Business Operations Manager — HVAC & Plumbing Services

Business Operations Manager - HVAC & Plumbing Services

About the Role

Blackthorn Mechanical, LLC (DBA Kirkwood Heating, Cooling & Plumbing and Howerton Plumbing, Heating & Cooling) is seeking a Business Operations Manager to independently own and lead all back-office operations across two service locations in the Dayton, Ohio area. This is a leadership position reporting directly to ownership with full responsibility for the administrative, financial, and operational infrastructure of a growing multi-site home services company.

This is a systems, process, and people leadership position. Your primary focus is building and managing the back-office infrastructure across both locations. In a growing company, operational continuity comes first; you may need to step into any role temporarily to keep things running, and we value people who are willing to do that. We are actively growing, additional trade lines and locations are on the horizon, and we want someone who wants to grow with us.

What You'll Own

• Full independent management of back-office operations across two locations (New Carlisle and Dayton), including direct leadership of office staff at each site
• Accounting coordination with our external accounting firm; you own the relationship, ensure books are accurate, GL mapping is clean, and financial reporting is timely
• Field service software administration and optimization. You own the system, including billing, invoicing, batching, reporting, and continuous improvement
• Payroll oversight and coordination across both locations
• Benefits administration, carrier portal management, and employee enrollment
• Process improvement - you identify the gaps, build the workflows, document the procedures, and make sure the operation doesn't rely on any one person's knowledge
• Compliance tracking including licensing, certifications, and regulatory deadlines
• Vendor and supplier relationship management
• Supporting the integration of new service lines and locations as the company expands

What This Role Is

• A leadership role where you run the back office; ownership sets the direction, you execute and manage everything underneath it
• Direct leadership of office staff across two locations today, with additional sites as the company grows
• On-site and hands-on; you will rotate between locations regularly
• An evolving role with a real growth path; as the company adds trade lines and locations, this role expands with it
• A direct line to ownership with real authority to make decisions, solve problems, and improve operations without being micromanaged
• An opportunity to build something, not just maintain it

What This Role Is Not

• A static, task-only position
• A role where you wait to be told what to do
• A role with heavy oversight: we want someone who takes the wheel, not someone who needs constant direction

Qualifications

• Experience in back-office operations, office management, or administration in a trades or home services environment (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or similar) strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage people, hold a team accountable, and drive results independently
• Working knowledge of accounting principles; you don't need to be a CPA, but you need to understand job costing, AR/AP, accrual accounting basics, and how field work turns into revenue on the books
• Experience with field service management software preferred (ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, FieldEdge, or similar)
• Proficiency with payroll platforms
• Self-starter who identifies problems and fixes them without being asked
• Organized, concise, and able to prioritize in a fast-moving environment
• Someone who wants to own their role, not just fill it

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $58,000–$65,000 DOE
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Direct access to ownership and real opportunity to shape the company's growth as we expand

Work Location: In person, rotating between New Carlisle and Dayton facilities

Pay: $58,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person