Fire Chief Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

• 401(k) matching
• Bonus based on performance
• Company car
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Voda Cleaning & Restoration of Rochester is the first Voda franchise in New York State, and we control all three Greater Rochester territories - a market of roughly 1.1 million people and nearly 300,000 owner-occupied homes. There is no internal territory competition and no Greater Rochester leads to hand off.

We provide water damage restoration, mold remediation, fire and smoke damage restoration, biohazard and trauma cleanup, reconstruction, and specialty cleaning services for residential and commercial clients.

We opened two months ago, and in that time we have already completed numerous projects across emergency water damage mitigation, mold remediation, carpet and upholstery cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, odor removal, and other specialty cleaning services. We have also brought on our first national accounts, begun receiving incoming assignments from property management partners, and built referral relationships across the region. Demand has grown faster than our current operating structure, which is why we are adding a senior operational leader at this early stage.

We are an IICRC Certified Firm, EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm, and New York State Licensed Mold Remediation Contractor, with 24/7 emergency response capabilities.

We are early. That is the opportunity. The systems, the team, and the reputation are being built right now, and the person in this seat will have a major role in building them. If you want to inherit a machine somebody else built, this is NOT the job. If you have spent years running someone else’s playbook and thinking about how you’d do it differently, keep reading.

The Vice President of Operations is the senior operational leader of the company and works directly with ownership to establish, direct, and scale the business. You will own day-to-day operational decisions and be accountable for how this company performs and grows.

This is a build-it role, not a maintenance role. You will be expected to create systems, develop people, solve problems, manage production, protect margins, and help turn an early-stage restoration company into a significant regional operation.

This role is designed to grow with the company, with a potential path to Chief Operating Officer as the organization scales.

You own operations, the crews, production, project execution, job costing, operational estimating standards, documentation, margins, and day-to-day execution. You are also be expected to build relationships in the market and contribute to growth, but you are not being hired to carry the sales number alone while simultaneously running the field.

At our current stage, this is also a hands-on operational leadership role. We currently have two full-time field technicians, and we are intentionally building the team as demand grows. Until additional production staff is warranted, the owner and VP of Operations will both be expected to step into production and work alongside the field team when workload requires it.

That could mean inspecting and managing a project one day and putting on PPE, moving equipment, helping with demolition, extraction, remediation, cleaning, or other production work the next.

As the company and production team grow, the role will naturally shift toward greater leadership, management, and strategic responsibility - but we’re looking for someone who is willing to help build the operation from the ground up.

• Recruit, onboard, coach, and develop the production team.
• Build the pipeline for future technicians, project managers, and operational leaders.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability throughout the operation.
• Build a culture centered on professionalism, urgency, teamwork, safety, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Lead from the front and be willing to work alongside the team when production demands it.

• Direct daily operations and resource planning across restoration, reconstruction, specialty cleaning, and residential, commercial, and large-loss projects.
• Coordinate crews, schedules, equipment, subcontractors, materials, and project priorities.
• Ensure safe, efficient, profitable, and compliant execution in accordance with IICRC Standards, OSHA regulations, company procedures, and applicable law.
• Oversee warehouse organization, purchasing, vendor coordination, fleet, equipment readiness, and inventory.
• Inspect projects, identify operational issues early, and ensure work is completed to company standards.
• Participate directly in field production when staffing levels or project demands require additional support.
• Build scalable processes and operating systems as the company grows.

• Own operational profitability, gross margins, and EBITDA performance.
• Manage labor, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and other job costs.
• Oversee estimating standards, job costing, documentation, billing readiness, and collections.
• Review project performance and identify margin leakage or operational inefficiencies.
• Identify and implement improvements that increase productivity, capacity, and profitability.

• Work directly with ownership to establish and execute the company’s growth strategy.
• Build and maintain relationships with referral partners, commercial clients, property managers, adjusters, vendors, and industry contacts.
• Help shape account development and commercial sales initiatives.
• Identify new revenue streams, service offerings, geographic opportunities, and target markets.
• Help determine when additional technicians, project managers, equipment, vehicles, and infrastructure should be added as demand grows.

• Serve as the primary operational liaison for clients from project award through completion.
• Maintain proactive and transparent communication throughout the project.
• Resolve customer concerns quickly and professionally.
• Ensure documentation, workmanship, communication, and job-site professionalism consistently represent the company well.

We’re looking for someone who has already run restoration or comparable field-service operations — not someone looking to learn how to run them for the first time.

• 7–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in restoration, construction, specialty cleaning, or a closely related service industry.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing field operations, project management, estimating, job costing, and production teams.
• Applicable IICRC certification(s).
• Xactimate proficiency.
• NYS Mold Supervisor License or the ability to obtain one.
• Strong working knowledge of industry standards, safety requirements, regulations, and legal guidelines.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, coach, develop, and hold field employees accountable.
• Proven ability to build processes and structures that increase speed, consistency, efficiency, and profitability.
• Strong financial understanding, including labor utilization, job costing, gross margin, and operational profitability.
• Ability to make decisions independently and operate effectively in a fast-changing environment.
• Valid New York State driver’s license.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

This is not a desk-only executive position, particularly during this stage of the company’s growth.

You will spend time in the office building systems, managing people, reviewing financial performance, planning capacity, and working directly with ownership, but you will also be on job sites.

Until production volume supports additional field hires, the VP of Operations, owner, and field technicians will work together to get the work completed. That means being willing and physically able to participate in restoration and specialty-cleaning production when necessary, including water extraction, equipment setup and movement, demolition, mold remediation, contents handling, cleaning, and other field activities. The position requires frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, climbing, reaching, and working in varying weather and job-site conditions, as well as the ability to lift, carry, push, or move up to 100 lbs. when required. There will also be travel between job sites throughout the Greater Rochester service area.

We’re looking for someone who can lead the operation from the office, command a job site, and roll up their sleeves alongside the team when that’s what the business needs.

• $119,600–$140,400 annual base salary, depending on experience.
• Performance bonus tied to company revenue and profitability.
• Take-home company vehicle
• Health insurance.
• 401(k) w/ 100% match up to 4%.
• Paid time off.
• Company phone, desktop, laptop, and tablet.
• Direct access to ownership.
• Significant authority over day-to-day operations.
• Real influence over the systems, team, culture, and operating model of the company.
• Potential path to Chief Operating Officer as the organization scales.

This isn’t a position where you will spend the next five years waiting for someone above you to leave.

You wil be joining at the beginning.

The customers are coming in. The equipment and infrastructure are in place. The market is large. The initial team is established. Now we need an experienced operator who wants to help build what comes next.

JAM Restoration Inc. dba Voda Cleaning & Restoration of Rochester is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The listed salary range is provided in accordance with New York State law and reflects the range we reasonably expect to pay for this position.