The Opportunity: Director of Operations

Location: Santa Ynez, California

Reports to: Owner / President

Company Overview

An established, independently owned company is seeking an experienced operational leader to support its next phase of growth and expansion.

The organization is focused on strengthening operational execution, developing high-performing teams, and implementing scalable systems to support significant revenue growth.

The company offers an entrepreneurial, people-focused environment with an emphasis on accountability, professional development, and continuous improvement.

Position Overview

The Director of Operations will oversee daily business operations, strengthen organizational performance, and develop the systems and teams necessary to support long-term growth.

This leader will work directly with ownership to improve operational efficiency, drive financial performance, establish accountability, and execute strategic growth initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, entrepreneurial leader with demonstrated experience building or scaling an operation and the ability to thrive in a growing organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations, ensuring consistent execution and strong business performance.
• Develop and implement strategies to drive revenue growth and profitability.
• Recruit, coach, and develop high-performing teams and operational managers.
• Establish scalable processes, performance management systems, and organizational structures.
• Monitor financial and operational KPIs, including revenue, margins, productivity, and operating costs.
• Strengthen accountability, operational consistency, and customer experience.
• Partner with ownership on business planning, budgeting, staffing, and strategic priorities.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, expand capabilities, and support continued growth.
• Develop future leaders and build a management structure capable of supporting a larger organization.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a hands-on operational leader with demonstrated experience managing, improving, or scaling a business. This individual must understand the systems, processes, people, and performance drivers required to build a profitable operation and be capable of translating that experience into immediate operational improvements.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Proven operational leadership experience within residential home services, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, pest control, or closely related service industries.
• Demonstrated success managing, building, or scaling a residential service operation with direct responsibility for day-to-day performance.
• Strong understanding of the residential home services business model, including dispatch, scheduling, customer service, technician productivity, field sales, and service delivery.
• Experience developing and implementing standardized operating procedures, service price books, training programs, and operational scorecards.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to manage revenue, profitability, gross margins, labor productivity, and service business KPIs.
• Direct experience recruiting, coaching, and developing service technicians, customer service personnel, and operational leaders.
• Proven ability to establish accountability, improve employee performance, and build a positive, results-oriented team culture.
• Ability to operate independently, make sound business decisions, and serve as a strategic partner to company ownership.
• Hands-on leadership style and willingness to work directly with frontline employees to diagnose challenges and implement solutions.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead through organizational change and business growth.

Preferred Background

• Previous experience as a Director of Operations, General Manager, Regional Service Manager, Senior Service Manager, VP of Operations, or similar leader within a residential home services organization.
• Demonstrated success scaling a smaller service business or managing a growing division within a larger home services platform.
• Experience within a private equity-backed residential services business, particularly with exposure to professionalized operating systems, performance management, and scalable growth strategies.
• Familiarity with Nexstar, EOS, or comparable home services coaching, training, and business operating frameworks.
• Experience managing both field service personnel and administrative functions, including call centers, dispatch teams, and customer service operations.
• Exposure to sales compensation programs, technician incentive structures, service agreements, and customer retention strategies.
• Previous experience in a founder-led, family-owned, or entrepreneurial business environment where the leader held broad operational responsibilities.
• Experience developing management teams and organizational structures to support the transition from a small service operation to a larger, professionally managed business.

Work Environment & Travel

This is an on-site leadership position based in Santa Ynez, California, requiring close collaboration with ownership, operational teams, and frontline personnel.

Candidates willing to relocate will be considered.

Compensation

On-Target Earnings: $200,000–$275,000 + Potential equity participation