Operations Manager - Commercial Operations, Growth & Modernization
24 hours ago
Cicero
Job Description:\n\nOperations Manager - Commercial Operations, Growth & Modernization Help Build the Next Era of PWS Pressure Washing Systems Environmental, Inc. (PWS) is entering an exciting period of growth and expansion, and we are looking for an experienced Operations Manager - Commercial Operations to help us build the operational foundation for what comes next. This is an opportunity for a hands-on operations leader who can lead our commercial field operations while also helping modernize the way we operate, strengthen our systems, develop our people, and build processes that can scale with the company. PWS is investing in technology and more connected operating systems to improve how we manage our people, customers, fleet, equipment, scheduling, compliance, and financial information. Our technology environment includes platforms such as NetSuite, Samsara, WhipAround, Field Service Management systems, GPS and telematics, and proprietary applications. We are looking for someone who can take advantage of these tools, improve how they are used, and help move the organization toward a more efficient, data-driven, technology-enabled operation. The opportunity is bigger than managing today's operation. It is about helping build the operation PWS will need for its next stage of growth. The Opportunity The Operations Manager - Commercial Operations will lead commercial field operations while overseeing fleet readiness, transportation compliance, maintenance administration, and operational performance. This leader will work closely with Field Supervisors, technicians, mechanics, Logistics, Fleet, Human Resources, Sales, Customer Service, and senior leadership to ensure the operation performs safely, efficiently, and consistently. The ideal candidate is an experienced operations leader with a background in field services, transportation, logistics, or commercial fleet operations who enjoys developing people, improving systems, leveraging technology, solving operational challenges, and building better ways of working. This role requires a leader who can balance the needs of today's operation with the opportunities created by modernization and growth. Primary Responsibilities Field Operations LeadershipLead daily operations for commercial field service teams through direct management of Field Supervisors and coordination with Logistics.Hold supervisors accountable for technician attendance, productivity, safety, service quality, and professionalism.Coach, mentor, and develop supervisors and technicians through regular performance discussions and one-on-one meetings.Address employee performance issues through coaching, corrective action, documentation, and follow-up in accordance with company policy.Ensure a minimum of 95% of scheduled jobs are completed daily without customer escalation.Respond quickly to operational issues, customer concerns, and field emergencies.Identify opportunities to improve field execution, productivity, communication, and accountability.Develop operating practices that can support increasing volume and future expansion. Team Leadership & MeetingsConduct weekly one-on-one meetings with the Field Supervisor and Logistics Planner.Lead weekly Operations Alignment Meetings with Fleet, Logistics, Staging, and Field Services.Conduct technician safety and performance meetings every six weeks.Complete quarterly performance evaluations for direct reports.Establish a culture of accountability, communication, continuous improvement, and professional development. Service Quality & Customer ExperienceConduct regular site audits at commercial customer locations to verify service quality and cleanliness standards.Evaluate service delivery and identify opportunities for operational improvement.Investigate service deficiencies and determine root causes related to personnel, equipment, or processes.Audit job tickets, routes, inspections, and documentation to ensure compliance with company standards.Build and maintain strong relationships with key commercial customers through regular site visits.Identify recurring service issues and implement corrective actions that improve consistency and customer satisfaction. Fleet Operations & Transportation ComplianceOversee fleet readiness to ensure vehicles and equipment are safe, compliant, and available for daily operations.Partner closely with the Fleet Maintenance team to coordinate preventive maintenance schedules and repairs.Monitor vehicle availability and equipment readiness using fleet management systems and maintenance reports.Ensure compliance with all applicable FMCSA and DOT regulations governing commercial vehicle operations.Maintain driver qualification files, inspection records, maintenance documentation, and other required compliance records.Coordinate vehicle inspections, registrations, licensing, and regulatory documentation.Work with Fleet and Facilities to resolve equipment failures, breakdowns, and operational disruptions.Use fleet technology, telematics, and operational data to improve fleet visibility, accountability, reliability, and utilization. Maintenance Shop AdministrationOversee the administrative functions of the maintenance shop.Coordinate work orders, repair tracking, preventive maintenance schedules, vendor communication, and maintenance documentation.Monitor maintenance costs and identify opportunities to improve fleet reliability while controlling expenses.Support mechanics by ensuring administrative processes remain organized, accurate, and efficient.Identify opportunities to improve maintenance workflows, documentation, and technology utilization. Fleet Maintenance Inventory ManagementManage inventory for the fleet maintenance shop, including parts, tools, fluids, tires, filters, consumables, and critical spare components.Monitor inventory levels to minimize downtime while avoiding unnecessary overstock.Coordinate purchasing with approved vendors.Maintain accurate inventory records and conduct routine inventory audits.Establish inventory controls and reorder procedures that support efficient fleet operations.Improve visibility into inventory usage, costs, and purchasing trends. Operational Excellence & TechnologyEnsure compliance with company Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), safety policies, and operational standards.Review Samsara, GPS, tablet activity, and field data daily to verify technician compliance.Conduct daily key and tablet accountability with zero discrepancies.Prepare scope-of-work documentation and visual job aids for new or specialized work.Identify opportunities to improve workflows, SOPs, and operational efficiency.Leverage technology to reduce administrative burden, improve visibility, and strengthen accountability.Help optimize the use of NetSuite, Samsara, WhipAround, Field Service Management systems, and proprietary applications.Identify gaps between systems and operational processes and work with leadership to develop better solutions.Help establish processes that are scalable and capable of supporting future growth.Encourage adoption of technology and improved processes throughout the field organization. Reporting & Cost ManagementPrepare daily KPI reports covering production, route efficiency, fleet readiness, safety, customer concerns, and technician performance.Submit weekly operational summaries to senior leadership.Prepare and present monthly and quarterly reports covering productivity, staffing, fleet performance, maintenance costs, safety, compliance, customer satisfaction, and operational trends.Monitor overtime, labor utilization, staffing levels, production costs, and route efficiency.Review scheduling and technician utilization with the Logistics Planner to maximize efficiency.Use operational data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.Help leadership understand operational performance through accurate, timely, and actionable reporting. Cross-Functional LeadershipPartner with Sales and Customer Service to resolve customer concerns.Collaborate with Human Resources on recruiting, onboarding, retention, and workforce development.Support recruiting and interviewing of field technicians and operational personnel.Manage keys and access control for assigned customer accounts.Ensure ERP records, operational documentation, maintenance records, and administrative forms remain accurate and current.Partner with other departments to improve communication, coordination, and execution.Work collaboratively with leadership as PWS continues to expand its capabilities, systems, and customer base. What Success Looks Like Within Your First 90 DaysBuild strong working relationships with supervisors, technicians, mechanics, and support departments.Complete operational audits of all major commercial accounts.Evaluate fleet operations and maintenance processes.Evaluate current operating systems, technology utilization, and workflow effectiveness.Identify the highest-priority operational improvement opportunities.Establish a visible leadership presence in the field.Develop a clear understanding of the opportunities to improve efficiency, accountability, and scalability. Within 6 MonthsPerformance management processes are consistent and well documented.Operational meeting cadence is fully established.Fleet maintenance administration is organized and operating efficiently.Preventive maintenance schedules are consistently followed.FMCSA and DOT compliance documentation is accurate and audit-ready.Maintenance inventory is organized, accurate, and properly controlled.Key operational processes and technology are being used consistently across the organization.Meaningful process improvements have been identified and implemented. Within 12 MonthsField operations consistently perform with minimal executive intervention.Reporting is timely, accurate, and actionable.Fleet reliability and operational efficiency continue to improve.Customer satisfaction, technician accountability, safety performance, and service quality trend upward.Maintenance inventory supports efficient operations with minimal downtime.Operational processes are increasingly standardized, measurable, and scalable.Technology is being effectively leveraged to improve visibility, accountability, productivity, and decision-making.The commercial operation is better positioned to support continued company growth and expansion. Who We're Looking For We're looking for a hands-on operations leader and builder who enjoys being close to the operation and understands what it takes to turn people, processes, technology, and resources into consistent results. The ideal candidate has successfully managed hourly field employees in a service, transportation, logistics, or operations environment. They understand that operational excellence depends on strong leadership, accountability, disciplined execution, effective systems, and a well-maintained fleet. You're comfortable coaching supervisors, addressing difficult performance issues, making decisions under pressure, and solving problems in the field. You understand the importance of transportation compliance, work effectively alongside mechanics, maintain organized maintenance operations, and ensure vehicles remain safe, compliant, and ready to serve customers every day. Just as importantly, you are interested in improving the way the business operates. You are comfortable learning technology, working with operational data, improving processes, and challenging outdated ways of doing things when a better solution exists. You see growth as an opportunity to build. Qualifications RequiredMinimum three years of experience managing hourly field employees in a service, logistics, transportation, fleet, or operations environment.Experience managing supervisors and multiple field teams.Proven experience coaching employees, issuing corrective action, managing performance improvement, and participating in employee discipline and termination processes.Working knowledge of FMCSA and DOT regulations governing commercial vehicle operations.Experience supporting transportation compliance and fleet operations.Experience managing maintenance administration, including preventive maintenance scheduling, repair tracking, work orders, and vendor coordination.Experience managing fleet maintenance inventory and parts control.Experience preparing operational reports, KPI dashboards, and leadership summaries.Experience using fleet management, GPS, ERP, or field service software such as Samsara, WhipAround, NetSuite, or similar platforms.Strong organizational, leadership, written, and verbal communication skills.Valid driver's license with the ability to travel regularly to customer locations. PreferredBackground in transportation, trucking, commercial fleet operations, commercial cleaning, pressure washing, facilities services, landscaping, pest control, waste management, or other multi-route field service operations.Experience supervising or supporting a fleet maintenance shop.Experience with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS).Experience improving underperforming operations or rebuilding teams.Experience implementing or improving operational technology and field management systems.Experience supporting organizational growth, expansion, or operational transformation.Strongly preferred: Bilingual in English and Spanish. Core CompetenciesLeadership and accountabilityCoaching and performance managementOperational planning and executionFleet and transportation managementFMCSA and DOT complianceTechnology adoption and utilizationProcess improvementInventory and asset managementOrganization and attention to detailCustomer serviceCommunication and relationship buildingSound judgment and problem-solvingContinuous improvementAbility to build scalable processes Physical Requirements This role regularly works in office, warehouse, maintenance shop, and outdoor commercial service environments. Candidates must be able to:Stand, walk, climb, and work outdoors for extended periods.Lift up to 50 pounds.Travel frequently between customer locations. Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday, with occasional evenings or weekends based on operational needs. Company Description Pressure Washing Systems Environmental, Inc. is the largest most diversified full-service pressure washing company in the Midwest, offering a wide range of services to the Chicago Metropolitan area, Southern Wisconsin, Northwest Indiana, and Los Angeles, California regions. With over 20 years of experience in the pressure washing business, we have the knowledge and experience to handle any clean-up job successfully. With a fleet of over 40 totally self-contained trucks, PWS Environmental, Inc. has the ability to complete any cleaning project on time and within budget while always keeping the environment in mind. We look forward to becoming a part of your team. PWS Environmental, Inc. provides unparalleled service, compPressure Washing Systems Environmental, Inc. is the largest most diversified full-service pressure washing company in the Midwest offering a wide range of services to the Chicago Metropolitan area, Southern Wisconsin, Northwest Indiana, and Los Angeles California regions.\r\n\r\nWith over 20 years of experience in the pressure washing business, we have the knowledge and experience to handle any clean-up job successfully. With a fleet of over 40 totally self contained trucks PWS Environmental, Inc. has the ability to complete any cleaning project on time and within budget while always keeping the environment in mind.\r\n\r\nWe look forward to becoming a part of your team PWS Environmental, Inc. provides unparalleled service, competitive pricing, and unique comprehensive solutions for your cleaning needs. Through teamwork we can execute a variety of work, no matter the size of the job. PWS Environmental, Inc. is poised to help you develop an effective and cost-efficient solution to your cleaning needs; with our conscientious and professional staff, we will roll up our sleeves and do whatever it takes to get the job done.\r\n\r\nWe manage everything from the routine maintenance cleanings of national chains with thousands of locations, to the delicate restoration of a single historic landmark structure. At PWS, we realize that our company’s success depends on our customers’ satisfaction. We strive to exceed your expectations with our professionalism, pricing and the quality of our work.