Director of Operations - Pathway to COO in Valencia, California at CastleWorks Careers

ABOUT THE ROLE

We're a fast-growing residential home services company specializing in HVAC, plumbing, and water heater installation, repair, and maintenance. We're hiring a Director of Operations to serve as the operational backbone of the organization — driving profitability, scaling our systems, and leading through our General Managers to build a best-in-class operation.

THE COO PATHWAY

This role is a deliberate stepping stone to Chief Operating Officer. You'll be evaluated against clear leadership competencies, operational milestones, and financial targets — with a realistic path to the COO seat as we scale.

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

• Set operational benchmarks across HVAC, plumbing, and water heater service lines; hold GMs accountable for performance
• Own the operational P&L — drive revenue growth, improve margins, and eliminate cost leakage in labor, materials, and overhead
• Develop and enforce SOPs for field operations and inventory management
• Track and report weekly KPIs; identify trends and implement corrective action
• Lead the customer experience — set quality standards, own escalations, and leverage feedback to drive improvement
• Coach and develop GMs as the primary people leaders; partner with HR on hiring, onboarding, talent management and performance frameworks
• Evaluate and optimize field service technology platforms (e.g., ServiceTitan)
• Lead expansion into new markets and service lines; support CEO on strategic growth initiatives

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive base salary + performance bonus
• Company vehicle
• Health, dental & vision insurance
• PTO & paid holidays
• 401(k) match

We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination/harassment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• 5+ years in a senior or director-level operations role
• Home services, trades, or field service industry background strongly preferred (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or similar)
• Proven P&L ownership with a track record of improving margins
• Experience scaling operational processes in a growth-stage company
• Ability to lead through managers — earn respect from both field and office teams
• Data-driven; strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Familiarity with OSHA, EPA, and CSLB licensing requirements a plus