Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Location: Austin, TX (Hybrid Preferred)

Industry: HVAC Services | Private Equity–Backed Roll-Up

Compensation: Competitive base salary + performance bonus + significant equity participation

Position Overview

A private equity–backed HVAC services platform is seeking a transformational Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the company through its next phase of aggressive growth, operational integration, and value creation. The platform was acquired several years ago and has already completed four add-on acquisitions, with a target of acquiring 2–4 founder-owned HVAC companies per year over the next three years as part of a deliberate buy-and-build strategy.

The CEO will be responsible for scaling the organization, professionalizing operations, building a unified platform, elevating leadership talent, and preparing the company for a successful sale at the end of the investment horizon. This is a hands-on, execution-driven role ideal for a leader who thrives in PE-backed environments and understands the complexities of integrating and scaling multi-location, field-services businesses.

The role is based in Austin, Texas, where the platform’s operational hub and leadership team are anchored.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Value Creation

• Define and execute a multi-year value-creation plan aligned with the PE firm’s growth, integration, and exit timeline.
• Lead strategic planning for revenue expansion, margin improvement, geographic growth, and operational scalability.
• Drive the company toward a successful sale in approximately three years, ensuring readiness across financial, operational, and commercial functions.

M&A & Integration Excellence

• Lead the sourcing, evaluation, diligence, and integration of 2–4 add-on acquisitions per year, focusing on family-owned and founder-led HVAC businesses.
• Build and refine a scalable integration playbook covering systems, processes, financial reporting, culture, and people.
• Partner with the PE firm on transaction reviews, deal modeling, and value-creation underwriting.

Operational Leadership

• Elevate the operating model across the platform, including dispatch, field service operations, inventory, pricing, customer experience, and technician productivity.
• Implement KPIs, dashboards, controls, and processes that bring discipline and visibility across multiple branches.
• Standardize best practices across acquired companies while maintaining the agility and customer-first mentality expected in field services.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Oversee full P&L ownership, budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance across all business units.
• Drive margin expansion through pricing strategy, technician utilization, SG&A optimization, and procurement efficiencies.
• Strengthen commercial capabilities across marketing, sales, customer retention, and local market growth strategies.

Leadership, Culture & Talent Development

• Build and lead a strong executive team and multi-location branch leadership structure capable of scaling rapidly.
• Instill a culture of accountability, operational excellence, transparency, and high performance.
• Recruit new leadership where needed, especially in operations, finance, HR, and M&A integration.

Stakeholder Alignment & Communication

• Maintain strong partnership with the private equity sponsor, providing timely updates, analytics, and insights around performance and strategy.
• Act as the face of the company with key customers, vendors, lenders, and community partners.
• Ensure alignment across all internal and external stakeholders to drive cohesive execution.

Qualifications

Required

• Proven experience as a CEO, COO, Division President, or GM in HVAC, field services, residential services, or related service-based industries.
• Demonstrated success in private equity–backed environments with exposure to buy-and-build strategies.
• Direct experience integrating and scaling multi-location businesses.
• Strong financial acumen with a track record of driving EBITDA growth and operational efficiency.
• Ability to lead through change, unify diverse teams, and implement repeatable processes across acquired entities.
• Willingness to be based in or commute regularly to Austin, TX.

Preferred

• Experience completing and integrating multiple add-on acquisitions each year.
• Background in founder-owned business environments and comfort navigating transitions from entrepreneurial operations to structured, performance-driven organizations.
• Ability to serve as both a strategic leader and a hands-on operator.
• Prior experience preparing a business for a successful sale/recapitalization.

Why This Role Is Compelling

• Lead a PE-backed platform at a defining moment in its growth trajectory.
• Directly influence value creation and participate meaningfully in the upside through substantial equity options.
• Build a scalable, best-in-class HVAC services organization with a strong acquisition engine.
• Work closely with an engaged private equity sponsor committed to investing in people, infrastructure, and growth.
• Opportunity to shape the culture, leadership team, and long-term direction of a rapidly evolving platform.