President and CEO - Newtown PA or Jessup MD

The HR Team•Jessup, MD

24d•Hybrid

About The Position

Morningstar Corporation is seeking a President and CEO to lead its next phase of growth. The company designs and supplies off-grid solar charge controllers and inverters to customers in more than 100 countries. Its offices are in Jessup, Maryland, and Newtown, Pennsylvania; products are manufactured in Asia and distributed from Asia and the United States. The outgoing CEO is a long-term company veteran, and the successor will build on the company's legacy in a long-term leadership role. The President and CEO has full responsibility for the company's profit and loss and reports to the Board of Directors. The central mandate is to grow the business by protecting and expanding the established solar controller business while building predictable revenue from new products, solutions, partnerships, and channels. Over the first one to three years, the CEO is expected to set clear priorities and establish a credible, measurable path to revenue and profit growth that outpaces the industry. Growth opportunities include new products, OEM and industrial accounts, strategic partnerships, and new routes to market such as B2B eCommerce. The company seeks a hands-on, entrepreneurial, customer-focused leader with a record of growing a small global B2B technical-products business. The role is based near either Newtown, Pennsylvania, or Jessup, Maryland, with at least three days per week in the office and additional onsite work as needed. Work-from-home flexibility is available, along with occasional travel to the other company location and to partners or suppliers. Relocation is expected for candidates not currently located in either area. Compensation includes a competitive salary, benefits, incentive opportunities, and equity ownership. The target base salary is $300,000–$375,000, commensurate with experience; alternative compensation structures may be considered for exceptional candidates. Morningstar is an equal opportunity employer and conducts a criminal background check after a conditional job offer.

Requirements

Experience as a CEO, General Manager, or business unit leader with full P&L responsibility at a small or mid-size hardware or technical-products company.
Measurable record of growing revenue and profits through new products, solutions, and partnerships.
Commercial, customer-first leadership and personal experience winning and growing large OEM, distribution, and industrial accounts.
Experience leading sales across distribution, VAR, direct, OEM, and online channels.
Experience leading both product development and business development, translating customer needs into successful new products while reducing time to market.
Experience qualifying and managing outside partners, including contract engineering and manufacturing, technology partners, co-selling, and licensing.
Experience negotiating and closing high-level customer and partner contracts.
Ability to build and develop leadership teams, set clear goals and accountability, and make difficult organizational decisions when needed.
Financial discipline, including sound capital allocation, staged investment in new initiatives, and strong management of margin, cash, and inventory.
Bachelor's degree in a technical field; engineering is preferred.
Willingness to live near the Jessup, Maryland, or Newtown, Pennsylvania, facility and work onsite at least three days per week.
Entrepreneurial, hands-on, action-oriented, and able to make decisions quickly while maintaining low overhead and avoiding politics.
Ability to learn the business deeply before making major changes, then act decisively.
Strategic thinking, ability to set clear priorities, and ability to gain team support for an aligned company plan.
High ethics, strong work ethic, trustworthiness, genuineness, and transparency.
Humility, empathy, and a good sense of humor.
Energy and optimism grounded in a credible plan.
Appreciation for employee ownership and a willingness to push decisions down rather than centralize them.
Ability to inspire, mentor, and motivate employees and support continuous improvement, learning, and career growth.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience in solar, energy storage, power electronics, industrial power, or industrial controls.
Familiarity with telecommunications, oil and gas, security, or industrial lighting customer verticals, and existing OEM relationships in those markets.
Experience selling turnkey or bundled solutions, including systems, software, or services, in addition to components.
Experience moving traditional distribution to B2B eCommerce and leading broader digital transformation.
Experience adopting AI and building a data-driven culture to improve decisions and business outcomes across departments.
International experience building global channels.
Understanding of supply chain management, global sourcing, logistics, and contract electronics manufacturing.
Experience leading a founder-led, employee-owned, or closely held company.
Experience using strategic alliances, joint ventures, or acquisitions as growth levers.
Master of Business Administration.

Responsibilities

Hold full responsibility for company profit and loss and report to the Board of Directors.
Set clear priorities and establish a credible, measurable plan for revenue and profit growth over the first one to three years.
Protect and grow the established solar controller business while converting new products, solutions, and partnerships into repeatable revenue.
Pursue growth through new products, OEM and industrial accounts, strategic partnerships, and new channels to market, including B2B eCommerce.
Lead product development and business development, translating customer needs into successful products while reducing time to market.
Develop and manage outside partners, including contract engineering and manufacturing, technology partners, co-selling partners, and licensing partners.
Negotiate and close high-level customer and partner contracts.
Build and develop a strong leadership team, establish goals and accountability, and make organizational decisions as needed.
Allocate capital carefully and manage margins, cash, and inventory.
Inspire, mentor, and motivate employees; support continuous improvement, learning, career growth, and employee ownership.
Work onsite at least three days per week and travel occasionally to the other company location or to partners and suppliers.
Deliver growth in revenue, profit, and stock price; grow sales of new products to large-volume customers; establish successful market and product partnerships; strengthen senior leadership; and support employee retention and engagement.