Operating Associate — Continuous Improvement Department

Job Description

Operating Associate | Orion Services Group

The Tone:
This is a two-year operator development program based in Boulder, CO, requiring significant travel across the U.S., territories, and Canada. Orion Services Group is building a network of operating companies within the service trades, aiming to establish the gold standard for career development in the industry. This role is crucial for developing high-potential early-career talent into future operational leaders, equipping them with continuous improvement expertise and business acumen to drive excellence across Orion’s portfolio.

The TL;DR
• Role: Operator Development Program
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Hybrid, Boulder, CO with 50–70% travel
• Pay: $60,000–$80,000 yearly
• Team: Continuous Improvement Department
• Mission: Develop into a future operating leader by learning continuous improvement methodologies and contributing to operational improvement across Orion’s network of service trades businesses.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Travel: Work alongside teams at Orion Operating Companies, contributing to operational improvement efforts across the U.S., territories, and Canada.
• Learn: Build a deep understanding of service-trades businesses by observing dispatch, operations, sales, finance, and accompanying technicians.
• Apprentice: Learn and apply the A3 problem-solving method from senior mentors, progressively taking on coaching responsibilities in Continuous Improvement engagements.
• Develop: Enhance business literacy by learning to interpret P&Ls and operational KPIs, understanding how leadership decisions impact results, and attending structured coursework.
• Assess: Progress through six structured capability assessments over two years, evaluating readiness for subsequent development stages in the program.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree by your start date; clear ambition to lead a business someday.
• Experience: Willingness to be based in Boulder, CO, with 50–70% travel in Year 1, and willingness to relocate within 2–3 years for placement at an Orion Operating Company.
• Skills: Ability to solve operational problems using Continuous Improvement methods (A3 thinking, Kaizen, Lean, Kanban); capability to coach teams through structured problem-solving; understanding of business economics, operations, P&L, and KPIs; skill in leading through influence and partnership; comfort with ambiguity in real business environments; ability to receive and act on feedback; U.S. work authorization.
• Bonus: Exposure to operations, manufacturing, service trades, or other hands-on business environments; leadership experience in any setting; demonstrated track record of personal initiative.