Air Conditioning Vice President, Commercial Operations

United Water Restoration Group of So. FL., Inc. • Fort Lauderdale, FL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Air Force HVAC is seeking a Vice President of Commercial Operations to help build their commercial division from the ground up. The company has achieved over $10M in revenue in its first year, focusing on the commercial multifamily market in the Southeast USA. Backed by experienced founders, Air Force HVAC has a broad commercial scope including multifamily, institutional housing, and traditional commercial properties. They utilize an AI-augmented approach to business development and client value creation, supported by a vetted subcontractor network. This role is for an experienced individual with deep commercial HVAC installation experience who is ready to contribute to writing the company's operational playbook.

Requirements

• 10+ years in residential and commercial mechanical contracting with a wide variety of installation experience: rooftop units, splits, VRF/VRV, chillers (air-cooled and water-cooled), cooling towers, boilers, controls/BAS, ductwork, hydronics, exhaust and ventilation systems.
• Deep estimating and pre-construction experience: ability to assess existing buildings, identify salvageable equipment, and build a defensible scope and cost.
• Hands-on familiarity with a wide range of commercial property types: institutional housing (student housing, senior living, dormitories, government and military housing), office, industrial/warehouse, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and education.
• Sub-contractor network in South Florida or the demonstrated ability to build one quickly.
• Project management experience: ownership of multi-million-dollar mechanical projects from sale to closeout, understanding of effective project handoff.
• Comfortable in a co-selling role, able to earn trust on technical merit with property managers, GCs, or facilities directors.
• Tech-forward mindset: utilization of AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, takeoff platforms, AI proposal tools) to enhance output.
• Builder temperament: energized by ambiguity and a clean slate, methodical approach with a focus on quality.
• Florida driver's license, clean record, comfortable on rooftops and in mechanical spaces.

Nice To Haves

• Florida-licensed (CMC or equivalent)

Responsibilities

• Estimating and pre-construction: evaluating existing systems, scoping solutions (HVAC, roofing, electrical, controls, plumbing), and crafting value-engineered proposals.
• Co-selling with the founder: acting as the technical authority in prospect meetings, shaping pitches, and supporting proposal walkthroughs and objection handling.
• Sub-contractor bench development: recruiting, vetting, qualifying, and growing a network of installation, service, and specialty subcontractors across South Florida and beyond.
• Project handoff and quality oversight: defining scope packages for subcontractors, leading kickoffs, monitoring execution, and resolving issues.
• Business development: leveraging warm referrals, expanding repeat-customer business, conducting vertical-specific outreach, building trade association relationships, and partnering with the founder on strategic accounts.
• Methodically building the team: hiring, mentoring, and managing direct reports (estimators, project managers, account managers, additional subs) as the division scales.
• Establishing the operating system: developing SOPs, templates, sub agreements, scope checklists, QA processes, and AI-augmented workflows.
• Partnering with the founder on go-to-market strategy: including vertical focus, pricing strategy, service mix, and brand presentation in the commercial market.

Benefits

• Health insurance stipend
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Vehicle allowance
• Laptop
• Phone
• Premium AI tool subscriptions (Claude Pro/Teams, ChatGPT, takeoff and proposal software)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed