COMPANY:
A private equity-backed provider of specialty environmental and engineering services located in Canada.
REPORTS/RELATIONSHIPS:
This position will report directly to the Board of Directors with two direct reports.
BASIC FUNCTIONS:
The Chairman role is a non-full-time role created by the retirement of the company’s current Chairman. The Chairman will be a mature and seasoned engineering and/or environmental services executive supporting and mentoring the co-presidents leading the professional services and organics and soil treatment facilities business units. The Chairman will support the co-presidents as they develop their talented teams that have successfully grown the company aggressively over the past few years. The company could benefit from the perspective of a leading executive that has built global businesses. The Chairman would be more of an “inside” role with limited interaction with non-senior management employees, customers, vendors, and external constituents at the co-president’s request. The Chairman will work closely with the company’s highly supportive private equity partners, and the Board of Directors.
Specific duties will include, but not necessarily be limited to:
- Provide mentoring, oversight, and coaching to the co-presidents in the development and refinement of their short-term initiatives, annual business plans, and long-term strategic plans to enhance competitive positioning.
- Promote new sales growth and enhance profitability and cash flow across the two operating business units of the company.
- Oversee the company’s reorganization as it seeks to operate on a decentralized basis through two main operating divisions.
- Mediate any conflict that arises between the co-presidents and the divisions they respectively lead, arriving at solutions that are optimal for the business as a whole.
- Lead the Board and the co-presidents in creating and maintaining an appropriate corporate governance culture.
- Preside at all regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors.
- Work with the co-presidents and private equity firms to develop the agenda for effective and efficient board meetings.
- Ensure that the desired meeting outcomes of board meetings are achieved.
- Provide ongoing and substantive communication to private equity companies and the Board of Directors.
- Lead the Compensation and Risk Committees of the Board of Directors.
- A key part of this role will be helping the co-presidents develop their strategic plans and supporting the co-presidents to ensure the business units are methodical and organized in delivering on the plan.
- Work with the co-presidents to establish improved internal performance metrics derived from the strategic objectives and implement improved reporting mechanisms to ensure timely and consistent monitoring of the execution of the strategic and annual operating plan.
- Support the organization in developing a US growth strategy.
- Assist the co-presidents in developing succession plans for their respective organizations.
- Leverage their experience in acquisitions and subsequent company integrations to advise and guide the senior management team and the Board on M&A activities.
- As the company evolves and grows, it is anticipated that the role and responsibilities of the Chairman will grow alongside it.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Minimum of 20 years of relevant experience in the North American engineering and/or environmental sector in a position equivalent to a CEO managing multiple business units responsible for all aspects of the P&L and balancing of sheets.
- Experience with acquisitive private equity-backed businesses is strongly preferred, and US M&A experience is an asset.
- A proven track record of growing businesses organically and through acquisition, creating value for investors, building strong and sustained teams, and being a magnet for talent.
- Experience having executed and integrated major corporate acquisitions, preferably of professional services businesses.
- Experience overseeing companies with operations in Canada, the US, and Europe.
- Demonstrated success as a board member or Board Chair preferred.
- Strong leadership and interpersonal skills and an exceptional listener who relates to various styles and can build trust and consensus in a team while respecting team-based collegial cultures, with the ability to be a “mentor” to all in a constructive manner.
- Desire to invest in the business and appreciation for the value of equity-related incentives.
- While not a full-time role, all stages of this position will be more engaged than a typical “corporate director” role and will require various degrees of travel, primarily to Montreal in the Province of Quebec.
- Respected for business ethics, integrity, and common-sense approach in a rational but appropriate emotionally aware manner.
- An undergraduate/bachelor’s degree is required; preferably an engineering background.
COMPENSATION:
Compensation will be commensurate with experience including an annual retainer and wealth creation opportunity through equity investment and incentive.
