President - Operations

Recruit Up, LLC • Full-time • Statesville, NC, US • 3m ago

J.C. Steele & Sons seeks a President to lead its North Carolina operations, driving sustained profitability, disciplined growth, and strong organizational performance.

The President will serve as the senior leader of the Statesville business, responsible for executing strategy, strengthening operational performance, and expanding the company’s position in both established and emerging markets.

This role requires a balanced leader who can:

Nurture and optimize a mature, market-leading business
Identify and capture growth opportunities in new markets and customer segments
Build and lead a high-performing, accountable team
Operate with strong financial discipline and clear alignment to Board-defined performance metrics

The President will work closely with the Board of Directors to ensure consistent execution against strategic priorities while maintaining a high degree of operational ownership and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

Business Leadershop and Profitability

Own full P&L responsibility for the North Carolina operations
Drive sustained profitability through disciplined cost management, pricing strategy, and operational efficiency
Identify and execute margin improvement opportunities across the business
Ensure consistent performance against Board-approved financial and operating metrics

Core Market Strength and Expansion

Strengthen and grow the company’s position in its core heavy clay market
Expand into adjacent markets and new customer segments where capabilities align
Develop and execute strategies to diversify the customer base and reduce concentration risk
Build long-term, trusted relationships with key customers

Operational Excellence

Lead all aspects of operations including manufacturing, engineering, and commercial execution
Evaluate the competitiveness and efficiency of current operating processes
Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance throughput, quality, and cost structure
Ensure alignment between operational capabilities and market needs

Leadership and Team Development

Build, develop, and retain a high-performing leadership team
Establish clear roles, expectations, and accountability across all functions
Identify capability gaps and strengthen the organization through targeted hiring and development
Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and performance

Board Alignment and Performance Accountability

Maintain strong alignment with the Board of Directors on strategy, priorities, and performance expectations
Deliver clear, consistent reporting on financial results, operational performance, and strategic initiatives
Operate with a high level of accountability to defined metrics and outcomes
Translate Board direction into actionable execution plans

Collaboration Across Business Units

Partner effectively with other J.C. Steele business units to create value through collaboration and shared capabilities
Identify and execute opportunities for synergy where commercially and operationally beneficial
Support a coordinated approach to customers, markets, and product development
Contribute to broader company-wide initiatives while maintaining focus on Statesville performance

Strategic Growth Execution

Identify scalable growth opportunities aligned with company capabilities
Allocate resources toward highest-return opportunities
Support development and execution of growth initiatives, including new products, markets, or services
Ensure growth is pursued with clear return thresholds and operational readiness

Key Success Metrics

Profitability and margin improvement
Revenue growth in both core and new markets
Customer diversification and reduced concentration
Operational efficiency and throughput improvements
Strength and accountability of leadership team
Consistent achievement of Board-defined performance metrics
Effective collaboration across business units

Qualifications

Proven executive leadership experience (President, GM, or Divisional Leader)
Background in manufacturing, capital equipment, or industrial sectors
Strong financial acumen with demonstrated P&L ownership
Experience driving both operational improvement and market expansion
Ability to lead and scale teams in performance-driven environments
Engineering or technical background preferred

Leadership Attributes

Growth-Oriented Operator – Balances core business optimization with disciplined expansion into new markets
Accountable Leader – Owns outcomes and drives performance against clear metrics
Operationally Grounded – Understands and improves manufacturing and operating processes
Team Builder – Develops strong leaders and creates a culture of accountability
Collaborative Executive – Works effectively across business units to unlock value
Credible with Board and Organization – Communicates clearly and operates with confidence at all levels

Summary

This is a leadership role focused on strengthening an established business, driving disciplined growth, and building a high-performing organization aligned with Board expectations. The President will play a central role in advancing the company’s market position while delivering consistent financial and operational performance.