Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Waste-to-Jet-Fuel

Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Waste-to-Jet-Fuel / Clean Energy (Miami, FL) Location: Miami, FL (Relocation required) Industry: Waste-to-Fuel | Gasification | Clean Energy | Circular Economy | Advanced Materials A breakthrough clean‑energy venture is seeking an experienced and driven Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead operations for a pioneering new facility that converts waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through advanced gasification and patented process technologies. This venture integrates waste management, renewable fuel production, and by‑product valorization-including slag transformation-into a scalable, profitable, and environmentally impactful solution. This is a rare opportunity to shape and scale an innovative industrial business at the intersection of heavy construction, waste management, clean fuels, carbon credits, and advanced project development.

About the Role

The COO will be the operational architect and execution leader responsible for building, scaling, and optimizing all aspects of commercial, industrial, and facility operations. This position requires a hands‑on, strategic executive with deep experience running complex industrial projects, navigating government and regulatory environments, and establishing operational discipline in high‑growth organizations. The ideal candidate thrives in both startup and industrial settings, brings strong cross-functional leadership, and has experience converting strategy into operational reality.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Oversee day‑to‑day operations of a waste-to-fuel facility including heavy construction, plant operations, permitting, logistics, safety, and compliance.
• Drive operational excellence, SOP development, quality assurance, and continuous improvement.
• Translate the company's strategic plan into practical, executable operational frameworks.

Project & Construction Oversight

• Lead large-scale construction and infrastructure projects, ensuring timelines, budgets, and safety standards are met.
• Coordinate with engineering, EPC partners, technology teams, and regulatory bodies.

Waste Management & Clean Energy Operations

• Direct waste feedstock strategy, inbound/outbound logistics, and vendor partnerships.
• Oversee gasification, SAF production processes, and by‑product optimization (e.g., slag applications).

Government, Regulatory & Community Engagement

• Manage interactions with city, state, and federal agencies.
• Secure permits, environmental approvals, incentives, and regulatory compliance.
• Engage community stakeholders where necessary.

Financial & Administrative Oversight

• Partner with finance teams on budgeting, capital planning, and operational forecasting.
• Support fundraising, investment cases, and board-level reporting.
• Provide operational insights to drive carbon credit monetization strategies.

Leadership & People Development

• Build and mentor a high-performing operations team (plant managers, finance, HR, EHS, procurement).
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and safety.

Qualifications

Required

• 15+ years' experience in operations leadership within heavy construction, industrial facilities, waste management, renewable fuels, chemical processing, or similar sectors.
• Proven ability to scale operations from early-stage to steady-state industrial production.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams (operations, finance, admin, regulatory).
• Strong understanding of government permitting, regulatory compliance, and public‑sector engagement.
• Strong financial acumen, ideally with exposure to investment banking, capital structuring, or infrastructure financing.
• Willingness to relocate to Miami.

Preferred

• Experience in:
• Waste‑to‑energy
• Gasification
• Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
• Circular economy processes
• Carbon credit markets
• Spanish language skills (not required but a strong plus).

What We Offer

• The opportunity to shape and scale the operations of a groundbreaking clean‑energy business.
• A leadership role with significant autonomy and impact.
• Competitive compensation package, inclusive of equity.
• Relocation support to Miami.

EOE Statement: Specialist Staffing Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. In addition to base pay, direct-hire employees may be eligible for client offered benefits such as medical, dental, and vision coverage, and paid leave where required by applicable law. Eligibility may vary based on factors such as location and hire date and is subject to change. To find out more about Progressive please visit www.progressiverecruitment.com Apply tot his job Apply To this Job