Chief Operating Officer

Cleveland, United States

• Work Experience 20+ years of progressive operational leadership experience within heavy equipment, industrial services, transportation, manufacturing, or asset-intensive environments
• City Cleveland
• State/Province Ohio
• Country United States

Job Description

We are seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide enterprise-wide operational leadership across a large, asset-intensive heavy equipment, industrial services, and transportation organization. This executive will be accountable for the end-to-end performance of operations, including manufacturing, fleet, field service, maintenance, supply chain, logistics, safety, and asset lifecycle management.

The COO will partner closely with the CEO and Board to translate corporate strategy into disciplined execution, ensuring operational excellence, scalability, and sustainable profitability across multi-site and multi-region operations. This role is central to building a high-performance culture, strengthening operational governance, and enabling long-term growth through operational rigor, safety leadership, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide enterprise leadership over all operational functions including manufacturing, field service, fleet operations, maintenance, supply chain, logistics, and asset lifecycle management
• Translate corporate strategy into executable operational road maps with clear performance metrics, governance, and accountability
• Drive operational excellence initiatives focused on safety, uptime, productivity, cost control, and customer service reliability
• Lead large, multi-site operations with responsibility for P&L performance, margin improvement, and capital deployment
• Establish and enforce enterprise operating standards, policies, and governance frameworks across all locations
• Build and develop high-performing executive and senior leadership teams across operations, engineering, supply chain, and service
• Champion safety leadership and regulatory compliance across all jurisdictions (DOT, OSHA, provincial and federal regulations)
• Partner with the CFO on financial planning, capital strategy, and operational investment prioritization
• Partner with the CHRO to strengthen workforce strategy, leadership development, succession planning, and labor relations
• Lead transformation initiatives including digital modernization, asset management systems, and operational technology adoption
• Ensure operational scalability to support organic growth, M&A integration, and geographic expansion
• Serve as a visible and credible leader across facilities, reinforcing accountability, performance discipline, and cultural alignment

Requirements & Qualifications

• 20+ years of progressive operational leadership experience within heavy equipment, industrial services, transportation, manufacturing, or asset-intensive environments
• Demonstrated success leading large, complex, multi-site operations with full P&L accountability
• Proven track record of driving operational transformation, safety performance, and margin improvement
• Deep expertise in fleet operations, maintenance, supply chain, manufacturing, and field service environments
• Experience operating within highly regulated environments with strong safety and compliance requirements
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field required; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred
• Exceptional executive presence with the ability to influence Boards, investors, and senior leadership teams
• Strong financial acumen including capital planning, budgeting, and operational performance management
• Experience leading through change, M&A integration, and enterprise transformation initiative

Work Structure

• Executive leadership schedule, Monday-Friday
• Extensive travel across North American operation
• Hybrid executive model with significant on-site presence

The organization offers a highly competitive, market-aligned executive compensation package designed to attract and retain top operational leadership talent within asset-intensive industries.

Base Salary

$325,000 - $425,000 USD, aligned with market benchmarks for enterprise COO roles within heavy equipment, industrial services, and transportation organizations.

Annual Executive Incentive Program

A performance-based short-term incentive plan tied to enterprise EBITDA, safety performance, operational KPIs, and strategic execution milestones. Target incentive opportunity is competitive with industry standards and designed to reward delivery of sustained operational excellence and growth.

Long-Term Incentive & Equity Program

Participation in a long-term incentive plan including equity, performance shares, or profit participation aligned with enterprise value creation, retention, and long-term strategic growth objectives.

• Executive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Executive wellness and health management program
• Employer-funded retirement and pension contributions
• Supplemental executive life and disability insurance
• Executive health assessments and preventative care programs
• Relocation assistance and housing support (if required)
• Company vehicle or executive transportation allowance
• Executive travel program and corporate expense coverage
• Paid executive vacation and leadership leave
• Financial planning and executive advisory services

Additional Executive Programs

• Change-of-control and severance protection
• Executive retention and succession incentives
• Board exposure and governance development
• Leadership development and executive coaching