Chief Executive Officer

Campbell.HR; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 200,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Apex Underground, an employee-owned leader in underground utility infrastructure, seeks a CEO to drive growth, profitability, and safety culture across Front Range markets. The role combines strategic vision with hands-on leadership, guiding a high-performing team and representing the company to clients and partners.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years in heavy civil/utility construction with executive P&L ownership, and a track record of strengthening margins, cashflow, and ESOP governance.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in heavy civil or utility construction with leadership roles.
• 7+ years in executive leadership with P&L ownership and multi-profit-center oversight.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Business Administration, or related field; MBA or advanced degree a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operations with COO to ensure high-quality, on-schedule, and safe project delivery.
• Lead estimating and pipeline management with Chief Estimator to maintain bid opportunities and goals.
• Develop annual plan with Board oversight and communicate performance against plan.
• Foster employee ownership culture and ESOP governance in HR collaboration.
• Manage risk, bonding, insurance, and quarterly financial statements to support growth.

Job description

Salary: $200,000 - $220,000 + Up to 60% Bonus

Company: Apex Underground

Position Type: Full Time, Exempt

We are hiring a CEO at Apex Underground to lead our employee-owned underground utility infrastructure business into its next chapter of growth. We need a strategic yet hands‑on leader who can set a clear vision, foster an inclusive ownership culture of empowerment and accountability, and execute to the highest standards of safety, project execution and profitability, and financial strength. Reporting to our Board of Directors, you’ll guide the leadership team and act as our primary face to the market, developing and relationships across the Front Range market of commercial, public, and general contractor customers. To succeed, you must pair heavy civil/utility construction expertise with a strong grasp of the execution levers that drive profitability, excel at building high‑performing teams, and share our deep passion for empowering a majority employee‑owned workforce.

Responsibilities

• Operations
• Work with the COO and across the team to ensure high‑quality, on schedule and safe project delivery.
• Participate in weekly job cost meetings and monthly Project Status Review meetings to evaluate project and profit center performance.
• Engage and support field teams as the front‑line of value delivery.
• Track and maintain the strategic plan to help focus pursuit strategy.
• Estimating and Pipeline Management
• Work with the Chief Estimator to ensure the project pipeline is maintained via the bid board.
• Build and hone robust systems and skills across the estimating team for evaluating bid opportunities (Go/No-Go), setting bid win rate and value goals that deliver to annual plans, and monitoring estimating accuracy against work performed.
• Participate in post‑mortems for strategic pursuits to help improve pursuit strategy.

Client Relations and Business Development

Marketing:

• Serve as the face of the organization and maintain strong ties within the construction community and with energy and water/wastewater districts.
• Support both the civil and residential services groups, recognizing they operate different business models.

Business Development:

• Cultivate strong partnerships across the Front Range civil construction eco‑system.
• Build and develop relationships with General Contractor (GC) partners that positions Apex as the “go-to” partner for value and quality in underground infrastructure solutions.

Safety

• Work with the Safety Coordinator/Manager to support a strong safety culture across the organization.
• Work with the safety team to ensure employees have the right training and gear to safely deliver our projects.
• Work with the safety committee to address needs and highlight the successes of the entire organization.
• Track metrics that drive our ability to secure additional work for our highest‑quality clients and owners (e.g., EMR, DART, TRIR).

Board of Directors

• Develop annual plan that is ambitious but attainable and grounded in core competitive strengths.
• Provide clear, candid information on performance to plan, opportunities and challenges in quarterly board meetings
• Provide monthly, or as needed, board updates on financial performance.
• Communicate strategic direction and key decisions to the board and seek their input on matters affecting the long‑term health of the company.
• Review the monthly P&L with the Controller.
• Assess and drive core financial metrics by customer segment to deliver superior growth and profitability at the company level.
• Utilize HCSS and QBO to monitor job costing, track attainment to target, and take action to address challenges.
• Use that information to develop cashflow projections by tracking AP/AR across the organization.
• Track performance metrics, including margin, DSO, and aging AP/AR.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Culture

• Support and drive employee ownership culture across the organization, emphasizing empowerment with accountability, transparent communications, and the power of an informed and committed team of worker‑owners.
• Working with HR and the Controller, monitor and ensure compliance across all elements of ESOP governance and administration.

Human Resources

• Work with HR to develop and maintain a strategic workforce development plan.
• Work with HR to implement the Career Pathways Program so all employees know the experience, training, and professional development required for promotion within Apex.
• Work with HR to develop and maintain a benefits package that helps retain and support employees and their families.
• Support other compliance and administrative duties as necessary.

Risk Management - Bonding and Insurance

• Work closely with insurance and bonding partners to help reduce and control risk.
• Provide quarterly financial statements to help ensure favorable bonding and insurance rates.
• Coordinate organizational, facility, and project audits that help control risk and ensure high‑quality, safe project delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum of 15 years in heavy civil or utility construction, including at least 7 years in an executive leadership role with P&L ownership, board or ownership‑group engagement, and multi‑profit‑center oversight.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; MBA or advanced degree a plus.

Skills:

• Proven track record scaling a heavy civil or utility contractor while protecting margin and balance sheet strength.
• Strong financial acumen, including profitability ownership of large projects, and solid understanding of P&L management, cashflow/WIP forecasting, and banking relationships.
• Experience with, or strong affinity for, employee ownership (ESOP) culture and governance.
• Exceptional relationship‑building skills across boards, clients, partners, and industry organizations.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and sustainability as core drivers of reputation and growth.

Why Join Apex Underground?

At Apex Underground, we're not just building infrastructure; we're building a legacy. As an employee‑owned company (ESOP), we're committed to creating a culture of accountability, innovation, and growth. Join our team and be a driving force in shaping the future of utility infrastructure.

The above description outlines the principal duties and responsibilities of the position but should not be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all tasks that may be required. The candidate selected for employment will be required to submit to a criminal background check, education verification and drug test.

This Job Description describes the general content and requirements for the position. It is not an exhaustive statement of the essential functions, responsibilities, or requirements of the job; they may change from time to time and are dictated by the needs of the organization and the supervisor to whom the employee will report.