General Manager - Service & Solutions

Company Overview

Founded in 1910, KONE is a global leader that provides elevators, escalators and automatic building doors, as well as solutions for maintenance and modernization that add value to buildings throughout their life cycle. Our mission is to improve the flow of urban life and make our world’s cities better places to live by providing innovative solutions that help make people’s journeys safe, convenient and reliable. Our operations in over 60 countries around the world has helped us achieve our position as an innovation and sustainability leader with repeated recognition by Forbes, Corporate Knights for clean capitalism and others.

Job Overview

KONE is seeking an accomplished business leader to serve as General Manager - Service & Solutions for our Orange County operation in Costa Mesa, California. This role has overall responsibility for the performance of KONE's local service and modernization business, including business planning, financial and operational results, customer relationships, safety and quality, market development, and the leadership of a high-performing cross-functional team. The General Manager will translate company and district strategy into disciplined local execution and profitable growth. Working across sales, operations, administration and field leadership, this leader will establish clear priorities, strengthen accountability, develop talent and ensure the organization consistently delivers for customers, employees and the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Business and financial performance. Develop, implement and deliver the annual business plan, operating budget and orders budget. Use financial and operational analysis to make sound decisions, manage fixed costs and working capital, and take timely action when performance is off plan.
• Customer and market leadership. Serve as the senior KONE representative for customers and stakeholders in the territory. Build an outside-in customer culture, strengthen existing relationships, develop new business, increase market share and ensure teams deliver solutions that improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Service and modernization execution. Lead service operations, service sales and modernization sales. Drive orders, sales, Lifts-in-Service growth, pricing discipline, operational excellence, field productivity, quality, call-out performance and required visits and test and inspection performance.
• Safety and compliance. Set the expectation that safety comes first and ensure the branch operates safely, efficiently and in accordance with KONE policies, the Code of Conduct, and applicable local, state and federal requirements.
• People leadership and culture. Lead and develop a cross-functional management team across sales, operations, administration and warehouse functions where applicable. Own staffing, talent development, performance management, compensation processes, succession readiness, employee engagement and accountability.
• Labor and stakeholder relations. Lead labor relations with the IUEC as required partner effectively with district and business-line leaders, and coordinate with Legal, People & Culture and other support functions on business, employment and local litigation matters.
• Branch leadership and collaboration. Create strong communication across departments resolve issues quickly manage branch facilities in partnership with construction and direct department leaders to deliver agreed goals and initiatives.

How success will be measured

• Safety performance and quality execution
• Customer satisfaction and Net Promoter Index
• Orders, sales, profitability and market share growth
• Lifts-in-Service growth and customer retention
• Accounts receivable, fixed-cost and working-capital performance
• Service operating results, including call-out rate, made visits, and test and inspection performance
• Employee engagement, talent development and team performance

Qualifications and Leadership Profile

You bring progressive and successful leadership experience managing people, budgets and business plans, along with relevant service expertise in a consultative selling environment and experience leading a union‑represented workforce. A bachelor's degree is preferred; seven or more years of related‑industry experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. You are comfortable using financial and operational data to make decisions, leading change, developing leaders, resolving complex issues and balancing the needs of customers, employees and the business.

About KONE

At KONE, we foster an innovative and collaborative culture, valuing each individual's contribution. Employee engagement and sustainability are key focuses, promoting ethical practices and mutual respect. We're proud to offer experiences and opportunities to help you achieve career and personal goals while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. We hire individuals who value culture because we believe culture drives innovation: We value your authentic self. Collaborative, creative, and supportive work environment. Passionate about safety, quality, and innovation. We care about the communities where we live and work.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Flexible work schedule
• Opportunities to learn and grow
• 401K Employer Match
• 401k Employer Non‑elective Contribution
• Well‑being Program
• Medical, Prescription, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Digital Health Solutions & Telehealth
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
• Family & Medical Leave
• Parental Leave
• Leave to Care for a Domestic Partner
• Paid Time Off & Holidays
• Company Paid Life and AD&D Insurance
• Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance
• Company Paid Short-term and Long-term Disability
• Buy-Up Long-term Disability
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Hospital Indemnity & Accident Insurance
• Identity Theft Protection
• Legal Insurance
• KONE Credit Union
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Commuter Benefits

Annual Base Pay Range

Annual Base Pay Range: The hiring range for this role is $192,600 –$252,735.

Variable Compensation

Variable Compensation KONE Annual Bonus plan at 25% Target Incentive (60/40) based on achievement of company goals and individual goals.

Equal Opportunity

KONE is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local fair chance laws.

Additional Information

At KONE, we are focused on creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where we value the contribution of each individual. Employee engagement is a key focus area for us and we encourage participation and the sharing of information and ideas. Sustainability is an integral part of our culture and the daily practice. We follow ethical business practices and we seek to develop a culture of working together where co‑workers trust and respect each other and good performance is recognized. In being a great place to work, we are proud to offer a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you to achieve your career and personal goals and enable you to live a healthy and balanced life. At KONE, our purpose is to shape the future of cities. As a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, we move two billion people every day, making their journeys safe, convenient, and reliable with smart and sustainable People Flow. In 2025, KONE had annual sales of EUR 11.2 billion, and at the end of the year over 60,000 employees in close to 70 countries. KONE class B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in Finland.