Chief Operating Officer (Infrastructure/Real Estate)

Job Description: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Location: Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

Reporting to: Managing Director / Board of Directors

About the Organisation

A real estate and infrastructure development company based in Navi Mumbai, affiliated with the Reputed National and globally recognised University. The organisation focuses on infrastructure and real estate projects that support and complement the Group's educational, healthcare, sports, and institutional presence in the region. Work primarily involves development and operational support related to the Group's existing and upcoming facilities and land parcels in Navi Mumbai and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Role Overview

The Chief Operating Officer will be responsible for the overall day-to-day operations of the company. The role involves translating strategic vision into executable plans, ensuring timely and cost-effective delivery of real estate and infrastructure projects, building robust operational systems, and driving organisational growth.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Leadership & Project Delivery

• Oversee end-to-end operations of all real estate and infrastructure projects — from planning, land/development stage, construction, quality control, to handover.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to required quality, safety, and compliance standards.
• Establish project governance, milestones, KPIs, dashboards, and regular review mechanisms.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and resolve operational bottlenecks promptly.

2. Process Excellence & Systems

• Design, implement, and continuously improve operational processes, SOPs, and systems across functions (projects, procurement, contracts, quality, safety, etc.).
• Drive institutionalisation of best practices in project management, cost control, risk management, and digital tools (if applicable).
• Ensure strong internal controls, documentation, and audit readiness.

3. Financial & Cost Management

• Work closely with Finance on budgeting, cost monitoring, cash-flow management, and profitability of projects.
• Monitor project costs vs. budgets, identify variances early, and implement corrective actions.
• Support commercial decisions related to contracts, vendors, and resource allocation.

4. Stakeholder & Statutory Management

• Liaise with government authorities, local bodies (CIDCO, MIDC, municipal corporations, etc.), consultants, contractors, architects, and other external stakeholders.
• Ensure timely statutory approvals, RERA compliance (where applicable), environmental clearances, and other regulatory requirements.
• Represent the company in key external forums as required.

5. Team Leadership & Organisational Development

• Build, lead, and mentor high-performing cross-functional teams (projects, procurement, quality, administration, etc.).
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Identify talent needs, support recruitment of key positions, and drive performance management.

6. Strategic Support

• Partner with the MD/Board in translating business strategy into operational plans.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, technology adoption, and operational scalability.
• Support new project evaluation, feasibility assessments, and expansion initiatives in the Navi Mumbai / MMR region.

Desired Candidate Profile

Experience

• 15+ years of progressive experience in real estate development, infrastructure, EPC, or construction, with at least 5–8 years in a senior leadership role (COO, Business Head – Operations, VP/Head of Projects, or equivalent).
• Proven track record of successfully delivering multiple real estate or infrastructure projects, preferably in the Mumbai / Navi Mumbai / MMR region.
• Strong exposure to project execution, land/development processes, statutory liaisoning, cost control, and contractor/vendor management.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, or related technical field (preferred).
• MBA / Post-graduate degree in Management, Operations, or related discipline (preferred).
• Professional certifications (PMP, etc.) will be an advantage.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and people-management skills.
• Excellent project management, planning, and execution capabilities.
• Commercial and financial acumen with focus on cost and profitability.
• Deep understanding of real estate regulations, RERA, approvals processes, and local authority systems in Maharashtra.
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• Results-oriented, hands-on, and capable of working in a growing organisation environment.
• High integrity and alignment with organisational values.

Preferred Attributes

• Prior experience in developer-side real estate operations (preferred over pure EPC).
• Familiarity with Navi Mumbai / MMR market dynamics and infrastructure ecosystem.
• Experience working in family-promoted or group company environments.