President (Syracuse)

Our client is a private equity-supported designer and manufacturer of custom environmental control systems, driven by a long history of innovation and guided by a dedicated management team committed to the reliability and quality of its products. From the very beginning, the company adopted a philosophy of continuous growth and improvement. Over the years, this growth has come from both dramatically increased sales, always with a focus on delivering the best possible solutions to its customers.

The company is now entering a new phase of leadership as responsibilities transition from a founder to a President who will lead day‑to‑day execution and performance. This is an opportunity to lead a differentiated and technically sophisticated manufacturing business with strong end‑market demand and an active private equity sponsor. The President will play a central role in scaling the organization, strengthening execution, and building a durable leadership platform for long‑term value creation. This opportunity includes equity and bonus structure.

When it comes to environmental control requirements, no two applications are the same. Our client specializes in designing custom solutions engineered to match each customer's unique requirements and restrictions. In addition to designing fully custom solutions, the company offers a suite of standardized environmental control products serving multiple industries, including aerospace.

Role Overview

The President will serve as the senior operating and business leader of the company, with full responsibility for performance, execution, and leadership across the organization. This role absorbs many day‑to‑day responsibilities historically carried by the founder while maintaining close collaboration on product and engineering matters.

The President will lead the executive team, oversee operational and financial performance, guide strategy, and serve as the primary interface with the private equity owner, lenders, and key customers.

This is a hands‑on role for a leader who is comfortable operating in technically complex manufacturing environments and making decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and strategy

• Lead the executive management team, including: Division Manager, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Director of Finance, Director of Operations, Director of Engineering
• Set company strategy, priorities, and operating goals in partnership with the executive team and private equity owner
• Drive new customer acquisition by personally leading high-value pursuits, from first executive engagement through negotiation and onboarding of strategic accounts
• Develop and carry out a growth strategy that expands the customer base into new markets, industries, and applications, working with marketing and business development
• Lead recurring strategy, goal‑setting, and performance review meetings
• Work closely with the former founder and CEO to ensure continuity in technical leadership and product direction

Operations and Execution

• Oversee manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, quality, and project execution
• Ensure consistent execution across a mixed business model that includes both standardized and highly engineered products
• Guide decisions related to capacity planning, production approach, operational improvement, and cost structure
• Balance customization requirements with delivery performance and margin control

Commercial and Customer Engagement

• Maintain direct interaction with key customers, both existing and prospective
• Lead or support negotiation of major commercial terms and agreements
• Partner with marketing and business development to evaluate growth initiatives, new markets, and product opportunities
• Make disciplined decisions on new customer and new product opportunities with limited market data

Financial Oversight and Private Equity Engagement

• Maintain full oversight of financial performance, key metrics, and cash flow
• Manage reporting and communication with lending partners
• Partner closely with the private equity owner on performance updates, strategy, and issue resolution
• Participate in acquisition review, analysis, and integration as required

What You Will Need

Experience and background

• Full-time availability to work on-site in Syracuse, NY (must be willing to relocate if not local)
• Senior leadership experience as President, General Manager, COO, or equivalent in a technical manufacturing environment
• Proven track record of driving new customer acquisitions in an engineered-products or technical manufacturing business, including winning and onboarding strategic accounts
• Experience building growth strategies that expand the customer base into new markets, industries, or applications
• Demonstrated success partnering with marketing and business development to build a qualified pipeline and turn opportunities into long-term customer relationships
• History of personally leading high-value pursuits, from first executive engagement through negotiation of major commercial terms and agreements
• Ability to judge new customer and product opportunities with discipline, weighing strategic fit, margin, capacity, and execution risk
• Experience turning company strategy into clear commercial priorities, goals, and metrics that the leadership team and PE sponsor can track
• Experience working alongside technical founders or engineering‑led organizations; Background in HVAC, thermal systems, environmental control, or related engineered products
• Experience in small to mid‑sized manufacturing companies producing a wide range of technical products
• Prior experience in a private equity backed environment preferred, including familiarity with leveraged balance sheets and performance reporting

Technical and Business Skills

• Strong technical aptitude; a four‑year mechanical engineering degree and advanced degree preferred
• Strong P&L ownership and financial understanding
• Comfort making strategic decisions around new products and customers with incomplete information
• Familiarity with multiple manufacturing approaches, including batch, flow, push and pull, and project‑based production
• Understanding of applicable regulatory and compliance requirements

Leadership style

• Clear and effective communicator with strong written and verbal skills
• Comfortable leading experienced technical teams without needing to be the technical expert
• Decisive, practical, and accountable
• Able to introduce structure and rigor while respecting the company’s technical foundation
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and hands-on environment.