Chief Executive Officer

Role summary

This opportunity is for a Chief Executive Officer to lead a shareholder-owned lumber and building materials business in Henrietta (Rochester), New York. The position is based on site and includes periodic regional travel across Western and Central New York. The company is a lean organization with fewer than 30 employees and is supported by an engaged Board of Directors focused on sustainable growth, operational discipline, and shareholder returns.

The CEO will be the top executive accountable for overall business results, including commercial expansion, purchasing and pricing decisions, day-to-day execution, financial oversight, and leadership of the team. The role is highly visible and hands-on, requiring strong relationship management and a strong presence with employees, customers, vendors, and shareholders.

Key responsibilities

• Direct daily operations and overall business performance across the company’s locations.
• Work closely with the Board of Directors to shape direction, implement strategy, and provide clear reporting throughout the year.
• Increase profitable revenue by strengthening relationships with shareholders and customers, while also expanding business with non-shareholder buyers.
• Manage purchasing, pricing, and supplier relationships; negotiate commercial terms and respond effectively to market and commodity changes to safeguard margins and service quality.
• Oversee operational excellence in warehouse activity, logistics, inventory control, safety, and customer service by improving consistency and preserving the company’s strengths.
• Lead, coach, and align the leadership group, including finance and operations leaders; define responsibilities, set expectations, and reinforce accountability.
• Maintain strong financial discipline through budgeting, forecasting, working capital oversight, cash management, and performance tracking.
• Supervise people practices and compliance matters, including policies, hiring, performance management, and culture-building, in coordination with internal leaders.
• Represent the organization externally with shareholders, customers, vendors, and the broader community.
• Guide the leadership transition and preserve institutional knowledge to ensure continuity.

Required background

• Significant senior leadership experience in a CEO, general manager, COO, or similar role with full P&L responsibility.
• Experience in lumber, building materials, construction supply, distribution, or a closely related sector.
• Demonstrated success in growing revenue and market share while managing pricing, purchasing, margins, and inventory dynamics.
• Proven ability to oversee multi-site operations, including warehouse/logistics and customer-facing service teams.
• Strong capability in supplier management and negotiation, especially within a commodity-sensitive market.
• Prior experience reporting to and partnering with a Board of Directors.
• Relationship-driven leadership style with the executive presence and emotional intelligence needed to align stakeholders.
• Practical, hands-on operating approach with the ability to introduce structure, clarify roles, and improve processes without disrupting a close-knit culture.
• Strong financial understanding and the ability to work effectively with finance leadership and performance metrics.
• Must be willing to work from the Rochester/Henrietta area and travel regionally across Western and Central New York as needed; travel is expected to be minimal.
• High standards of integrity, discretion, and judgment, particularly during a leadership transition.

Compensation

The target base salary is $180,000 to $225,000. The role also includes a performance-based incentive bonus tied to company profitability.

Equal opportunity

The employer provides equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, veteran or military status, disability, pregnancy-related condition, genetic traits or information, marital or familial status, arrest history, domestic violence victim status, non-job-related convictions, lawful off-duty activities, or any other protected status.