Business Unit President

About the Role

BrainWorks is partnering with an established commercial paving and concrete contractor to identify its next Business Unit President. The company, currently a $18M+ business, is positioned to grow toward $30M by expanding field capacity, developing leaders, and strengthening execution. This is a genuine, self‑initiated succession; the current President will remain as a key partner focused on sales and customer relationships.

Key Focus Areas

• Leading the overall business with accountability for P&L, people, operations and growth
• Strengthening field leadership, crew capacity, scheduling and operating discipline
• Developing emerging leaders and creating greater ownership throughout the organization
• Partnering with the current President and sales team to align customer commitments with operating capacity
• Preserving a relationship‑oriented, people‑first culture while preparing the business to scale

Major Responsibilities

Business Leadership and P&L

• Own the annual operating plan, budget, forecast and overall financial performance
• Translate growth objectives into practical plans for labor, crews, equipment, leadership and capital
• Improve job‑level visibility, margin performance, productivity and accountability
• Establish clear priorities, decision rights and operating rhythms across the organization
• Work closely with platform leadership and shared resources while maintaining strong local ownership

Field Operations and Execution

• Provide credible leadership across self‑performing asphalt paving, repair, maintenance and concrete operations
• Strengthen estimating‑to‑execution handoffs, scheduling, labor planning, equipment utilization and project readiness
• Build field capacity by recruiting, retaining and developing foremen, operators and crew members
• Improve safety, quality, production, schedule performance and customer communication
• Identify recurring sources of margin variance and implement practical corrective actions
• Guide the transfer of critical field knowledge from experienced leaders to the next generation

People and Leadership Development

• Develop an emerging leadership team through coaching, delegation and clear accountability
• Create an environment where decisions are made at the appropriate level
• Lead with humility, calm confidence and respect, particularly when weather, schedules or customer needs create pressure
• Preserve the company’s people‑first culture while introducing the structure needed for continued growth
• Build trust with longtime employees, field crews, customers, suppliers and local partners

Sales, Customer and Growth Partnership

• Partner closely with the current President as he concentrates on sales, customer relationships and market development
• Create stronger alignment among sales, estimating, scheduling and field operations
• Ensure growth commitments reflect available labor, equipment, seasonality and production capacity
• Support a responsive customer experience while protecting safety, quality and profitability

Education and Experience

• Progressive leadership experience within a self‑performing commercial paving or closely related contracting business
• Demonstrated responsibility for a business or operating unit, including P&L, people and operating results
• Experience leading multiple field crews and developing frontline and functional leaders
• Deep knowledge of asphalt paving operations, including crews, equipment, production, weather, scheduling, quality and job profitability
• Concrete operations experience is strongly preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in business, construction management, engineering or a related field preferred; equivalent industry experience will be considered

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Hands‑on paving knowledge and the field credibility to assess work, coach foremen and engage constructively with crews
• Strong financial judgment across estimating, job costing, pricing, forecasting, capital and margin management
• Ability to balance customer and sales priorities with labor, equipment, safety and production realities
• Track record of building operating capacity and improving execution in a growing organization
• Calm, practical and accountable leadership style without arrogance or unnecessary bureaucracy
• Strong communication, problem‑solving and cross‑functional partnership skills
• Commitment to safety, quality, integrity and employee development
• Ability to work onsite and remain closely connected to field operations throughout Greater Cincinnati

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience as a President, General Manager, COO, Vice President or senior operating leader in the paving industry
• Relationships or operating experience in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky or the broader Ohio Valley
• Experience scaling a founder‑led, family‑influenced or entrepreneurial business
• Experience working within a multi‑business platform with shared resources, metrics and accountability
• Success leading an organization through growth, leadership succession or operating‑model development

Location and Travel

Onsite, field‑connected leadership role based in the Cincinnati area. Regular local travel to job sites, customers and operating locations. Relocation assistance may be considered for an exceptional candidate.

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