Chief Operating Officer

POSITION:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will partner with ownership, executive peers, and operations staff to make Sum Co Eco a best-in-class, self-performing ecological and resilience construction firm. This will be achieved by optimizing systems and utilization, managing all company operations through rapid growth cycles, and supporting project teams through bid-manage-execute project delivery, freeing the CEO/Owner to focus on vision, client relationships, and growth.

The COO will:

• Provide strategic, C-suite view of company size, structure evolution, and performance management;
• Support business development;
• Own estimating, project management, project construction, and safety;
• Drive expanded utilization of HCSS Heavy Bid, implement HCSS Heavy Job, and identify and implement additional efficiency tools;
• Team with Human Resources Director on recruiting, onboarding, training, workforce development, and employee success;
• Standardize company processes (SOPs).

• Modernize and maintain HCSS Heavy Bid: update code structures, cost databases, production rates, workflows, and other scale-appropriate best practices.
• Standardize bidding SOPs (overhead, add-ons, contingencies) to eliminate variation and ensure consistent margin targets.
• Own the end-to-end bid process: oversee bid packs, reviews, and on-time submissions.
• Manage current estimating and prequalification Coordinator, and plan, hire and manage additional estimating staff as company requirements grow.

• Oversee and support contracts management, including reviewing contracts, preconstruction activities, submittals, change order management, claims and resolutions, and closeout.
• Lead weekly scheduling meetings; own resource allocation with the General Superintendent across crews, equipment, and subcontractors.
• Partner with the General Superintendent to ensure execution, schedule adherence, and field productivity.
• Own Safety with the General Superintendent: training cadence, self-inspections, compliance tracking, and continuous improvement.
• Track and optimize project delivery to maximize earned gross profit.

• Implement Heavy Job for integration with Heavy Bid, field data collection, time/equipment capture, job-costing, and production review and management.
• Develop and enforce SOPs across Operations, Estimating, and Project Controls; audit adoption and outcomes.

• Partner with HR to build training pathways, define roles & responsibilities, establish mentoring, and integrate onboarding.
• Create competency matrices for estimators, project managers, superintendents, and foremen; link training to progression.

• Participate in Go/No-Go and Bid/No-Bid decisions, proposal reviews, and debriefs; act as executive sponsor for key clients.
• Support market development: nurture repeat business, evaluate diversification opportunities, and represent the company in strategic pursuits and joint ventures.

• Own operational KPIs and monthly reviews: safety performance, EBITDA, cash flow, revenue growth, margin, backlog, and bid-hit ratio.
• Establish project controls discipline: change management, cost-to-complete forecasting, earned value, and corrective actions.

• Provide a strategic C-suite view on optimal company size, organizational design, and operating model; align annual plans with long-term objectives.
• Develop policy and implement strategic initiatives that enable growth without losing the existing entrepreneurial culture within the organization and Team Leads.

• Organizational Effectiveness: maximize profitability without compromising safety or quality; re-engineer processes and resource allocation.
• Strategic Proficiency: plan and execute short- and long-term business plans; strong judgment, technical skills, and operational focus.
• Business Development:
  Partner with Chief of Partnerships & Project development to identify and pursue opportunities in core markets; serve as key client contact and liaison during major pursuits.
• Leadership Ability: decisive,…