Commercial Painting Division Operations Manager

Company: Hoppe Brothers & Sons Painting

Location: Yorba Linda, California

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: $110,000–$140,000 base salary, plus performance-based bonus and project incentives

Reports To: Ownership

Build and Lead a New Commercial Painting Division

Hoppe Brothers & Sons Painting is seeking an experienced commercial painting leader to build, launch, and grow our commercial division throughout Southern California.

This is not a traditional project manager position within an established department. This person will help create the commercial operating model, develop new client relationships, establish estimating and project-delivery processes, and build the team required for responsible long-term growth.

The right candidate will receive the support of an established office, administrative team, ownership group, and experienced field workforce while having the autonomy to shape the commercial division.

This opportunity is best suited for an entrepreneurial commercial painting professional who has experience in the field, estimating, project leadership, business development, and team building—and is ready to create something within a stable, respected company.

About Hoppe Brothers & Sons Painting

Hoppe Brothers & Sons Painting is a third-generation, family-owned painting contractor with more than 50 years of experience.

Our core business was built around high-end residential painting, specialty coatings, custom finishes, maintenance work, and large-scale custom home projects. We employ approximately 50 field professionals and have earned long-term client relationships through craftsmanship, integrity, technical knowledge, and consistent service.

As the company transitions into its next generation of ownership, we are making a deliberate investment in commercial painting. We are not looking to chase every available project or grow without discipline. We are looking for the right leader to build a profitable division with strong systems, reliable crews, and lasting client relationships.

What You Will Own

• Division Development
• Help build the commercial division’s operating plan, processes, and growth strategy.
• Establish estimating standards, pricing practices, bid criteria, job handoff procedures, and project controls.
• Develop repeatable systems that future commercial team members can follow.
• Work with ownership to define revenue goals, staffing needs, equipment requirements, and operating priorities.
• Build the commercial operation while protecting the quality, reputation, and culture of the existing company.
• Business Development
• Build relationships with Southern California general contractors, property managers, developers, facility leaders, and commercial property owners.
• Leverage existing HBS relationships where commercial opportunities may exist.
• Develop and maintain a qualified pipeline of commercial opportunities.
• Attend meetings, walk projects, identify decision-makers, and position HBS as a trusted commercial painting partner.
• Evaluate opportunities based on company capabilities, margin requirements, risk, and long-term value.
• Estimating and Preconstruction
• Review plans, specifications, schedules, coating requirements, and site conditions.
• Complete quantity takeoffs, labor projections, material estimates, and cost analyses.
• Prepare accurate, competitive, and profitable proposals.
• Identify scope gaps, exclusions, access limitations, safety requirements, schedule conflicts, and technical risks before work begins.
• Support bid revisions, negotiations, value-engineering discussions, and contract review.
• Help develop and maintain commercial estimating templates and cost-book standards.
• Project and Operational Leadership
• Oversee commercial projects from preconstruction and mobilization through completion and closeout.
• Coordinate manpower, materials, equipment, schedules, and field priorities.
• Monitor production, labor performance, job costing, change orders, and project profitability.
• Identify declining margins or schedule risks early and take corrective action.
• Maintain clear communication with clients, general contractors, field leaders, vendors, and ownership.
• Ensure projects meet HBS standards for craftsmanship, safety, professionalism, and accountability.
• Team Building
• Develop a staffing plan for the commercial division.
• Recruit, evaluate, hire, and onboard commercial painting personnel as workload grows.
• Build a dependable team of foremen, painters, and future project leaders.
• Establish performance expectations, field standards, and accountability systems.
• Support employee development, retention, and advancement.

Ramp-Up Goals

The first 90 days will focus on building a strong operating foundation rather than forcing premature growth.

• First 30 Days
• Learn HBS operations, culture, systems, resources, and existing commercial relationships.
• Review prior commercial work, estimating practices, and available internal support.
• Identify target market segments and priority client relationships.
• Begin developing bid criteria, estimating standards, and an initial division launch plan.
• Days 31–60
• Begin consistent outreach to qualified commercial prospects and existing relationships.
• Build an active pipeline of appropriate commercial opportunities.
• Submit qualified bids that meet approved scope and margin standards.
• Establish initial estimating, job-costing, project handoff, and reporting processes.
• Days 61–90
• Develop a credible late-stage opportunity and bid pipeline.
• Present a first-year commercial division plan covering revenue, staffing, operating costs, target markets, and growth priorities.
• Recommend the field leadership, crew, vendor, and equipment structure required to support awarded work.
• Demonstrate a repeatable approach to business development, estimating, margin protection, and project selection.

Commercial awards depend on client timelines and bid cycles. Early performance will be evaluated based on the quality of the pipeline, relationships, bids, systems, operating plan, and readiness to deliver profitable work.

Required Qualifications

• At least 10 years of commercial painting, coatings, or closely related commercial construction experience.
• Strong field experience with a practical understanding of production, access, equipment, safety, materials, and site conditions.
• Demonstrated experience in commercial estimating, takeoffs, bidding, and proposal development.
• Proven ability to manage commercial projects from preconstruction through completion.
• Experience developing relationships with general contractors, property managers, developers, or commercial owners.
• Strong knowledge of labor productivity, materials, job costing, scheduling, change orders, and margin management.
• Experience leading field employees, foremen, subcontractors, or commercial painting crews.
• Ability to create systems and processes rather than only work within an established structure.
• Strong communication, negotiation, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Professional fluency in English and Spanish.
• Proficiency with Excel and standard business software.
• Ability to operate independently while maintaining clear communication with ownership.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to project sites throughout Southern California.
• Ability to work regularly from the Yorba Linda office during the initial ramp-up period.

Preferred Qualifications

• 15 or more years of progressive commercial painting or commercial construction experience.
• Career progression from field production into estimating, project leadership, operations, or business development.
• Existing relationships with Southern California general contractors, property managers, developers, or facility leaders.
• Experience launching, managing, or growing a commercial painting division, branch, or business unit.
• Deep knowledge of commercial coatings, technical specifications, substrate requirements, and specialized application methods.
• Experience building cost books, estimating standards, and operating procedures.
• Experience with Buildertrend, Foundation Software, CRM systems, scheduling platforms, or construction project-management software.
• Experience recruiting commercial field teams and developing foremen.
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in construction management, business, or a related field.

The Right Fit

You may be a strong fit for this role if you:

• Want to build a division rather than inherit a fully developed operation.
• Have an entrepreneurial mindset but value the stability of an established company.
• Can generate opportunities while protecting margins, quality, and client relationships.
• Know how to turn practical field experience into repeatable systems.
• Are comfortable remaining hands-on during the early stages of growth.
• Can earn the trust of long-tenured employees and collaborate with ownership.
• Prefer thoughtful, sustainable growth over chasing volume at any cost.
• Want the opportunity to build a team, reputation, and long-term legacy.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary of $110,000–$140,000, based on experience.
• Performance-based annual bonus opportunity.
• Project completion or performance incentives.
• Weekly pay cycle.
• Medical insurance options.
• Health Savings Account eligibility.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• Ongoing manufacturer, safety, technical, and leadership training.
• Long-term advancement opportunity as the commercial division expands.

Interview Process

Qualified candidates should be prepared to discuss:

• Commercial painting divisions, branches, or teams they have helped build or grow.
• Commercial projects they have estimated, sold, managed, and delivered.
• Their process for evaluating scope, completing takeoffs, pricing work, and protecting margin.
• Examples of recovering projects where labor, cost, or schedule performance began slipping.
• Their approach to commercial coatings, substrate conditions, access, specifications, and quality control.
• How they recruit, lead, and retain commercial painting crews.
• How they would approach the first 90 days of building the HBS commercial division.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Hoppe Brothers & Sons Painting is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military status, political affiliation, or any other status protected by applicable law.