Energy Recruiters has been retained to identify an exceptional business leader to grow and manage a diversified energy business. Supported by a family-owned private equity firm, you will have the mandate to build a scalable, profitable enterprise with the only barriers being your imagination and hurdle rates. Building on a solid foundation of dedicated Team members, high quality assets, and an impeccable reputation, you will serve as the key executive leading the profitable expansion of the firm’s energy platform.
This BU Leadership opportunity is a strategic leadership role responsible for successful, profitable expansion of the energy platform’s commercial and operational capabilities. As the commercial and operational leader, you will lead a team of dedicated professionals in sales, operations, and accounting/finance to achieve a Vision that you and the company's sponsors craft.
Assets & Highlights
Current market focus includes Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Northern Illinois
Proprietary bulk plant, fleet of bobtails, and extensive common carrier relationships
Best-in-class technology investments; this small team is doing a lot with limited friction and bureaucracy.
Primary channels include unbranded and branded wholesale of refined products as well as the distribution of specialty fuels, lubricants, and ancillary products.
Corporate office in the market footprint, providing access to excellent communities for your family as well as limitless, year-round outdoor recreational activities.
Executive Leadership Expectations
Chart the course for sustained growth through both organic investments in people and systems while actively seeking bolt-on opportunities to expand service offerings and capabilities.
Lead key functions of the business including: operations, sales, marketing, M&A/integration, and supply/purchasing.
Direct and support the planning, implementation, and accountability of strategic projects and processes.
Develop and communicate company strategy using the firm/sponsor's enterprise tools, ensuring alignment while remaining responsive to market insights and emerging opportunities.
Lead strategic initiatives using a test-and-learn approach, refining direction based on performance data and customer feedback.
Encourage constructive challenge and diverse perspectives in strategic discussions to improve decision quality.
Partner with shared service resources in the areas of Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, and Information Technology to achieve results and objectives.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging teams to identify inefficiencies, test solutions, and implement scalable best practices.
Empower leaders to make informed decisions while maintaining accountability through clear metrics and feedback loops.
Promote cross-functional learning and collaboration to accelerate problem-solving and innovation.
Ascertain daily local, national, and international energy market moves to ensure supply and margin management.
Serve as a Culture steward by leading and supporting your Team to operate with Values
Support and enforce compliance of company policies and procedures, legal standards, and governmental regulations.
Leadership, Performance Management, & Team Development Expectations
Provide leadership, coaching, and direction through joint goal setting, regular one-on-one meetings, annual performance reviews, and ongoing informal feedback with direct reports and full team as needed.
Encourage, recommend, and approve education through and involvement in position or industry relevant organizations, universities, technical colleges, or vendor sponsored seminars.
Determine staffing requirements and actively participate in the recruitment, selection, orientation and onboarding of team talent.
Engage and interact with the executive team and Board of Directors to develop a cohesive, shared strategy.
Actively model a growth mindset by seeking feedback, reflecting on outcomes, and demonstrating continuous learning.
Develop leaders through coaching, mentoring, and stretch opportunities that build strategic, financial, and people leadership capabilities.
Create an environment of psychological safety where employees are encouraged to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and learn from setbacks.
Build succession strength by identifying and developing future leaders across the organization.
Commercial Responsibilities
Sales & Marketing
Grow customer base, volume, and margin opportunities within new markets as well as existing markets.
Use your commercial curiosity to originate new products/services that open commercial possibilities.
Drive revenue growth through iterative market testing, new products, services, brands, and customer value propositions.
Encourage data-driven experimentation in pricing, channels, and customer engagement strategies.
Develop sales capabilities by coaching teams on consultative selling, strategic thinking, and adaptability to evolving customer needs.
Utilize marketing data to maximize sales effectiveness and efficiency
Operations & Logistics
Responsible for safe and efficient operations at proprietary bulk plants.
Accountable for the safe, efficient, and profitable operations for both proprietary fleet and third party carriers
Investigate new technologies to link market conditions/predictions, customer needs/opportunities, and logistics assets
Supply, Procurement, and Risk Management
Lead continuous improvement in product supply chain efficiency, optimization, security, and supplier relations to deliver the best possible cost of goods to the business.
Investigate opportunities to build value through asset acquisition and utilization
Be accountable for stewardship of capital expenditures/investments across assets including facilities, bulk storage, rolling stock, and other company property.
Implement processes and controls to manage commodity risk inherent with inventory management, forward purchasing, etc.
Financial
With support from the financial & accounting team, review financial statements, sales and activity reports, and other performance data to measure productivity and goal achievement. Proactively determine areas needing revenue generation and improvements.
Work with the financial team to create and monitor budgets, forecasts, and projections.
Use financial performance insights not only to monitor results, but to identify learning opportunities, inform strategic trade-offs, and guide reinvestment decisions.
Transparently communicate business health, risks, opportunities/threats, and predictive trends to executive sponsors.
Expected Capabilities & Competencies
10+ years' experience of leadership experience in functional areas including sales, supply, and transportation logistics within petroleum/energy sales & distribution.
Strong industry knowledge of fuel supply chain economics, sales methodologies, and logistics optimization
Strategic plan development and implementation experience
Knowledgeable of company financial statements to understand and successfully monitor budgets
Business Acumen – ability to grasp and understand business concepts and issues
Emotional Intelligence - ability to recognize and self-regulate emotions and their impact on others and self
Previous involvement with new process and project implementation
Demonstrated Leadership – has the capacity to influence others to work together towards specific goals
Coaching – ability to provide guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill area
Expert user of Microsoft Office products including Excel, Word, and Outlook
Expert analytical skills, detail oriented and organized
Delegating Responsibility – ability to allocate authority and/or task responsibility to appropriate people
Exercise sound judgment and make decisions within company directives
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with customers and employees to exchange information, answer questions, and perform other activities with professionalism and tact
Demonstrated personal commitment to continuous learning and self-development
Ability to lead through ambiguity and change
Experience building teams that adapt and scale in dynamic markets
Comfort with experimentation, informed risk-taking, and iterative improvement
Possess “The Five I’s” of Leadership: Intelligence, Initiative, Innovation, Integrity, and Interpersonal skills
Ability to travel – when needed for business
Ability to drive and possess a valid driver’s license with a good driving record
Contact
James Mathis at jamesm@er-inc.com or 678.825.3479
Jason McAuliffe at jasonm@er-inc.com or 239.444.5283