SVP of Operations, Commercial MEP Contractor (Retained Search)

Jobot; Cincinnati (OH); Remote; USD 300,000 - 340,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Job summary

Jobot is seeking an SVP of Operations for a private equity-backed MEP contracting platform. The role is remote with heavy travel and requires VP or above experience within an MEP contractor.

You will drive platform-wide operations, establish standards across multiple companies, and build a scalable operating model. You’ll lead the onboarding of acquired companies, enhance estimating and project management, and partner closely with operators.

Qualifications

• Senior operations leadership experience in MEP contracting or construction.
• VP-level or above experience within an MEP contractor or multi-entity firm.
• Track record of improving estimating, WIP, forecasting and margin.
• Experience leading cross-company operations and integration during scale.
• Relocation to Detroit, Cincinnati, Columbus or Indianapolis area preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead platform-wide operations across multiple companies and sites.
• Build workforce planning, estimating and project management standards.
• Upgrade estimating and standardize project management practices.
• Develop PMs, estimators, and techs into next-generation leaders.
• Create KPI scorecard and operating cadence for the platform.
• Spend substantial time in markets across MI, OH and IN.
• Oversee integration of newly acquired companies onto the platform.

Skills

MEP operations leadership

HVAC fluency

Plumbing fluency

Field supervision

Project management

Operations leadership

Education

Bachelor-level experience in related field

Tools

BuildOps

ServiceTitan

Sage Intacct

Job description

SVP of Operations, Commercial MEP Contractor (Retained Search)

$300000 - $340000 per year | Cincinnati, OH | Remote | Permanent

EQUITY + Heavy Travel + Scaling MEP platform + Must have multi-entity OR PE roll-up experience within MEP

A bit about us:

We’re a private equity-backed mechanical, plumbing, and electrical contracting platform. We operate multiple companies across Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. Most of our work is commercial and multifamily. We’re growing commercial service, replacement work, owner-direct relationships, and projects. Each company keeps its local brand and the people who built it. We grow through acquisitions and organic growth, guided by an intentional plan. We are at the beginning of our scale and looking to hire an operations leader to help put operational infrastructure in place as we look to scale.

Why join us?

• Build operations for the whole platform: workforce planning, estimating and project management standards across every company
• Report to the CEO as the platform’s first dedicated operations executive
• Equity that rewards a successful exit
• Work shoulder to shoulder with experienced operators who know their markets
• Title can be shaped for the right person

Job Details

MUST HAVE VP OR ABOVE LEVEL EXPERIENCE WITHIN AN MEP CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION FIRM

This is the senior operations leader for the entire platform. You’ll be the operations expert who goes into each company and works alongside the operators. You’ll figure out what’s working and where the opportunities are, then make practical recommendations and help put processes in place. Your first priorities are clear. You’ll build the system that matches bookings and backlog to technician capacity at every company. You’ll upgrade estimating and raise project management to a consistent standard. You’ll also step into workforce planning work already underway with outside consultants. You’ll lead one direct report, a VP of Operations, and partner closely with the operators who run each company.

What You’ll Do

• Spend time in the field at every company, working side by side with operators to see how work moves and where it can run better
• Diagnose operational issues, get to root cause and recommend practical fixes the operators can own
• Build and own a workforce planning system that maps bookings, backlog and pursued work against technician capacity at every company
• Upgrade estimating and set a consistent standard for project management across the platform
• Review WIP and job margin, and coach PMs and estimators directly
• Develop PMs, estimators and techs into the next generation of leaders
• Lead the improvement of companies with the most room to grow margin
• Build the KPI scorecard and operating cadence
• Create a repeatable way to bring newly acquired companies onto the platform
• Spend most of the week in markets across MI, OH and IN

What You’ll Bring

• A career inside commercial MEP contracting, with job-level fluency in HVAC and plumbing
• Grew up in operations through the trades, field supervision, project management or operations leadership
• Currently leads operations across multiple business units or sites at a contractor of roughly $150M or more, as an SVP, EVP, COO or group president, or as a VP of Operations ready for the step up
• A business you grew or turned around, with the levers you pulled and the numbers that moved
• Hands‑on command of estimating, WIP, forecasting and margin
• A track record of walking into a business, spotting what to improve and earning the trust of the people running it
• Based in or willing to relocate to the Detroit, Cincinnati, Columbus or Indianapolis area; relocation support available (not required but highly preferred)
• Nice to have: PE-backed or platform experience, acquisition integration, commercial service or replacement work, and BuildOps, ServiceTitan or Sage Intacct

Jobot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and all qualified candidates receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Jobot also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is Jobot’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

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