CoolSys, Inc.
Brea, CA

CoolSys is the parent of a portfolio of market-leading refrigeration and HVAC services companies. Under a new executive leadership team and with the strategic guidance of private equity partner, Audax Group, CoolSys is growing rapidly through acquisition and organic growth. It is the largest company in its space with over 1700 high performing, well-trained field technicians serving more than 3,500 customers around the country. CoolSys provides a full-spectrum of services and energy optimization for mission-critical refrigeration and HVAC systems to customers in retail, commercial, and industrial markets.

Committed to growth and providing high levels of service, CoolSys’ mission is to provide premier solutions and superior quality with a spectrum of services for mission-critical refrigeration and HVAC systems to facilities throughout North America with best-in-class service, technology, and exceptional value. It is their goal to bring that value to everyone with whom they work, from CoolSys operating companies to their customers and their technicians, sales, and operations personnel.

CoolSys takes a holistic approach to helping their customers manage the Total Cost of Ownership of their mission-critical refrigeration & HVAC systems. The company was founded with energy utilization and optimization being primary drivers of their work, and this remains a key part of their culture today. Their offerings cover every stage of a system's life-cycle, including:

• New system design and installation
• Remodels 
• Refrigerant conversions 
• Repair and Maintenance 
• Optimization of energy use and system performance.

With expert service providers for every phase of mission-critical refrigeration and HVAC systems, CoolSys’ vast experience across the entire refrigeration and HVAC system value-chain allows them to serve the needs of customers from a broad range of industries. While their roots and reputation are firmly planted in the supermarket refrigeration and HVAC industry, they also serve the needs of leading companies across the commercial, retail, and industrial sectors, including: Supermarkets, Telecommunications, Pharmaceutical, Warehousing, Cold-Storage, Food & Beverage Distributors, Retail, Entertainment, and Educational Institutions.

CoolSys and its operating companies combine nearly 150 years of superior service to cover every stage of mission-critical refrigeration and HVAC Systems. Together they serve customers across the nation with some of the most highly trained technicians, sales, and operations personnel. They are continually looking to expand the CoolSys family with refrigeration and/or HVAC companies that fit the following criteria:

• Proven track record of solid financial performance
• A strong brand and a market leadership position in the markets they serve
• Strong leadership and management team
• Strong customer relationships
• A culture that values the importance of each and every employee

The Position – Director of Applications

As a direct report to the Executive Vice President, Information Technology and a key member of the Information Technology (IT) leadership team, the Director of Applications is responsible for leading the team of ten that designs, delivers, integrates and supports all information technology applications for the enterprise.

Given CoolSys’ rapid growth, the near term challenge for the Director of Applications will be to provide acquired companies in CoolSys’ portfolio a single integrated applications solution or an equivalent solution, in phases, until such time as a more permanent multi-entity ERP solution can be selected and implemented. Future focal areas for this role include a new customer portal, IOT, Big Data, analytics, and machine learning opportunities. In addition to managing a small internal team, the Director will leverage outside partners to extend the team’s reach and impact. Working in concert with the EVP, IT and CoolSys’ senior business leaders, the Director of Applications will develop and ensure compliance with corporate standards and IT methodologies used for application selection, implementation, upgrades, support and maintenance. In addition, the Director will work closely with the leadership team within IT to deliver innovative business solutions.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Develops and delivers application solutions. Manages and leads multiple interrelated projects concurrently as well as manage daily applications and configuration support operations as a hands-on leader. Involves appropriate individuals and groups when planning for and implementing IT-related projects or process changes. Oversees the integration or required interfacing of all production applications to ensure information flows are efficient and effective throughout CoolSys. Works on special projects and other duties as assigned, where assignments are based on skill set, knowledge, experience and organizational needs, to ensure smooth operations.
• Promotes and fosters exceptional customer service. Fosters a work ethic in which relationships within the team and with customers are maintained in a positive and professional manner. Establishes and enforces team and individual accountability, and establishes service level agreements with departments in order to understand and manage expectations of the customer community.
• Collaborates effectively with key business stakeholders. Develops work plans defining tasks, target dates, level of efforts, resources required, skills required, etc. Works with the IT leadership team to develop and ensure compliance with corporate standards and IT methodologies used for application selection, implementation, upgrades, service pack releases, support and maintenance, etc. Recommends the selection of new applications, acquisition and implementation planning. Builds, earns, and maintains trust based relationships with customers and helps create strategic information technology plans.
• Promotes and implements best practices. Brings world-class application related practices to the organization in order to deliver business solutions that meet business requirements as well as industry regulatory requirements. Promotes and demonstrates knowledge sharing and continuous learning. That said, flexibility and the ability to effectively deal with ambiguity in a rapidly growing company is key to the success of this role.
• Enhances team performance and effectiveness across their organization through the mentoring and development of staff. Mentors Application Services team members in their development, coaches them in their roles, and models the desired behaviors for IT personnel. Leads by example, consistently demonstrates service excellence principles and IT department behavioral expectations. Positively represents the organization to team members and other CoolSys staff. Provides timely and specific feedback, guidance, training, and development for Applications team members.

REQUIRED/PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• At least seven (7) years’ experience in applications management roles in mid- to large-scale organizations (preferably in progressively complex management and supervisory roles).
• Must have an excellent grasp of budget development and project oversight and delivery.
• Successful track record leading and delivering complex application development efforts as well as installation of commercial off the shelf (COTS) solutions.
• Experience in the software development platforms of Microsoft and ERP implementations/integration is preferred.
• Strong IT vendor selection and management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team of IT professionals
• Successful track record of managing change

REQUIRED EDUCATION

A Bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Track Record of High Performance Delivery: Experience in leading high performance, results-oriented teams with a sense of urgency and a commitment to quality, often with multiple, conflicting deadlines for deliverables, with staffing allocation constraints.

Decisiveness: Makes timely and effective decisions.

Results Orientation: Does what is necessary to improve performance; balances the resources necessary to produce desired outcomes; tracks and monitors performance.

Customer Service Mindset: Maintains client satisfaction both internally and externally by clear, concise and regular communication of status, and prompt issue resolution.

Financial Management: Effective fiscal management with budgetary Impact for all Capital costs related to Technology, Professional services Costs, Payroll costs, General Expense.

Influencing Abilities: Persuasion of peers, superiors, and external vendors in obtaining desired outcome which is reflected in cost savings or avoidance, provision of acceptable solution, and which mitigates risk to CoolSys.

WHY A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL SHOULD PURSUE THIS JOB

CoolSys is a successful leader in its industry, nationally. The company is investing in people, process, and technology, and it continues to rapidly grow by innovating, competing for and winning new business. CoolSys is also a very transparent company that continues to attract, retain, and reward star performers. The commercial refrigeration industry as a whole continues to go through transformative change in IOT, analytics, and in other exciting ways where technology enablement is key. We are seeking a transformational change agent who seeks to be a part of the leadership team of this outstanding organization.

CoolSys has retained Diligent Partners with the exclusive management of this important search.  CLICK HERE  to register for this position.