CONFIDENTIAL SEARCH
Operations Director – Asset Performance
Location: Saudi Arabia
Reports to: Asset Performance Vice President
Direct Reports: Project Management Team
Travel: Extensive travel across Saudi Arabia
ROLE PURPOSE
A leading international engineering, industrial services and asset performance organisation is seeking an experienced Operations Director – Asset Performance to lead its Saudi Arabia operations.
The successful candidate will be accountable for the safe, reliable, efficient and profitable delivery of Asset Performance solutions across Saudi Arabia, supporting the organisation’s strategic growth objectives.
The role carries broad operational accountability spanning P&L performance, asset reliability and availability, major projects and contracts, client relationships, HSEQ, workforce capability, operational excellence and continuous improvement.
The Operations Director will play a critical role in expanding the Saudi Asset Performance business, strengthening strategic client relationships and building the operational capability required to support sustainable long-term growth.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy & Business Performance
- Translate the Asset Performance strategy into clear Saudi operational plans, priorities and KPIs.
- Drive revenue growth, profitability, productivity, utilisation and operational efficiency.
- Develop the operational capability required to support the organisation’s Saudi growth strategy.
- Identify and recover underperforming contracts, projects and business areas.
- Ensure operational decisions support long-term asset performance and sustainable client value.
- Provide clear performance, risk and opportunity reporting to the Asset Performance Vice President.
Safety, HSEQ & Asset Integrity
- Provide visible and uncompromising leadership on safety across all operations and client assets.
- Ensure compliance with Saudi legislation, client requirements and corporate HSEQ standards.
- Embed asset integrity, operational risk management and safe systems of work into project and contract delivery.
- Hold operational leaders accountable for HSEQ, asset integrity and risk performance.
- Ensure appropriate procedures, method statements, permits, risk assessments and operational controls are implemented.
- Intervene immediately where safety, asset integrity or compliance may be compromised.
Asset Performance & Operational Delivery
- Lead the delivery of Asset Performance contracts, projects, maintenance, shutdown/turnaround and reliability activities.
- Ensure services deliver measurable improvements in asset availability, reliability, productivity, efficiency and lifecycle performance.
- Maintain accountability for safety, delivery, cost, quality and client outcomes.
- Identify operational underperformance at an early stage and implement effective recovery plans.
- Ensure effective mobilisation, execution and close-out of contracts and projects.
- Drive standardisation, operational consistency and best practice across the Saudi Asset Performance business.
P&L & Commercial Performance
- Own operational P&L performance within approved authority.
- Drive margin, cost control, productivity, utilisation and cash performance.
- Identify and address cost overruns, margin erosion and operational inefficiencies.
- Work closely with Finance and Commercial teams on forecasting, claims, variations and contract recovery.
- Ensure operational commitments are safe, achievable and commercially viable.
Client & Business Growth
- Build strong senior relationships with major Saudi asset owners, operators and strategic clients.
- Act as the senior operational escalation point for major Asset Performance contracts.
- Support major tenders, bids, renewals and strategic growth opportunities.
- Identify opportunities to expand Asset Performance services across the Saudi market.
- Ensure proposed solutions are operationally deliverable and provide measurable value to clients.
People & Saudisation
- Lead and develop a high-performing Asset Performance leadership team.
- Build a culture of safety, accountability, technical excellence and continuous improvement.
- Deliver Saudisation objectives through recruitment, development, retention and progression of Saudi nationals.
- Build a sustainable pipeline of Saudi operational, technical and leadership talent.
- Develop succession plans supporting increased Saudi representation in critical operational and leadership positions.
Operational Excellence & Risk
- Drive improvements in asset performance, productivity, reliability and operational efficiency.
- Identify and manage material operational, financial, contractual, HSEQ and asset-related risks.
- Establish consistent operational standards, governance and performance reporting.
- Promote digitalisation, data-driven asset performance and continuous improvement where appropriate.
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations or a relevant technical discipline.
- 15+ years of relevant industry experience, including approximately 5–7 years in senior operational leadership.
- Significant Saudi Arabia operational experience is mandatory.
- Proven leadership of complex Asset Performance, maintenance, reliability, engineering, industrial services, shutdown/turnaround or related operations.
- Proven experience managing complex projects, contracts, multiple sites and multidisciplinary teams in Saudi Arabia.
- Strong P&L, commercial, contract and operational management experience.
- Proven track record in safety-critical environments and HSEQ leadership.
- Demonstrable experience improving asset reliability, availability, productivity or lifecycle performance.
- Proven track record of recovering underperforming contracts and/or projects.
- Strong understanding of the Saudi market, major asset owners, clients, regulatory environment and business culture.
- Fluent English is essential; Arabic language capability is highly desirable.
LEADERSHIP PROFILE
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Strategic leadership – Converts Asset Performance strategy into clear operational execution and sustainable growth.
- Safety leadership – Maintains uncompromising standards in safety, asset integrity, compliance and operational discipline.
- Commercial acumen – Strong P&L, margin and contract focus with sound commercial judgement.
- Asset focus – Strong understanding of reliability, availability, maintenance, integrity and lifecycle performance.
- Decisiveness – Acts quickly, addresses underperformance and establishes clear accountability.
- Client focus – Builds trusted relationships with senior Saudi clients and delivers measurable value.
- People leadership – Develops strong leaders and actively supports Saudi talent development.
- Results orientation – Delivers sustainable improvements in safety, asset performance, profitability and operational efficiency.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Performance will be measured against:
- Safety and HSEQ performance.
- Revenue, P&L, margin and cash performance.
- Asset reliability and availability.
- Project and contract delivery.
- Recovery of underperforming contracts and projects.
- Productivity and resource utilisation.
- Client satisfaction and contract retention.
- Operational risk and asset integrity.
- Strategic growth and new business.
- Operational efficiency and continuous improvement.
- Saudisation and development of Saudi national talent.
SUCCESS IN THE ROLE
Success will be measured by the growth and strategic development of the Asset Performance business in Saudi Arabia.
The successful candidate will be expected to deliver sustainable revenue and P&L growth, expand strategic client relationships, secure new and repeat business, strengthen the organisation’s market position and build the people and operational capability required to support long-term growth.
This growth must be delivered through strong safety performance, asset reliability, operational discipline, effective contract execution, commercial accountability and achievement of Saudisation objectives.
CONFIDENTIAL SEARCH PROFILE
This is a senior leadership opportunity for an accomplished Saudi-based operations executive with a strong track record across asset performance, maintenance, reliability, engineering, industrial services, shutdown/turnaround or related asset-intensive environments.
Candidates should bring substantial Saudi operational experience, strong commercial and P&L capability, credibility with major asset owners and operators, and the leadership capability to scale and develop a growing Asset Performance organisation.
