General Manager at DHR Mechanical

Kelso Industries; Kennesaw (GA); On-site; USD 230,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Kelso Industries seeks a seasoned General Manager to lead DHR across Atlanta, Tampa, and Puerto Rico. You will own the full P&L, set budgets, and drive growth while ensuring safety, compliance, and operational excellence across multiple branches.

This role reports to the Divisional VP, South Division, and partners with shared services to push platform best practices. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of leadership with P&L responsibility in HVAC/R, strong strategic planning, and a track record of

Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership experience with P&L or general management responsibility
• Refrigeration experience is a must-have
• Proven success in strategic planning and execution
• Demonstrated strong leadership and team-building skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
• Proven ability to drive innovation and manage change
• Experience managing $30M+ business and multi-site operations

Responsibilities

• Own the full P&L and annual budget for DHR across Atlanta, Tampa, and Puerto Rico
• Lead monthly WIP reviews, backlog visibility, and forecast accuracy
• Strengthen relationships with national grocery accounts and grow GC/owner-direct work
• Direct multi-branch execution including scheduling, manpower, safety, and compliance
• Hire, develop, and retain field leadership and build succession plans
• Collaborate with Kelso leadership and shared services to advance division initiatives

Skills

Leadership

P&L management

Strategic planning

Change management

Communication

Customer service

Construction finance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, construction management, or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

Together We Build – Partnership, Innovation, Excellence, and Safety

At Kelso Industries, 5,000+ employees across 40+ companies work together to deliver exceptional HVAC, mechanical, plumbing, refrigeration, and electrical solutions nationwide. Join us to grow your career, make an impact, and be part of a team where innovation, excellence, and safety come first.

We are seeking an experienced and visionary General Manager to lead DHR through its next phase of significant growth. Reporting to the Divisional Vice President, South Division, at Kelso Industries, the General Manager owns DHR’s full P&L across its Atlanta, Tampa, and Puerto Rico operations, sets the annual growth budget, and is accountable for delivering it. This role is expected to further shape DHR’s strategic direction, drive operational excellence, and foster growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Financial performance : Own the full P&L and annual budget. Lead monthly WIP reviews and maintain clear visibility into backlog, pipeline, and forecast. Drive job costing discipline and margin improvement

• Customers and growth : Strengthen relationships with national grocery accounts, diversify the customer base across grocery, food processing, and cold storage, and grow GC and owner-direct work

• Operations : Lead multi-branch execution across Atlanta and Tampa, including scheduling, manpower planning, safety, quality, and compliance with industry standards and regulations

• People : Hire, develop, and retain top talent and field leadership. Build a strong bench through training, clear accountability, and succession planning

• Kelso partnership : Work with Kelso leadership and shared services (finance, HR, and systems) to carry division initiatives forward and adopt platform best practices

What Success Looks Like (First 12 Months):

• Annual budget delivered, with a credible plan for significant growth
• Accurate, on-time WIP reviews and forecasts
• Key customer relationships retained and new customers added
• Project manager and field leadership roles filled and retained
• Strong safety performance across all branches

Qualifications:

Minimum Required:

• 5+ years of leadership experience in the HVAC/R industry, including 5+ years with P&L or general management responsibility. Refrigeration experience is a must-have.
• Proven success in strategic planning and execution
• Demonstrated strong leadership and team-building skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
• Proven ability to drive innovation and manage change
• Commitment to delivering exceptional customer service
• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, construction management, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Experience managing $30M+ business, with a track record of driving significant growth
• Strong command of construction financials, including WIP, percent-complete revenue recognition, and job costing
• Experience leading multi-site operations

Preferred:

• Grocery and supermarket refrigeration construction experience, including CO2 and rack systems
• Master’s degree in business
• Ability to serve as a qualifier for state contractor licensing
• Experience with NetSuite or a similar ERP
• Spanish language skills

Location and Travel:

Atlanta, GA metro area strongly preferred

• Regular travel to Tampa, Puerto Rico, and customer sites

Why Join Kelso Industries?

Join us and be part of a team dedicated to creating efficient, sustainable, and high-performance environments that make a lasting impact across the industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors.

Here you will experience:

Growth Opportunities: Develop new skills, take on exciting challenges, and advance your career in meaningful ways.

Company Culture: You’ll thrive in an environment that supports your growth, values your contributions, and makes work fulfilling and enjoyable.

Impact: Your work directly contributes to meaningful outcomes, allowing you to see the difference you make and feel a sense of purpose every day.

Competitive Compensation & Benefits: You’ll be rewarded fairly for your contributions while enjoying perks that enhance your financial security, health, and overall well-being.

Kelso Industries celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate in any aspect of employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local employment discrimination laws where Kelso does business