The central accountability of the COO is performance: delivering projects on schedule, at or above budgeted margin, and without compromise to safety or quality. The successful candidate will be responsible for translating awarded backlog and pipeline into realized revenue and EBITDA — driving asset utilization, managing multi-project operational complexity, managing KPIs, and holding division leaders accountable to plan.
Key Responsibilities
Execution & P&L Accountability
- Own the execution gap between budget and actuals across all four divisions — drive accountability at the project level for cost, schedule, and margin performance
- Lead fleet utilization and asset deployment decisions, balancing project sequencing, mobilization cost, and margin optimization across a multi-asset, multi-geography fleet
- Direct the operational response to project disruptions, equipment casualties, and schedule changes, including emergency asset redeployment and subcontractor engagement
- Oversee change order, REA, and claims processes to ensure cost overruns attributable to changed conditions or scope are identified, documented, and recovered from customers
- Partner with the CFO to deliver accurate project-level financial reporting and forecasting; provide operational insight and context to lender and investor reporting
Required
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in marine transportation, dredging, offshore marine services, or a directly adjacent maritime sector
- Demonstrated P&L ownership at the division or company level, with a consistent track record of delivering projects on time and on budget in a vessel-based operating environment
- Familiarity with USACE contracting, project execution, REA and change order processes, and multi-district program management
- Proven ability to manage multi-asset, multi-geography operations simultaneously, including scheduling, mobilization planning, and subcontractor management
- Strong financial acumen: ability to read and act on project-level job cost reports, income statement trends, and operational variance analysis
- Credibility among mariners, project managers, and field crews — a leader who earns respect through operational competence, not title alone
- Working knowledge of Jones Act requirements and applicable USCG regulatory framework for commercial marine operations
Preferred
- Direct experience managing clamshell or mechanical dredging operations
- Background in OSV operations and offshore charter markets
- Experience in marine construction, heavy-lift, or offshore installation services
- Existing relationships with USACE districts along the Gulf, East, or West Coast
- USCG-issued mariner credential or equivalent technical maritime background
Up to $300K
Leadership Profile
The right candidate for this role is a relentless executor — someone energized by the complexity of running vessel-intensive operations where no two days are the same. They hold high standards for themselves and others, communicate directly, and make decisions with speed and confidence. They understand that in this business, execution is the strategy, and that the difference between a great year and a difficult year often comes down to the quality of the plan and the speed of the response when conditions change.