General Manager in Training

American Residential Services (ARS) is seeking proven leaders to join our General Manager in Training Program—a structured development opportunity designed to prepare high-potential candidates to become General Managers of ARS HVAC and Plumbing service centers.

This role is especially well suited for transitioning military members who have led teams, managed complex operations, maintained high standards, and delivered results in demanding environments.

As a General Manager in Training, you will travel to ARS “Best in Class” branches and learn directly from successful General Managers and department leaders. Through hands-on assignments, mentorship, operational training, and exposure to multiple areas of the business, you will develop the skills needed to assume full responsibility for an ARS service center.

Candidates must be willing to travel during the training program and relocate within one of the following ARS regions:

• Midwest
• Texas
• West
• Southeast
• Mid-Atlantic
• Northeast

Upon successful completion of the program and ARS assessment process, participants may be considered for placement as a General Manager based on business needs, performance, and geographic availability.

What You Will Learn

During the program, you will gain hands-on experience in:

• Service center operations and profit-and-loss management
• Residential HVAC and Plumbing service delivery
• Sales, revenue growth, and business development
• Customer experience and service quality
• Recruiting, training, and employee development
• Financial analysis, forecasting, and budgeting
• Safety, compliance, and risk management
• Workforce planning and performance management
• Competitive analysis and market strategy
• Cross-functional leadership and organizational communication

Future General Manager Responsibilities

After successfully completing the training program and being placed into a General Manager position, you will be responsible for the overall performance and management of an ARS HVAC and Plumbing service center.

Responsibilities may include:

• Assuming full operational responsibility for profit-and-loss activities.
• Planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and controlling service center operations.
• Establishing a strong team culture and holding employees accountable to high standards of performance, safety, and customer satisfaction.
• Consistently administering ARS policies, procedures, and operating standards.
• Recruiting, selecting, training, coaching, and developing service center employees.
• Building leadership capability and preparing team members for increased responsibility.
• Monitoring employee engagement, job satisfaction, performance evaluations, and compensation reviews.
• Preparing business forecasts, budgets, operational plans, and performance reports.
• Analyzing financial and operational data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Taking timely corrective action when performance is not aligned with business objectives.
• Optimizing staffing, scheduling, workflows, and resources to improve efficiency and service delivery.
• Developing and executing plans to meet or exceed revenue, profitability, and customer-experience goals.
• Maintaining a strong understanding of local competitors, market conditions, and customer needs.
• Identifying innovations and sharing best practices across the organization.
• Promoting and maintaining a safe, healthy, and accident-free work environment.

We value military leadership experience and recognize that relevant experience may have been gained through military service, civilian employment, education, or a combination of these backgrounds.

Qualified candidates should demonstrate:

• Significant experience leading teams in fast-paced, mission-focused environments.
• A record of successfully managing people, resources, operations, or complex programs.
• The ability to establish priorities, develop plans, and execute against measurable objectives.
• Strong leadership presence and the ability to build cohesive, accountable teams.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, training, or developing others.
• Sound judgment and the ability to make decisions with incomplete or rapidly changing information.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Financial, analytical, or resource-management experience.
• The ability to interpret performance data, identify trends, and take corrective action.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and multitasking skills.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to operational excellence.
• Proficiency with computers and common business software, including Microsoft applications.
• A commitment to workplace safety, integrity, customer service, and employee engagement.
• Willingness to travel extensively during the training program.
• Willingness to relocate within the assigned ARS region after training.

Preferred Background

Preferred candidates may have:

• • Leadership experience as a commissioned officer, noncommissioned officer, senior enlisted leader, warrant officer, or military program manager.
  • Experience managing operations, logistics, maintenance, transportation, facilities, recruiting, training, or service delivery.
  • Experience leading teams that serve internal or external customers.
  • Experience managing budgets, equipment, schedules, staffing, readiness, or performance metrics.
  • A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of military experience, civilian experience, education, and professional training.
  • Experience in a business-to-consumer, business-to-business, home services, skilled trades, retail, logistics, or field-service organization.

*This posting provides details on potential compensation ranges and possibilities. These amounts are not guaranteed and should in no way be construed as an offer. **Sign-On Bonuses may be available; amounts depend on experience and will be paid out according to an offer letter addendum. American Residential Services provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, both applicants and employees, without regard to race, color, religion, pregnancy, gender, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics or genetic information, age, military service or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws prohibiting discrimination. For more information about how we collect and use personal information, see our privacy policy here: https://www.ars.com/privacy-policy.