Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Company:
Confidential — disclosed to candidates at the interview stage after signing an NDA.
A Ukrainian developer and manufacturer of military UAVs. The key product is interceptor drones for countering hostile strike UAVs — an innovative, codified product with in-house R&D and an operating serial assembly production. Strategy: an R&D company focused on interceptors and small air-defense systems to protect troops and civilian infrastructure; serial volumes are scaled through partner manufacturing sites.
Markets:
Ukraine (defence and security sector).
Team size
15 people
Role description & who We are looking for
Build an effective operational system for the company: serial production, procurement without downtime, a working service and technical support, and order in the administrative function — with systematic cost reduction across the whole company.
Key responsibilities
Production: operational management via the Production Director — meeting the output plan, quality, scaling.
Company-wide cost reduction: product cost, purchase prices, operating expenses, a cost-reduction program with measurable results.
Procurement: uninterrupted supply for production, price audit, alternative suppliers, imports.
Administrative matters: admin department, accounting and finance, HR, occupational safety — regulations, document flow, reporting.
Service and technical support: building the service function, SLAs, handling customer complaints.
Technical quality control: incoming / in-process / outgoing control together with production.
Operational reporting for the CEO and shareholders: plan-vs-actual, costs, department KPIs.
Requirements (must-have)
5+ years as an operations / executive director at manufacturing enterprises;
proven cost / operating-expense reduction cases (figures will be verified);
experience managing several functions at once — production, procurement, service, administrative;
hands-on setup of accounting and regulations (1C/ERP) and department budgeting;
preferably defense industry, machine-building, electronics or related sectors.
Nice-to-have
Experience scaling production and working with outsourcing partners;
knowledge of state-customer requirements and military acceptance;
anti-crisis experience — bringing order to accounting and processes that formed spontaneously.
Terms of engagement
Target start date:
ASAP.
Salary:
UAH 100,000/month (net). The rate is a budget benchmark (net); negotiable for strong candidates.
Form of engagement:
Full-time employee — official employment.
Probation period (length):
Approximately 3 months; during the probation period the rate is approximately 85% of the amount stated above (wording and exact terms to be finalized with the Customer).
Working conditions / benefits:
Work equipment and mobile-communication reimbursement. Vacation, sick leave and other guarantees — in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine.
Reservation from mobilisation (Ukraine):
Yes — the company holds critical-enterprise status; all positions are reserved from the first day of employment; reservation processing takes approximately 2 weeks.
Polygraph required:
Yes — mandatory at the hiring stage. If a candidate refuses the polygraph, this is an automatic rejection (stop) in the hiring process.
Selection checks (references & security):
Reference letters and calls with previous managers (at least two), a security-service check and a polygraph at the hiring stage. The Contractor performs pre-screening only; the Contractor may request reference letters/calls, but the check itself is on the Customer's side, and the polygraph and security check are entirely on the Customer's side. Stop-factors: criminal record (including in russia); any connection with russia.
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
A person reads every profile. You get an answer either way, usually within two working days.
Not quite your role?
Most hiring in this sector is never published. Leave your profile and we'll come back when something matches.
Send your cv
