Operations Manager Jobs in Colorado

Job Overview

General Manager / Business Operator — Sales, Operations & Growth

Colorado Christmas Lights & Permanent Lighting

Denver/Boulder Metro Area, Colorado

Full-Time | Year-Round

$80,000 Base Salary + Commission + Performance Bonuses + Future Profit-Sharing Potential

The Opportunity

Colorado Christmas Lights is an established Colorado lighting company looking for a unique person to help operate, improve and grow the business.

This is not a traditional office management position, and we are not looking for someone simply to maintain what already exists.

We are looking for an entrepreneurial, hands-on business operator who wants the opportunity to learn an established business from the ground up and eventually take responsibility for running its day-to-day operations.

You will initially work directly alongside the owner to learn every aspect of the company—including sales, estimating, customer relationships, installations, crews, equipment, scheduling, financial performance, holiday lighting and Permanent Lighting.

That means getting into the field and learning how the work is actually performed. You must be willing to work alongside crews, learn our installation methods and equipment, visit jobsites and help wherever necessary.

As you demonstrate your abilities, you will earn increasing responsibility, autonomy and financial opportunity.

The long-term goal is simple: you run the day-to-day business while ownership provides strategic oversight.

Sales, Customers & Growth

Our long-term customer relationships are one of the most valuable parts of this business.

You will be expected to actively maintain and strengthen those relationships—not simply wait for customers to call us.

Responsibilities include:

* Maintaining and growing existing customer relationships

* Protecting annual customer retention and renewals

* Building relationships with commercial and municipal clients

* Identifying additional opportunities within existing accounts

* Generating new commercial and municipal business

* Conducting site visits

* Preparing estimates and proposals

* Following up consistently with prospects and customers

* Negotiating and closing business

* Growing revenue while protecting profitability

We want someone who naturally asks:

Who haven’t we talked to? What opportunity are we missing? How can we strengthen this relationship?

Operations & Leadership

You will progressively take responsibility for the company’s day-to-day operation, including:

* Hiring, training and managing employees

* Managing crews and schedules

* Planning projects from sale through completion

* Quality control

* Customer communication

* Service and problem resolution

* Trucks, lifts and equipment

* Warehouse and inventory

* Purchasing and materials

* Labor efficiency

* Project costs and margins

* Seasonal planning

* Meeting project deadlines

* Overall operational performance

You don’t personally need to do everything.

You need to make sure everything gets done.

Initially, this will be a very hands-on position. As the company grows and additional foremen and management are developed, the role should increasingly shift toward leadership, sales, growth and overall business management.

Build Systems, Not Dependency

A major part of this opportunity is improving how the company operates.

We want someone who can identify inefficiencies and develop better processes without waiting for the owner to provide every answer.

This may include improving:

* Standard operating procedures

* Scheduling

* Employee training

* Accountability systems

* Customer follow-up

* Sales processes

* Project management

* Inventory and equipment tracking

* Communication

* Performance standards

The objective is not to replace an owner-dependent business with a manager-dependent business.

The objective is to build a company that operates through strong people, processes and systems.

Permanent Lighting — Year-Round Growth Opportunity

Our growing Permanent Lighting division creates significant opportunity outside of the traditional Christmas-lighting season.

The General Manager will have the opportunity to help develop this division through sales, business development, customer relationships, estimating, project management, crew development and installation systems.

This is an important part of the position because Permanent Lighting provides an opportunity to build new year-round revenue rather than simply manage the existing seasonal business.

Hands-On Leadership

This is not a desk-only position.

One day may involve meeting with a municipality or commercial property manager, developing a proposal and closing a project.

Another may involve solving a field problem, working alongside a crew or getting into a bucket truck.

We don’t expect the General Manager to permanently perform field labor.

We do expect someone who isn’t above doing whatever reasonably needs to be done to understand the operation and keep the company moving.

Compensation & Earning Potential

Guaranteed Base Salary: $80,000 per year

Beyond the base salary, this position offers significant performance-based earning opportunities.

Additional compensation may include:

* Permanent Lighting sales commissions

* Commission or incentives on qualifying new business

* Customer-retention bonuses

* Performance bonuses tied to operational and financial goals

* Profitable growth incentives

* Future profit-sharing opportunities after defined performance milestones are achieved

The $80,000 base salary is guaranteed compensation.

Commissions, bonuses and future profit sharing are earned based on results and are not guaranteed.

A strong performer who successfully runs the operation, retains existing customers and generates profitable new business could realistically earn $100,000–$150,000+ in total annual compensation.

Exceptional performance can create additional upside.

We don’t want to advertise unrealistic income numbers or make promises about earnings that haven’t been produced.

We do want the right person to understand that there is substantial financial opportunity for someone who creates substantial value.

Protect the existing business + improve it + grow it profitably = greater earning potential.

Seasonal Flexibility

This business has a unique seasonal rhythm.

Our busiest months require significant commitment, long days, flexibility and hands-on leadership.

In exchange, slower portions of the year can provide considerably more scheduling flexibility.

Depending on company needs and performance, there may be opportunities for extended time off and travel during slower periods.

There may also be opportunities for business travel, including visiting suppliers and manufacturers overseas.

Who We’re Looking For

Christmas-lighting experience is not required—but learning the lighting business is.

We will teach you our systems, equipment and installation methods. You will be expected to spend time in the field learning alongside our crews so that eventually you truly understand the business you’re responsible for running.

We’re looking for qualities that are much harder to teach:

* Entrepreneurial mindset

* Initiative

* Leadership

* Sales ability

* Strong relationship-building skills

* Business judgment

* Financial awareness

* Organization

* Accountability

* Resourcefulness

* Problem-solving ability

* Willingness to get your hands dirty

* Ability to operate without constant direction

* Genuine desire to improve and grow a business

Relevant backgrounds may include construction, contracting, roofing, landscaping, electrical, field services, property services, sales management, operations management or entrepreneurship.

We are particularly interested in someone who has experience both winning business and delivering what was sold.

Where This Can Go

For the right person, this can become much more than another management job.

Learn the business → Take ownership of functions → Run daily operations → Grow the company → Earn greater autonomy → Participate financially in the results you create

You’re stepping into an established business with customers, equipment, infrastructure, reputation and revenue already in place.

What you do with that opportunity is largely up to you.

Ultimately, we’re looking for someone capable of running the business as though it were their own.

To Apply

Please submit your résumé along with brief answers to the following questions:

1. What is the largest business, operation, team or group of projects you have personally managed?

2. Give us an example of something you grew or improved without waiting for someone to tell you what to do.

3. Describe your experience with sales, customer relationships, operations and managing employees.

4. Tell us about a situation where you were responsible for both generating revenue and delivering the work that was sold.

5. If you were given an established business to help run, what would you focus on during your first 90 days?

Please be specific. We’re more interested in what you’ve actually accomplished than generic management language.

Pay: $80,000.00 - $82,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person