Global Chief Operating Officer - Renewable Energy - Woods Foster

Global Chief Operations Officer (Global COO) - Renewable Energy

Location: London / Global travel

Reports to: CEO / Board

The Opportunity

A fast-growing renewable energy company is seeking an outstanding Global COO to lead and scale global operations as it expands its wind and solar portfolio across international markets.

This high-impact role oversees end-to-end operational delivery — development, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and operations — ensuring projects are executed safely, efficiently, on time and to the highest standards.

A key element of the role is leadership of M&A execution, including operational due diligence and Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) negotiation. The company requires a commercially astute operator with hands-on experience navigating complex commercial and legal issues, negotiating risk allocation and ensuring seamless execution from term sheet through closing and integration.

What You’ll Do

Lead Global Operations

1. Own and evolve the global operating model across regions and technologies.
2. Drive consistent, scalable processes across the full project lifecycle.
3. Set performance standards and ensure delivery on time, on budget and to required quality.
4. Build KPI frameworks, reporting structures, project controls and governance.

Lead M&A Execution

1. Lead operational due diligence and convert findings into execution and value-creation plans.
2. Partner with Legal, Finance, Commercial and Technical teams throughout transactions.
3. Assess feasibility, risks and opportunities within acquisition theses.
4. Drive operational readiness from term sheet through closing and integration.

Drive SPA Negotiation & Commercial Risk Management

1. Lead negotiation of Share Purchase Agreements (SPAs) and related documentation with strong commercial judgement.
2. Navigate purchase price mechanics, working capital, debt-like items, reps & warranties, indemnities and closing conditions.
3. Ensure completion accounts, adjustments and transition arrangements align with operational realities.
4. Balance commercial protection with transaction momentum.

Strengthen Governance, Risk & Delivery

1. Establish strong governance, HSE, compliance and risk management practices.
2. Oversee contractual and performance management of EPC, O&M and strategic partners.
3. Strengthen escalation processes, documentation and audit-ready controls.
4. Drive engineering excellence, procurement effectiveness, cost discipline and robust change control.

Build a High-Performing Global Team

1. Develop capability, structure and leadership depth across global operations.
2. Set clear decision rights, accountability and performance expectations.
3. Build a culture of execution, ownership and continuous improvement.
4. Lead and motivate a diverse, geographically distributed matrix organisation.

What We’re Looking For

A senior operational leader with deep renewable energy expertise and strong commercial and transactional capability.

You will bring:

1. Senior operations leadership experience (COO, VP Operations or equivalent) in renewables, infrastructure or similar.
2. A track record of scaling operations across multiple regions.
3. Extensive M&A experience, including operational due diligence and transaction execution.
4. Proven SPA negotiation experience and strong commercial/legal judgement.
5. Deep understanding of the renewable energy project lifecycle.
6. Demonstrated improvements in time, cost, quality and operational performance.
7. Ability to lead complex matrix organisations and influence senior stakeholders.
8. Strong commercial judgement and decision-making under pressure.

Leadership Style

You are:

1. Decisive, execution-focused and able to turn strategy into action.
2. Commercially astute with strong judgement on opportunity, risk and value.
3. Collaborative and credible across functions and geographies.
4. Structured, analytical, pragmatic and solutions-oriented.
5. Comfortable with complexity across operational, commercial and legal domains.
6. A clear communicator who translates complexity into practical decisions.
7. A leader of integrity who builds trust, accountability and performance.

What awaits

This role offers the chance to shape the next phase of growth for a dynamic renewable energy business.

As Global COO, you will influence how the company scales, executes projects, manages risk and creates value through operations and M&A. You will work closely with the CEO, Board and senior leadership team to build the operating capability that underpins future success.

If you combine operational leadership, commercial acumen and hands-on M&A/SPA expertise, we would welcome a conversation.