Director of Operations

Relief Services

Location: Chico, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

Pay:$85,000-$105,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications

Build the Operating Systems Behind a Growing Field Services Company

Relief Services is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to lead field operations, strengthen accountability, develop employees, and build the systems needed to support continued growth across multiple service divisions.

This is a hands-on leadership role for an operator who has successfully managed frontline teams and built operational structure--not simply maintained systems created by someone else. You will work closely with the General Manager and company ownership to improve execution across portable sanitation, septic, sewer, plumbing, and related field services.

Relief Services is a locally owned, family-operated company based in Chico, California. Our organization brings together Johnny on the Spot Portable Toilets and Chico Septic, along with a new plumbing division launching in 2026. We serve residential, commercial, municipal, event, and jobsite customers throughout Northern California.

With approximately $5.5 million in annual revenue, plans for a second service location, and a goal of reaching $10 million within five years, we are investing in stronger leadership, training, technology, and operating systems.

What You Will Do

Lead Field Operations and Accountability

• Lead division managers, field supervisors, coordinators, dispatch, scheduling, and business development personnel.
• Establish clear performance expectations and consistent operating standards across all divisions.
• Conduct structured weekly operations meetings with division leaders.
• Monitor performance, address operational issues, and ensure action items are completed.
• Build the accountability and follow-through systems needed to support existing procedures.
• Conduct performance reviews and apply coaching or corrective action consistently when expectations are not met.
• Identify operational risks, service issues, and recurring performance gaps before they affect customers or growth.
• Promote safe, professional, and efficient field execution.

Build Training and Onboarding Programs

• Design and implement a structured onboarding program for new field employees.
• Deliver training directly during the initial development of the program.
• Organize and maintain training materials for multiple service divisions.
• Track employee training completion and compliance.
• Use field performance data to identify training needs and improve program content.
• Create clear, practical training that employees can understand and apply in the field.
• Prepare the training function to transition to a dedicated Training Coordinator as the company grows.

Develop People and Strengthen the Team

• Recruit, interview, select, and onboard field and operations employees.
• Coach supervisors and division leaders to improve communication, decision-making, and accountability.
• Provide direct, respectful feedback and address difficult performance concerns promptly.
• Build leadership depth and support succession planning.
• Create an environment where employees understand what is expected, receive useful feedback, and have opportunities to grow.
• Strengthen collaboration across divisions so employees operate as one company rather than separate teams.

Improve Systems and Support Growth

• Review existing workflows, procedures, technology, and reporting practices.
• Build practical systems that improve consistency without creating unnecessary complexity.
• Establish operating rhythms, reporting tools, and performance metrics.
• Improve coordination among field teams, dispatch, scheduling, sales, and management.
• Support the launch and operational development of the plumbing division.
• Assess operational readiness for a second service location.
• Help translate company growth plans into clear, consistent daily execution.

Required Qualifications

• At least five years of operations management experience in field services, skilled trades, logistics, or a related industry.
• Experience directly managing frontline employees such as drivers, technicians, tradespeople, or field crews.
• Demonstrated success building accountability, performance-management, or operating systems.
• Experience recruiting, onboarding, coaching, and developing hourly employees and supervisors.
• Experience creating or managing an employee training or onboarding program.
• Experience conducting structured performance reviews and addressing performance concerns.
• Working knowledge of routing, scheduling, dispatch, or field-service management systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving field-service environment.
• Ability to work on-site in Chico, California.

Preferred Qualifications

• Operations leadership experience in portable sanitation, septic, waste management, plumbing, HVAC, landscaping, environmental services, construction services, or a comparable field-service business.
• Experience overseeing multiple divisions, branches, or service locations.
• Experience supporting an organization with approximately $3 million to $15 million in annual revenue.
• Experience opening a new division or service location.
• Experience documenting operating procedures and building scalable management systems.

Compensation and Benefits

Relief Services offers:

• $85,000 to $105,000 annual base salary, based on experience and qualifications.
• Performance bonus tied to divisional targets, training completion rates, and accountability metrics.
• Health benefits.
• Paid time off.
• Paid holidays.
• Direct access to company ownership and a leadership team that can make decisions quickly.
• The opportunity to build systems, develop leaders, and have a visible impact on the company's future.

Why Relief Services

At Relief Services, we believe strong performance starts with personal growth, purposeful action, integrity, and genuine collaboration. We support employees in doing meaningful work while continuing to learn, improve, and maintain a healthy balance. Our team moves with urgency, follows through on commitments, communicates openly, and works together to solve problems. For the right leader, this is an opportunity to help build a high-performing organization while contributing to a culture grounded in accountability, trust, and continuous progress.

Relief Services is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, business needs, and the ability to perform the essential responsibilities of the position.