VP of Operations - HVAC

Cogent Talent Solutions; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 160,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Cogent Talent Solutions is seeking a Vice President of Operations in Dallas, Texas, responsible for designing and executing the operational system. This role ensures work is profitably planned and executed across construction and project management functions.

The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of operations leadership experience, preferably in HVAC or construction, and will lead a team focused on performance accountability and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of operations leadership experience.
• Strong preference for HVAC, plumbing, or construction industry experience.
• Demonstrated success managing operations through metrics and systems.

Responsibilities

• Ensure effective operational system design, execution, and effectiveness.
• Manage performance across construction, service, and project management.
• Provide leadership visibility with accurate operational information.

Skills

Operational judgment

Decision-making

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Position Summary

The Vice President of Operations is accountable for the design, execution, and ongoing effectiveness of the company’s operational system, including construction, service, and project management functions.

This role ensures that work is planned, executed, and completed profitably, predictably, and to standard, replacing informal coordination and personality-driven decision‑making with clear accountability, documented processes, and measurable performance.

Operational Performance & Margin Accountability

The Vice President of Operations is accountable for overall operational performance across construction, service, and project management.

• Enforcing standardized execution practices across all operational functions
• Preventing margin erosion from labor overruns, rework, and missed change orders
• Ensuring disciplined job and project kickoff, execution, and closeout
• Aligning operational capacity with committed workload

Leadership of Operations Management Team

The Vice President of Operations is accountable for the effectiveness and accountability of the Construction Director, Service Director, and Project Manager.

• Clear role definition and performance expectations for each direct report
• Coaching leaders to manage through systems, KPIs, and cadence
• Enforcing accountability without bypassing the chain of command
• Developing leadership depth and succession readiness

Project Management Control

The Vice President of Operations is accountable for disciplined project execution across applicable work.

• Clear project ownership and authority
• Standardized project lifecycle control (authorization → plan → execute → close)
• Schedule integrity and scope control
• Prevention of undocumented or unpaid work

Operational Planning & Coordination

The Vice President of Operations is accountable for ensuring work is planned realistically and executed reliably.

• Capacity planning across construction and service operations
• Coordination between project management and field execution
• Prevention of overcommitment and reactive rescheduling
• Maintaining a consistent operational cadence

Process Ownership & Standardization

The Vice President of Operations is accountable for defining and enforcing the company’s operational standard work.

• Defining SOPs for critical operational functions
• Ensuring SOPs are trained, used, and enforced
• Eliminating variation that creates inefficiency or risk
• Supporting continuous improvement without disrupting execution

Operational Reporting & Leadership Visibility

The Vice President of Operations is accountable for providing leadership with accurate, timely, and actionable operational information.

• Defining operational KPIs across construction, service, and project management
• Conducting weekly operational reviews with direct reports
• Managing by exception when results are out of range
• Providing transparent upward reporting to executive leadership

Qualifications

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of operations leadership experience
• HVAC, plumbing, or construction industry experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success managing operations through metrics and systems

Knowledge & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Strong operational judgment
• Ability to enforce standards consistently
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Independent decision‑making with appropriate escalation

$160,000 - $185,000 a year

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