What are the responsibilities and job description for the President / General Manager – Design Build Construction Company position at Creative Atmospheres, Inc.?
President / General Manager
Creative Atmospheres, Inc.
Lake Forest, California
Company Description
Creative Atmospheres, Inc. is an established design-build company specializing in custom swimming pools, outdoor living environments, landscape construction, and complete backyard transformations throughout Southern California.
For over 25 years, we have built a reputation for creative design, exceptional craftsmanship, and delivering luxury outdoor living spaces that enhance the way families live at home.
We are entering our next phase of growth and are seeking a President / General Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of the company while working directly with the founder. This individual will be responsible for transforming operational excellence into a competitive advantage by improving accountability, efficiency, profitability, and customer experience.
This is not a maintenance role. This is a leadership opportunity for someone who wants to build, improve, and scale an established company with a strong reputation and significant growth potential.
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Position Overview
The President / General Manager will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of company operations, including construction production, project management, scheduling, team development, customer satisfaction, financial performance, and organizational accountability.
The successful candidate will serve as the operational leader of the company, allowing the founder to focus on vision, strategic partnerships, sales, design innovation, and business development.
This individual must be capable of creating structure, holding teams accountable, solving problems proactively, and driving consistent execution across all departments.
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Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Development
* Lead and manage project managers, designers, field personnel, subcontractors, and administrative staff
* Establish a culture of accountability, professionalism, communication, and results
* Recruit, train, mentor, and retain high-performing team members
* Conduct regular performance reviews and address performance issues promptly
* Create clear expectations and measurable standards for all departments
Operations & Construction Management
* Oversee all active design and construction projects from contract through completion
* Ensure projects remain on schedule, within budget, and meet quality standards
* Improve operational systems, workflows, and internal communication
* Manage production schedules, manpower allocation, and resource planning
* Identify bottlenecks and implement solutions to improve efficiency
Financial Performance
* Manage project profitability and company financial performance
* Monitor budgets, job costing, cash flow, and production metrics
* Work closely with accounting to improve forecasting and financial reporting
* Identify opportunities to increase margins and reduce waste
* Establish measurable KPIs and accountability systems
Customer Experience
* Ensure exceptional customer communication throughout the project lifecycle
* Resolve escalated customer concerns professionally and efficiently
* Maintain the company’s reputation for quality and service
* Improve systems that create consistency and predictability for clients
Strategic Growth
* Collaborate with ownership on company growth initiatives
* Support expansion efforts and operational scalability
* Participate in strategic planning and long-term business development
* Help position Creative Atmospheres as the premier outdoor living company in Southern California
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Qualifications
Required
* Minimum 10 years of leadership experience in construction, landscape construction, swimming pool construction, outdoor living, or related design-build industries
* Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects, teams, and departments simultaneously
* Strong financial acumen including budgeting, forecasting, job costing, and profitability management
* Proven success creating accountability and improving operational performance
* Excellent communication and leadership skills
* Ability to make difficult decisions and hold team members accountable
* Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities
Preferred
* Experience managing annual revenues of $5M within a construction or design-build company
* Background in swimming pool construction, landscape construction, residential construction, or outdoor living environments
* Experience implementing operational systems, KPIs, and process improvements
* Familiarity with project management software, CRM systems, and construction management platforms
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Who Will Thrive in This Role
This role is ideal for a leader who:
* Takes ownership and does not make excuses
* Naturally creates structure and accountability
* Enjoys building teams and developing people
* Can balance customer satisfaction with profitability
* Thinks like an owner
* Is energized by solving problems and improving organizations
* Wants to make a meaningful impact within a growing company
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Compensation
* Competitive base salary
* Performance-based bonus structure
* Long-term growth opportunity
* Potential future executive leadership incentives for exceptional performance
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