Chief Operating Officer, Refractory Services

Fireclay Partners

9d • Onsite

About The Position

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. 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.

Requirements

• 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

Nice To Haves

• 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

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

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior