Chief of Staff to CEO; Interim

Chief of Staff to the CEO (Interim)

Oncourse Home Solutions, also known as American Water Resources, is a trusted home protection provider helping homeowners across the country protect what matters most. We are a $500 million organization backed by private equity firm Apax Partners, serving 2 million customers across 43 states. We partner with 25+ utilities and municipalities to provide customized solutions tailored to any community - delivering real value where people live.

We help homeowners protect the essential systems that keep their homes running - from HVAC, appliances, and electrical to water, sewer, gas lines, and more - so they can avoid the stress and financial impact of unexpected repairs. Our work helps homeowners stay safe, comfortable, and confident in their homes every day. At Oncourse, our people are what makes that possible.

We invest in our employees through competitive benefits, an inclusive culture, and employee-led resource groups that strengthen connection, community, and belonging across the company.

Position Summary:

The Chief of Staff (CoS) is a critical strategic partner to the CEO. This is an interim assignment, expected to span approximately 10 months, and will work alongside the CEO to establish operating cadences, drive the 2027 Annual Operating Plan, manage Board meetings, lead year-end and forward-looking goal-setting, and execute high-priority strategic projects. The ideal candidate brings PE-backed company experience, a high degree of discretion, and the ability to operate with urgency across sensitive and complex organizational dynamics.

This role demands exceptional judgment, financial acumen, and the ability to act as a trusted thought partner to the CEO.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the 2027 Annual Operating Plan (Oct to Jan):
  Work closely with the CEO, CFO, Finance team, and the Board to develop the 2027 AOP, including growth areas, investment priorities, and cost and margin focuses.
• Partner with functional leaders to build the operational plan that achieves targets set by the CEO and Board.
• Own Board meeting execution (Nov to Feb):
  Set the Board agenda in collaboration with the CEO and Chairman, drive content creation and reviews, manage the timeline and all follow-ups and sign-offs, distribute materials, and facilitate logistics during meetings including screen sharing, note-taking, and action tracking.
• Own the operating relationship with the company's private equity owners:
  Serve as a key point of contact and partner across both the investment and operating partner teams. Foster strong relationships, facilitate communication and alignment, support strategic and operational initiatives, and ensure timely coordination on matters involving the Board, CEO, and Executive Management Committee.
• CEO and executive goal-setting (Nov to Feb):
  Partner with the CEO to evaluate 2026 EMC performance and establish 2027 goals aligned with annual plan priorities. Handle all aspects of this process with appropriate sensitivity and confidentiality.
• Execute strategic projects (Jan):
  Lead or support high-priority strategic projects aligned to 2027 growth priorities.
• Serve as a trusted proxy and thought partner to the CEO:
  Bring proactive, strategic recommendations across business priorities, anticipate issues before they arise, and handle sensitive situations with tact and discretion. Take on additional responsibilities and projects as assigned by the CEO.

We are Excited if this is You Experience and Qualifications of the Role:
Minimum of 10 years of professional experience, including 3 in a business leadership, management consulting, or executive advisory role. At least 3 years of direct people management or cross-functional team leadership experience preferred. Demonstrated ability to work with Boards and senior leadership on sensitive, high-stakes matters with professionalism and discretion. Direct experience working in or with private equity-backed organizations is strongly preferred;

familiarity with PE operating cadences (BPRs, Board meetings, AOP processes) is highly desirable. Strong financial acumen with an understanding of P&L drivers, growth levers, and how to translate strategy into operational plans. Proven experience setting and managing executive-level goal-setting processes. Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent work streams under tight timelines. Highly versatile, self-directed, and comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-paced environments.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing and presenting Board-level materials. Education Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required. An MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred.

Competencies:

Action Oriented:
Enjoys working hard; is action-oriented and full of energy for challenges; not fearful of acting with a minimum of planning; seizes more opportunities than others. Business Acumen:
Knows how businesses work;…