Regional Manager of Operations

Regional General Manager – Fire Protection

Remote | Central U.S. or West Coast | Approximately 50% Travel

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Regional General Manager with Fire Protection experience to provide strategic and operational leadership across assigned area of the country, with primary responsibility for driving performance, growth, and operational excellence within the region.

This is a remote-based leadership position that can be located in the Central United States or on the West Coast, with approximately 50% regional travel required. The individual will maintain a home office while regularly traveling to branch locations to work directly with local leadership, support field operations, develop teams, strengthen customer relationships, and drive business performance.

The Regional General Manager will provide leadership across all aspects of the fire protection business, including fire sprinkler and fire alarm construction/new installation, service, inspection, testing, maintenance, sales, design, engineering, and project management. The position will have a strong emphasis on construction and new installation operations while maintaining accountability for the broader operational and financial performance of assigned businesses.

This is a hands-on, multi-location leadership position for an experienced fire protection professional who understands the full lifecycle of fire protection operations and can effectively lead managers and teams across geographically dispersed locations. We are seeking a results-driven business leader with a demonstrated track record of improving business performance, accelerating organic revenue growth, and expanding profitability. This individual must know how to grow revenue through both new customer acquisition and deeper penetration of existing customer relationships, while driving meaningful improvements in operational efficiency and gross margins. Success requires a hands-on leader who can coach local management teams to improve field technician productivity and utilization, strengthen estimating and job quoting practices, manage labor and operating costs, and improve overall job execution and profitability. We want a leader who doesn't simply manage the business as it exists today, but actively identifies opportunities, develops people, and drives measurable improvements in how the business operates and performs.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 5 years of progressive management experience within the fire protection industry, with demonstrated success leading teams in sprinkler and/or fire alarm construction, project management, design/engineering, sales, service, and field operations. Experience managing multiple locations, business units, or geographically dispersed teams is highly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

Regional Leadership & Operations

1. Provide overall operational leadership and direction across assigned regional fire protection operations and branch locations.
2. Establish regional goals, operational priorities, and performance expectations aligned with company objectives.
3. Provide leadership, coaching, and development to branch managers, department managers, project managers, superintendents, and other operational leaders.
4. Oversee coordination between construction, service, inspection, testing, maintenance, sales, design, and project management teams across assigned locations.
5. Establish accountability for safety, quality, productivity, customer satisfaction, and financial performance.
6. Regularly visit branch locations to assess operational performance, identify challenges, support local leadership, and implement improvements.
7. Develop and implement consistent operational processes, procedures, and best practices across the region.
8. Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity, profitability, and overall business performance.
9. Build and maintain a strong regional culture focused on teamwork, accountability, professionalism, and customer service.
10. Demonstrated success driving measurable business improvement, including organic revenue growth, customer expansion, gross margin improvement, field labor productivity, estimating and pricing effectiveness, and operating cost management.
11. Partner with senior leadership to execute regional growth strategies and support the integration of acquired businesses.

Construction & New Installation Operations

1. Provide senior leadership and oversight of regional fire sprinkler and fire alarm construction/new installation operations.
2. Oversee project execution from estimating and sales through design, permitting, installation, inspection, and closeout.
3. Ensure projects are properly staffed, scheduled, resourced, and executed across assigned locations.
4. Partner with project managers, designers/engineers, superintendents, foremen, and field personnel to ensure projects meet scope, schedule, quality, and profitability expectations.
5. Monitor project backlog, labor utilization, material requirements, job costs, change orders, and project margins.
6. Evaluate construction performance across the region and implement strategies to improve project execution and financial results.
7. Develop and maintain relationships with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, and other key customers.
8. Identify opportunities for additional work, market expansion, and regional business growth.

Service & Inspection Oversight

1. Provide leadership and accountability for service and inspection/testing/maintenance operations across assigned locations.
2. Partner closely with local Service Managers and Inspection Managers to ensure operations meet financial, operational, safety, and customer-service objectives.
3. Ensure effective coordination between recurring service/inspection customers and the construction/new-installation business.
4. Monitor departmental performance, staffing needs, customer retention, and growth opportunities.
5. Identify opportunities to increase recurring revenue through service agreements, inspections, testing, and maintenance programs.
6. Promote consistency and operational excellence across regional service and inspection teams.

Financial & P&L Management

1. Maintain accountability for regional financial performance, including revenue, gross margins, operating expenses, and profitability.
2. Develop and manage regional budgets, forecasts, revenue targets, and financial performance expectations.
3. Monitor labor, materials, subcontractors, overhead, and other costs to ensure profitability.
4. Regularly review financial performance with local leadership and implement corrective action when necessary.
5. Manage regional backlog and sales pipeline to support consistent revenue and profitability.
6. Partner with senior leadership on annual planning, forecasting, capital expenditures, and strategic growth initiatives.
7. Identify opportunities to increase revenue, improve margins, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency.
8. Establish financial accountability and performance expectations across assigned branch leadership teams.

Sales & Business Development

1. Work closely with regional and local sales leadership to develop and maintain a strong project pipeline.
2. Build relationships with key customers, general contractors, developers, consultants, and industry partners.
3. Participate in major bids, negotiations, customer meetings, and strategic account development.
4. Identify opportunities for organic growth across construction, service, inspections, and maintenance.
5. Support local teams in developing new customer relationships and expanding existing accounts.
6. Represent the company professionally within regional fire protection and construction markets.

People Leadership & Development

1. Establish clear expectations and accountability for branch managers, department managers, and field leadership.
2. Assess regional staffing needs and develop workforce plans based on backlog, projected growth, and operational requirements.
3. Support the development of superintendents, project managers, foremen, technicians, and other future leaders.
4. Promote a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence.
5. Ensure compliance with company policies, OSHA requirements, applicable codes, and industry standards.
6. Provide mentorship and guidance to local leadership teams while encouraging ownership and accountability at the branch level.

Regional Travel & Field Engagement

1. Maintain a remote home office based in the Central United States or West Coast.
2. Travel approximately 50% of the time to assigned branch locations and regional operations.
3. Conduct regular site visits and leadership meetings to assess operational performance, support local teams, and address business needs.
4. Spend meaningful time in the field with project managers, superintendents, foremen, technicians, and other operational personnel.
5. Build strong relationships with local employees, customers, and leadership teams across the region.
6. Participate in regional planning meetings, customer meetings, operational reviews, and company leadership initiatives.
7. Remain accessible and engaged with local teams between scheduled site visits.

Qualifications

1. 5+ years of progressive management experience in the fire protection industry.
2. Demonstrated experience managing fire sprinkler, fire alarm, or integrated fire protection operations.
3. Experience leading construction/new installation operations strongly preferred.
4. Experience leading multiple functional teams, including some combination of:
5. • Project Management
   • Design/Engineering
   • Estimating
   • Sales
   • Superintendents
   • Foremen
   • Sprinkler Fitters
   • Fire Alarm Technicians
   • Service Technicians
   • Inspection/Testing Personnel
6. Demonstrated P&L and financial management experience.
7. Strong understanding of fire protection construction, project execution, labor management, and job costing.
8. Experience working with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, and other construction stakeholders.
9. Proven ability to lead geographically dispersed teams and manage operations across multiple locations.
10. Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
11. Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational leadership.
12. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
13. Strong understanding of applicable fire protection codes, standards, safety requirements, and industry practices.
14. Willingness and ability to travel approximately 50% of the time.

Preferred Experience

1. Previous Regional Manager, Regional General Manager, General Manager, Branch Manager, or Operations Manager experience within the fire protection industry.
2. Experience overseeing multiple branches, business units, or geographically dispersed operations.
3. NICET certification or other relevant industry certifications.
4. Experience with both sprinkler and fire alarm systems.
5. Experience managing a business unit or region with full P&L responsibility.
6. Experience growing a fire protection business through both new construction and recurring service/inspection revenue.
7. Experience supporting acquisitions, operational integrations, or multi-location business growth.
8. Bachelor's degree in business, construction management, engineering, or a related field preferred but not required.

Work Location & Travel

This is a remote-based position with the ability to work from a home office located in the Central United States or on the West Coast.

Approximately 50% regional travel is required, including visits to assigned branch locations, project sites, customer locations, and regional operations. Travel will be coordinated based on business priorities, operational needs, and regional leadership responsibilities.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable managing a remote work environment while maintaining a highly visible and engaged presence across the region.

Compensation

Target Base Salary: $150,000–$180,000 annually , depending on experience, geographic location, scope of responsibility, and demonstrated regional P&L and operational leadership experience.

Additional compensation may include a performance-based annual bonus tied to regional revenue, profitability, operational performance, and other key business metrics, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

Company-paid business travel expenses will be provided in accordance with company policy.

What Success Looks Like

The successful Regional General Manager will build and lead high-performing regional operations that consistently deliver:

1. Profitable construction and installation projects.
2. Strong project execution and backlog management.
3. High customer satisfaction and retention.
4. Effective coordination between construction and service/inspection operations.
5. Strong employee recruitment, development, and retention.
6. Safe and efficient field operations.
7. Consistent regional revenue and gross-margin performance.
8. Strong accountability and operational discipline across branch locations.
9. Effective development of local management teams and future leaders.
10. Sustainable regional growth and successful execution of company initiatives.

This position offers an opportunity to take ownership of a growing national fire protection operation, influence multiple business units, develop strong local leadership teams, and play a significant role in the continued growth and success of the organization.

Our Commitment to Diversity

Guardian Fire Services is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Guardian Fire Services is committed to an inclusive experience for all applicants and will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations in the interview process, to the known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.

How to Apply

If you’re ready to take the lead in shaping HR systems and processes in a growing company, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now to join Guardian Fire Services and make an impact!