About this role
About the Company
Our client is a well-established and rapidly growing heavy equipment dealership serving the construction, infrastructure, and industrial markets. With a strong reputation for customer service, technical expertise, and long-standing OEM partnerships, the organization operates across multiple locations and offers a full suite of equipment sales, rentals, parts, and service solutions. The company is entering a new phase of strategic growth and is seeking a seasoned operational leader to help scale the business while preserving operational excellence.
About the Position
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of the executive leadership team and is responsible for translating the CEO’s strategic vision into day-to-day operational execution. This role oversees the dealership’s core functions—sales, rental, service, parts, logistics, and fleet management—with a focus on profitability, efficiency, and sustainable growth.
The COO will drive operational excellence across all branches, implement scalable processes and systems, and lead cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional performance. This executive will also partner closely with the CEO on strategic initiatives such as geographic expansion, OEM negotiations, and post-acquisition integration.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with the company’s growth objectives and the CEO’s vision.
- Operational Excellence: Oversee daily dealership operations, including Parts and Service Departments, to maximize productivity, utilization, and customer satisfaction.
- Process Improvement: Implement policies, procedures, and automation tools (e.g., ERP, WMS) to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
- Team Leadership: Recruit, develop, and motivate high-performing teams across sales, rental, service, and branch management.
- Operations Management: Lead equipment sales, rentals, logistics, maintenance, and fleet operations across multiple locations.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Establish performance dashboards and analyze metrics to guide operational and strategic decisions.
- Asset & Inventory Management: Manage the full lifecycle of heavy equipment, including new and used equipment acquisitions, fleet rotation, and rental purchase options (RPO).
- Financial Stewardship: Develop and manage operating budgets, capital expenditure plans, and revenue forecasts; oversee P&L performance and gross margin targets.
- Strategic Growth Initiatives: Support expansion into new markets, OEM relationship management, and integration of acquired businesses.
- Customer & Vendor Relations: Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key customers, OEMs, and strategic suppliers.
- Performance Tracking: Implement and monitor KPIs such as Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), Right First Time (RFT), equipment utilization, and technician efficiency.
Requirements
- Experience: 10–15+ years of progressive leadership experience within heavy equipment, construction machinery, or industrial distribution environments.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field required; MBA strongly preferred.
- Industry Expertise: Deep understanding of dealership operations, including rental fleets, depreciation strategies, RPO programs, and regulatory/safety compliance.
- Leadership Capability: Proven success leading multidisciplinary, geographically dispersed teams and building a high-performance culture.
- Executive Skills: Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities, with a hands-on yet strategic leadership style.
- Analytical Acumen: Strong financial and operational analytics skills with a track record of data-driven improvement initiatives.
Benefits
- Competitive executive compensation package with performance-based incentives
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits
- Retirement plan with company contribution
- Vehicle allowance or company vehicle (as applicable)
- Executive-level autonomy and influence within a growing organization
- Opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of a market-leading dealership
Other facts
About Kimmel & Associates
Kimmel & Associates was formed in 1981 with the goal of providing service-oriented executive search to a group of specialized industries. Since then, we have become the largest industry-specific executive search firm in North America. For more than 40 years, we have been committed to exceeding expectations and providing unparalleled service through dedication, honesty, and stewardship—it’s the Kimmel Standard. Here are the industries we serve: construction (all sectors), renewable & sustainable infrastructure, supply chain, waste & recycling, and automotive.
An Unmatched Commitment to Service
Kimmel & Associates was founded on the principle of serving. We believe that helping people and companies to prosper is our calling, and we are certain that helping companies attract the right people at the right time is how we can serve best. Kimmel employees follow this calling in the community as well, through our Kimmel Goodwill Program, our in-house volunteer network.
Why Kimmel?
Kimmel & Associates has been recognized as the industry leader in executive search for the industries we serve. We partner with clients to become their agents and advocates in the marketplace. We know the right job at the right time changes a candidate’s future, and the right candidate at the right time changes a company’s future. We’ve helped thousands of professionals grow their careers. We recruit. We really recruit.
Experience the Kimmel Difference in Executive Recruiting Today
*Named America's Top 10 "Best Management Consulting Firms"
Forbes, 2016
What you'll do
- The COO is responsible for translating the CEO’s strategic vision into operational execution, overseeing core dealership functions to maximize profitability and efficiency. This role includes driving operational excellence, implementing scalable processes, and leading cross-functional teams.
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