PLUMBING OPERATIONS MANAGER
"Great moments are born from great opportunity."
— Miracle (2004)
What if the plumbing division you build here is still standing, still growing, and still setting the standard — long after you've moved into the role above it?
We are a family owned and operated business, serving the Chicagoland area since 1992. Our vision is to build the company people stake their future on. We've grown into one of the larger home services companies in Chicagoland, and we have an active plan to multiply that size several times over in the years ahead — which means the operator who builds our plumbing division today is the one who'll run it at a scale most operators never get the chance to build.
Here's the part that makes this role different: Leslie has been serving Chicagoland families for 35 years — but our plumbing division is only about a year and a half old. That means you're not starting from zero. You're inheriting a deep, loyal customer base, established systems and processes built over three and a half decades, and a brand people already trust. What we need now is the operational leader who takes that foundation and builds it into a plumbing enterprise. With that head start already in place, this is going to be a fun ride — and because we've chosen growth over standing still, it comes with something rare: the chance to build a career you can stake your future on, with a ceiling you set yourself.
What You Get From Day One
- $100,000 base salary, plus performance quarterly bonus plus profit sharing
- A defined growth path — this role is designed to grow into Director of Plumbing Operations as the company scales
- Health Insurance — Blue Cross Blue Shield (entire family, 100% company paid)
- Dental Insurance (100% company paid)
- Vision Insurance (100% company paid)
- Life Insurance (100% company paid)
- 401k with company match
- Healthy PTO provided
- Weekly paychecks
- Direct, weekly access to ownership and leadership — not layers of middle management
- Regular paid training and continued development
The Job: More of a Mission
Our purpose is simple: We Comfort Families. For most people that means a house that's warm in January and cool in July — but just as often, it means hot water that doesn't run out, a water heater that doesn't fail on a Sunday, and pipes that don't turn a Tuesday into a disaster. Every truck we put on the road carries that mission into someone's home — and this role is what makes sure every one of those trucks lives up to it.
This role is built for a proven operator — someone who has already run a plumbing division, branch, or company larger than what we have today, and who knows exactly what it takes to build the systems, the team, and the standards that let an operation scale without breaking. This is not a caretaker role, and it's not a promotion for someone who's never run more than a small crew. A plumbing license is a real plus, but what matters most is that you think like an operator: P&L ownership, KPIs, recruiting pipelines, training systems, accountability structures. You'll have real autonomy to build this division your way — we're not handing you a playbook and asking you to follow it. We're handing you the pen.
And to be clear about what this actually looks like day to day: this is not a strategy-only seat. You will personally recruit, hire, onboard, train, and coach plumbers — in the field, on real jobs, not just in a conference room. Building the systems matters, but systems don't grow a team by themselves. You do, one plumber at a time.
The BIG Task
Build and lead a plumbing division built to scale — and just as important, personally recruit, hire, onboard, train, and coach the plumbers who make that growth real, one person at a time, without losing quality, culture, or accountability along the way.
Key Sub Tasks
- Own full P&L responsibility for the plumbing division: revenue, margin, labor cost, and profitability.
- Personally recruit, hire, onboard, train, and coach plumbers to perform — hands-on, in the field, not just policy on paper.
- Build the systems and processes for recruiting, onboarding, training, and developing plumbers and future team leads — not just filling shifts.
- Set clear performance standards, KPIs, and accountability structures across the division, and hold the team to them.
- Partner directly with ownership on growth strategy, budgeting, and long-term planning — your input shapes the plan, not just executes it.
- Build a culture technicians want to be part of, and a bench of future leaders underneath you.
- Ensure compliance with local plumbing codes, licensing requirements, and safety standards.
Must-Haves
- Proven experience running a plumbing division, branch, or company of meaningful size — you've owned a P&L, not just a schedule.
- A track record of scaling a plumbing operation — in revenue, headcount, or both.
- Strong systems and process orientation — you build standards, not just react to today's fire.
- Strong people leadership — you've hired, trained, developed, and held technicians accountable.
- A valid driver's license and the ability to pass a background check.
Nice-to-Haves
- An active plumbing license (Journeyman or Master) — a real plus, not a requirement.
- Experience in a multi-trade home services company (HVAC, electrical, and plumbing).
- Familiarity with field service software (e.g., ServiceTitan or similar).
- Experience leading a team through a period of rapid growth or acquisition integration.
WHY LESLIE?
We're not just building a plumbing department — we're building a best-in-class team backed by 35 years of earned trust.
Recognition:
- Ferguson Plumbing & HVAC Awards (2024–2026)
- Lennox Centurion Award Winner (2020–2023)
- Goodman President's Club
- Daikin Comfort Pro Award
Customer Trust:
- 4.8 Google Rating — 3,400+ reviews
- 4.8 PulseM Rating — 13,000+ reviews
"Completely thorough… had us back up and running in no time."
"Professional, courteous, and knowledgeable."
Leslie Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, & Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $100,000.00 - $185,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Plumbing: 10 years (Required)
Work Location: In person
