Chief Operating Officer
Location: Greater Los Angeles, California (on site)
Company Overview
The Company is an established refractory services contractor founded more than thirty five years ago, operating from two California locations with national service coverage. Services include installation, construction, maintenance, emergency repair, inspection, robotic demolition, shotcrete, hot gunning, and dry out. End markets include aluminum foundries and secondary recovery, heat treating, incineration, and environmental. The Company holds a California C4 license and an A general engineering license and is non union.
The Company is professionally managed and profitable, with a long tenured customer base, an experienced field organization, and a reputation for work that stays in service. It has grown consistently on the strength of technical execution and repeat business.
The Company is entering a growth and acquisition phase and is adding senior operating leadership to carry that plan forward.
Position Summary
The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for the operating performance of an established business, including field operations, estimating, sales, and P&L results across both locations, and leads the operational integration of acquired businesses. The Chief Operating Officer reports to ownership and is eligible for advancement to Chief Executive Officer based on performance against defined milestones.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Direct field operations across both locations, including crew scheduling, job execution, safety, and quality control
- Oversee estimating and bid strategy, and maintain pricing discipline across service lines and end markets
- Lead the sales organization, including pipeline management, territory coverage, forecasting, key account relationships, and sales staffing
- Own P&L results, including job level margin, labor productivity, equipment utilization, and working capital management
- Prepare and present monthly operating reports, key performance indicators, and forecasts to ownership
- Lead operational integration of acquired businesses, including diligence support, integration planning, and consolidation of systems, crews, and customer accounts
- Expand the Company's footprint into additional geographies, service lines, and end markets
- Maintain licensing and regulatory compliance, including the C4 and A general engineering licenses, multi state reciprocity, and Cal OSHA and OSHA requirements
- Recruit, develop, and retain superintendents, foremen, estimators, and field supervision
- Evaluate capital investment in equipment and technology to support growth
- Perform other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications
- Fifteen years or more of experience in refractory, industrial construction, mechanical contracting, or specialty trade services
- Five years or more in a senior operating role such as General Manager, VP of Operations, Division President, or Chief Operating Officer
- Demonstrated P&L ownership at a business of comparable or greater scale
- Experience managing multi site and multi crew field operations
- Working knowledge of job costing, change orders, time and materials and fixed price contract structures, retention, and bonding
- Working knowledge of Cal OSHA and OSHA requirements and construction safety program administration
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel to customer sites and Company locations
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience integrating acquired businesses
- Experience in a private equity backed or institutionally owned business
- Direct refractory experience in aluminum, heat treating, or incineration end markets
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, business, or a related field
Compensation and Benefits
- Base salary commensurate with experience
- Annual performance bonus tied to EBITDA and job level margin
- Equity participation for the selected candidate
- Health, dental, and vision coverage
- Paid time off and company holidays
- Relocation assistance available
Work Environment and Physical Requirements
Work is performed in both office and active industrial environments. The position requires periodic presence at customer facilities including foundries, mills, and processing plants, with exposure to high temperatures, dust, and noise. Personal protective equipment is required on site. The position requires the ability to climb ladders and scaffolding, enter confined spaces, and lift up to fifty pounds.
To Apply
Submit a resume or LinkedIn profile. Fireclay Partners is managing this process on behalf of ownership. All inquiries are confidential, and the Company will be identified to candidates during the initial screening process.
The Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.