President - Manufacturimg with Engineering and Sales Background

POSITION TITLE

President COMPANY:

Confidential

REPORTING TO

Ownership and Board of Directors

LOCATION

Chicago, IL

COMPANY PROFILE

Our client's company is a leader in the manufacture of custom engineered industrial damper products, including butterfly, louver and refractory style designs. The company's state-of-the art manufacturing facility is located in the Chicago area.

THE ROLE DEFINED

The President will own the top and bottom line for the industrial damper business nationally, charged with continued market expansion and operational effectiveness. The company's business has experienced significant growth and manufacturing capacity expansion in recent years.

SCOPE AND CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

This is the ideal role for an individual with prior experience working with complex machinery, equipment, or engineered products, an internal drive to learn every aspect of the business, and a strategic approach to business leadership and strategy. S/he will lead the executive team and own the success and effectiveness of all functional areas in the enterprise.

DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead all operations for a privately-held industrial damper manufacturer with more than $10MM in revenue, reporting directly to ownership Own P&L performance while maintaining close involvement in engineering, manufacturing, and customer-facing activities Drive business development — expanding relationships with manufacturer's reps, pursuing new market segments, and supporting key account growth Collaborate with ownership on strategic planning, including near-term growth priorities and longer-term succession planning Champion a culture of coaching and continuous improvement across the shop floor and customer-facing teams Serve as the day-to-day operational decision-maker while keeping ownership aligned on priorities and performance

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS 10-15

years of experience in a technical or engineering-driven manufacturing environment Current or recent role as an Engineering Manager, Operations Manager, or Director of Operations — ready to take the next step into full organizational leadership Engineering degree (mechanical or related field) Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional teams across engineering, production, supply chain, sales and finance Comfortable with P&L fundamentals and translating operational decisions into financial outcomes Proven track record in business development or technical sales — ability to build relationships and close deals in a custom, engineered-to-order environment Strong project management and problem-solving skills; hands-on and detail-oriented

EXPERIENCE SOUGHT

Exposure to custom or specialty manufacturing (made-to-order, low-volume, high-complexity products) Familiarity with industrial markets such as power generation, pollution control, HVAC, fluid handling, or combustion Experience with Lean Manufacturing, ERP systems, and CRM tools Prior involvement in M&A, business integration, or strategic growth initiatives — even in a supporting role

TEAM & CULTURE FIT

Entrepreneurial and hungry — energized by the opportunity to lead an entire organization, not just a function Respectful of legacy and business culture; able to earn trust with a private ownership while bringing fresh energy and ideas A builder and coach — invested in developing people and processes, employing a long view, not just focused on hitting short-term numbers Comfortable wearing multiple hats in a lean, nimble organization where leadership is visible and hands-on Collaborative and transparent communicator; someone who keeps ownership informed and engaged without needing constant direction

Pay:

$200,000.00 - $285,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person