Chief Executive Officer
17 hours ago
Buffalo
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Location: Buffalo, NY - Hybrid / Western, NY Compensation: $265K-$300K, annual compensation About the Opportunity The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for the overall strategic, financial, and operational leadership of the company. As the senior-most leader of an employee-owned (ESOP) Managed Service Provider (MSP), the CEO will set and execute business strategy aligned with goals defined by the Board of Directors and ESOP Trustee—ensuring sustainable growth, exceptional client service, and a strong ownership culture that drives engagement, accountability, and long-term value creation for employee-owners. The CEO will lead both externally and internally—building market presence, scaling a platform-based managed services model (including emerging solution areas), and driving alignment and accountability across the leadership team. This individual will serve as a visible, energetic ambassador for the organization while fostering collaboration and a unified vision across all business units. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership • Define and execute the company’s long-term vision, growth strategy, and market positioning within the MSP/IT services industry, • Identify and pursue new service offerings, partnerships, and acquisition opportunities to drive profitable growth, • Align business strategy with ESOP objectives to maximize long-term shareholder value, • Lead the organization as an integrated platform, ensuring cross-functional alignment and disciplined execution, • Establish a leadership operating cadence that drives clarity, accountability, and timely decision-making, • Translate strategy into actionable, organization-wide goals, including annual planning and performance management, • Assess organizational structure and talent needs to ensure the capabilities required to execute strategy Financial & ESOP Stewardship • Deliver consistent financial performance across revenue growth, EBITDA, and cash flow, • Maintain full P&L ownership, managing capital investment and expenses to meet Board expectations, • Serve as a steward of the ESOP, ensuring decisions support long-term share value and sustainability, • Partner with the Board and ESOP Trustee on valuation, governance, and fiduciary responsibilities, • Promote financial transparency and literacy across the organization, • Monitor financial performance, forecasts, client retention, and recruiting metrics, taking corrective action as needed Operational Excellence (MSP Focus) • Ensure high-performing service delivery across core MSP functions (Service Desk, NOC, Professional Services, Cybersecurity, vCIO/account management, etc.), • Drive operational efficiency, scalability, and a consistent client experience, • Identify and implement process improvements to support sustainable growth, • Monitor KPIs including SLA performance, client satisfaction, retention, and utilization, • Scale platform-based service offerings with discipline in packaging, pricing, scope, and delivery Culture & Employee Ownership • Champion a strong ESOP culture of ownership, accountability, and shared success, • Foster employee engagement, recognition, and participation in ownership mindset behaviors, • Build an inclusive, transparent, and high-performing workplace aligned with company values, • Support leadership development and succession planning at all levels, • Ensure effective recruiting, onboarding, performance management, and retention practices, • Reinforce a “great place to work” culture through visible and approachable leadership Client & Market Leadership • Serve as a visible ambassador to clients, partners, and the broader market, • Maintain and strengthen relationships with key clients and strategic accounts, • Position the company as a trusted IT advisor, • Build credibility across partner ecosystems, industry networks, and market stakeholders Leadership & Governance • Build, develop, and lead a high-performing executive team, • Provide oversight across all core business functions through strong leaders and systems, • Partner closely with the Board of Directors, providing strategic updates and recommendations, • Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and cybersecurity standards, • Build accountability systems that empower execution without micromanagement, • Maintain a focused, scalable solution portfolio while enabling innovation in areas such as AI, compliance, and data services First-Year Priorities (6–12 Months) • Establish a strong external presence within the company’s market and industry ecosystem, • Implement a clear leadership operating cadence to drive alignment and execution, • Scale the platform-based service offering with defined structure and discipline, • Clarify the solution portfolio—core vs. scalable vs. experimental, • Strengthen leadership bench and succession planning, • Build a transparent and productive relationship with the Board and ESOP Trustee Key Performance Indicators • Revenue growth and EBITDA margins, • ESOP share value growth, • Employee engagement and retention, • Client satisfaction (CSAT/NPS) and retention, • Service delivery performance (SLA adherence, utilization) Leadership Attributes • Proven, externally facing leader with strong market presence, • Clear and effective communicator who creates alignment and clarity, • Decisive leader who operates through influence and accountability, • Strong problem-solver in high-pressure environments, • Servant leader who empowers teams to deliver results, • Deep understanding of MSP economics and emerging service models, • Comfortable operating within an ESOP structure and governance model, • Champion of a strong employee ownership culture Qualifications Experience • Bachelor’s degree required (business, finance, or related field preferred) / MBA or advanced degree preferred, • 10+ years of progressive executive leadership experience in MSP, IT services, or technology-driven organizations, • Proven track record of scaling service-based businesses and driving profitable growth, • Experience within or alongside an ESOP or employee-owned organization strongly preferred Knowledge & Skills • Deep understanding of MSP operations and recurring revenue models, • Strong financial acumen with full P&L ownership, • Ability to interpret financial data and drive KPI-based decisions, • Familiarity with ESOP structures and value drivers (preferred), • Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, • Strategic mindset with strong operational execution capability Core Leadership Competencies • Ownership Mindset, • Strategic Thinking, • Financial Acumen, • People Leadership, • Client Focus, • Transparency & Integrity Success Profile • A scalable, profitable MSP delivering consistent client outcomes, • A highly engaged workforce aligned with employee ownership principles, • Measurable growth in ESOP value, • Strong leadership bench and succession pipeline, • Positive reputation as a top employer and trusted IT partner Precision Talent Partners, LLC values diversity and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employees feel respected, supported, and empowered to contribute. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions and does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Employment is at-will, and this job description does not constitute a contract of employment.