Job Description

Founded in 1910, KONE is a global leader that provides elevators, escalators and automatic building doors, as well as solutions for maintenance and modernization that add value to buildings throughout their life cycle. Our mission is to improve the flow of urban life and make our world’s cities better places to live by providing innovative solutions that help make people’s journeys safe, convenient and reliable. Our operations in over 60 countries around the world has helped us achieve our position as an innovation and sustainability leader with repeated recognitions by Forbes, Corporate Knights for clean capitalism and others. 

Title: General Manager

Location: Lombard, IL

Role Overview

The General Manager is responsible for the overall leadership and performance of the business within an assigned geography. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across service operations, repair sales, customer success, field operations, financial performance, talent management, and safety and compliance.

Lead a Business. Build a Team. Drive Results.

We are seeking a dynamic General Manager to lead a significant service-based business operation responsible for delivering exceptional customer outcomes, driving profitable growth, developing high-performing teams, and executing operational excellence. This role offers full accountability for business performance, including operations, customer satisfaction, repair sales growth, employee engagement, safety, and financial results.

Leadership Competencies

• Ownership
• Customer Focus
• Accountability
• Strategic Thinking
• People Development
• Change Leadership
• Financial Acumen
• Collaboration
• Integrity

Key Responsibilities

Accountability

• Own full profit-and-loss responsibility for the business.
• Lead annual strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, and business reviews.
• Deliver revenue growth and profitability targets.
• Drive operational efficiency and productivity improvements.
• Monitor KPIs and implement corrective actions.

Operations Leadership

• Lead all operational functions for safe, efficient service delivery.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives.
• Optimize execution, productivity, and customer responsiveness.
• Maintain a strong safety culture.

Repair Sales Growth

• Drive aftermarket and repair sales growth.
• Increase repair opportunity identification and conversion.
• Partner with sales and operations leaders to grow customer value.
• Ensure sold work is executed profitably.

Customer Success

• Serve as executive sponsor for strategic customer relationships.
• Lead resolution of critical customer issues.
• Drive customer retention and loyalty initiatives.

Talent Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing leaders
• Build succession plans and leadership pipelines.
• Create a culture of accountability and engagement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent leadership experience.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in a service-oriented business.
• Experience managing operating budgets and business performance metrics.
• Experience leading customer-facing teams and field operations.
• Demonstrated success delivering revenue growth and profit improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Multi-location leadership experience.
• P&L responsibility exceeding $20M.
• Experience leading union and non-union workforces.
• Experience driving operational transformation initiatives.

Why This Role Matters

This role provides a unique opportunity to lead a substantial service business with responsibility for operations, growth, people, and customer success. The General Manager will play a critical role in driving profitable growth, building a high-performance culture, developing future leaders, strengthening customer partnerships, and creating sustainable operational excellence.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a proven business leader who has successfully managed a service-oriented operation and understands how to balance operational execution, customer success, employee engagement, and financial performance.

• HVAC Services
• Facilities Management
• Industrial Services
• Building Systems
• Utilities
• Construction Services
• Logistics
• Transportation
• Manufacturing Operations
• Technical Field Services

About KONE

At KONE, we foster an innovative and collaborative culture, valuing each individual's contribution. Employee engagement and sustainability are key focuses, promoting ethical practices and mutual respect. We're proud to offer experiences and opportunities to help you achieve career and personal goals while maintaining a healthy work-life balance

We hire individuals who value culture because we believe culture drives innovation

• We value your authentic self.
• Collaborative, creative, and supportive work environment
• Passionate about safety, quality, and innovation
• We care about the communities where we live and work.

Just some of our many benefits include:

• Competitive salary
• Flexible work schedule
• Opportunities to learn and grow
• 401K Employer Match
• 401k Employer Non-elective Contribution
• Well-being Program
• Medical, Prescription, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Digital Health Solutions & Telehealth
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
• Family & Medical Leave
• Parental Leave
• Leave to Care for a Domestic Partner
• Paid Time Off & Holidays
• Company Paid Life and AD&D Insurance
• Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance
• Company Paid Short-term and Long-term Disability
• Buy-Up Long-term Disability
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Hospital Indemnity & Accident Insurance
• Identity Theft Protection
• Legal Insurance
• KONE Credit Union
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Commuter Benefits

Annual Base Pay Range:

The hiring range for this role is $179,200 – $235,200. The compensation package offered will depend on candidate’s ability to meet the requirements of the role, needs for the business strategy, and a range of factors unique to each candidate, including their skill set, years and depth of experience, certifications, and location.

Variable Compensation

KONE Annual Bonus plan at 25% (60/40) Target Incentive based on achievement of company goals and individual goals.

Come share your passion and energy to make a positive impact at KONE for our customers and your career!

*Beware of Recruitment Scams!*

KONE is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local fair chance laws.

Read more on www.kone.com/en/careers/

At KONE, we are focused on creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where we value the contribution of each individual. Employee engagement is a key focus area for us and we encourage participation and the sharing of information and ideas. Sustainability is an integral part of our culture and the daily practice. We follow ethical business practices and we seek to develop a culture of working together where co-workers trust and respect each other and good performance is recognized. In being a great place to work, we are proud to offer a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you to achieve your career and personal goals and enable you to live a healthy and balanced life.

Read more on https://kone.com/global/en/careers.html