ABOUT AMERICAN OPERATOR

American Operator exists to keep the American Dream alive through small-business ownership. We buy small businesses between $5M-$15M in revenue from retiring owners who want their life's work in the hands of leaders who care. We place in an experienced operator as CEO and 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 an American Operator industrial cleaning and maintenance chemicals manufacturing business as CEO. This is an opportunity to step into a profitable business with a tenured team already in place. You'll assume full day-to-day operations and P&L responsibility. This is not a turnaround. Your job will be to retain the team and customers, run the business with discipline, and grow from a position of strength. American Operator is your partner from day one, with a clear pathway to earn significant equity in the business you lead.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Grow the business with a focus on key performance metrics as you lead day-to-day plant operations
Develop and lead the production, quality, and sales team with a culture of high accountability and performance
Oversee production and dispensing processes with discipline on batch quality and size across a large product portfolio
Monitor sales, margin, and performance compared to budget to inform go-to-market strategy and pricing
Manage raw material procurement, plant capacity, and equipment upkeep
Maintain EPA product and facility registration and GHS labeling compliance across the product line
Partner with American Operator on strategy, budgeting, and growth planning

REQUIREMENTS

7+ years of relevant industry experience, with at least 3 years of P&L ownership over a department or entire plant
Experience building high performance teams with accountability for hiring and performance improvement
Track record of leading successful LEAN process integrations into batch manufacturing businesses
Experience growing sales through a distribution network as a manufacturing rep
Currently located in or a willingness to relocate to one of our target markets (Texas, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, or Pennsylvania)

WHAT SETS YOU APART

A track record of growth leading an outside sales team where you consistently exceeded targets
Direct experience in chemical manufacturing including, formulated products, paints and coatings, lubricants, and other products
Stepped in as the new leader after an ownership or leadership transition and earned the trust of the existing production and formulation team

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 Texas, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. 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.

Portfolio CEO: Industrial Chemicals Manufacturing