Portfolio CEO: Paving & Asphalt Maintenance

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT AMERICAN OPERATOR

American Operator exists to keep the American Dream alive through small-business leadership and ownership. We place experienced operators into businesses of retiring owners who want their life's work placed in the hands of leaders who care. Over time, our CEOs follow a clear pathway to earn significant equity in the business they lead.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for an experienced operator to lead a paving and asphalt maintenance company as CEO in partnership with American Operator. This is a rare opportunity to step into a profitable, established business with a strong reputation, loyal customer base, and an experienced team already in place.

As CEO, you'll assume full responsibility for day-to-day operations, team leadership, and P&L performance. This is not a turnaround situation, it's an opportunity to build on a solid foundation. Your focus will be on developing and retaining a great team, driving customer acquisition and growth, executing with operational discipline, and scaling the business from a position of strength.

American Operator will be your partner from day one, providing strategic support, resources, and guidance while empowering you to lead independently. Most importantly, you'll have a clear path to earning significant equity ownership in the business you grow and lead.

We’re actively interviewing CEO candidates for current and future acquisition opportunities. Some candidates may be matched to businesses we already own, while others may be considered for businesses that are currently under acquisition review or expected to be acquired in the future.

While timing varies by market and acquisition activity, selected candidates enter our CEO network and may be matched with opportunities as they become available.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Grow the business with a focus on key performance metrics as you lead day-to-day operations

• Develop and lead field crew leaders and office staff with a culture of high accountability and performance

• Oversee the estimating and bidding process to make sure that the business is winning projects profitably

• Manage the budget and capital decisions associated with a relatively asset-intensive business (e.g., repair & maintenance schedule, new equipment, etc)

• Recruit, manage, and develop teams in a physically challenging industry with seasonality

• Partner with American Operator on strategy, budgeting, and growth planning

REQUIREMENTS

• 10+ years of leadership experience with direct experience managing and retaining field service crews

• Experience building high performance teams with accountability for hiring and performance improvement

• Track record of leading and growing a commercial contracting or field-services business

• Currently located in or a willingness to relocate to one of our target markets (Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Arizona, or Tennessee)

WHAT SETS YOU APART

• A competitive spirit that always finds a way to win

• Military leadership experience

• Experience leading teams in seal coating, paving, resurfacing in both residential and commercial contexts

• Stepped in as the new leader after an ownership or leadership transition and earned the trust of the existing crews

• A track record of driving growth by winning commercial work through local relationships and disciplined bidding

• A prime contractor or general contractor license

COMPENSATION

Base salary: $130,000–$190,000, plus performance-based bonus opportunities, distributions, and meaningful equity participation beginning at 10% ownership, with the potential to increase based on performance and value creation. Total compensation varies by portfolio company, individual performance, and deal structure, and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

LOCATION

Our active acquisition markets include Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Arizona, and Tennessee. Relocation will be required if you are not currently in or near the market of the opportunity.

Ready to lead the next chapter? Before you apply, we encourage you to visit americanoperator.com to learn more about who we are, how we work, and what our operators have to say about the experience. When you are ready, apply today to start the conversation.