Job Postings

Current searches which we are conducting for clients are listed below. If interested and qualified for any which you see here, please email your resume to steve@hrstrategiestx.com.

Chief Mechanical Officer (CMO)

Our client is a dynamic and growing short-line railroad operator and manufacturer of freight locomotives, based in Knoxville, Tennessee and with operations across multiple states and Canada. We are currently recruiting for a Chief Mechanical Officer (CMO) for this client. This role is a critical leadership position, responsible for the mechanical integrity, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency of the locomotive fleet. This role blends high-level strategic fleet management with "boots-on-the-ground" technical expertise. The CMO ensures that all locomotives are maintained to the highest safety standards while optimizing power usage and minimizing downtime to support the railroad’s mission.

Although the client headquarters is in Knoxville, Tennessee, the successful candidate for this role can be physically located elsewhere in the Southeastern United States, but preferably in North or South Carolina or East Tennessee.

Responsibilities:

Regulatory Compliance & Safety: Maintain absolute adherence to CFR Title 49 (Parts 223, 224, 229, 231, & 232). Oversee all Blue Card documentation, including precise Out-of-Use and inspection date calculations, ensuring all record-keeping is audit-ready.
Technical Leadership: Act as the primary subject matter expert for EMD and GE locomotives, as well as various engine platforms (Cummins, MTU, etc.). Perform advanced troubleshooting across mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems.
Fleet Management & Optimization: Monitor fleet usage to maximize power availability and minimize fuel consumption. Plan long-term maintenance schedules to ensure zero "Out of Service" (OOS) status during peak seasonal demands.
Environmental Stewardship: Manage maintenance protocols for Tiered Emission locomotives to ensure compliance with EPA regulations and internal sustainability goals.
Training & Mentorship: Develop and deliver technical training programs for mechanical personnel, focusing on troubleshooting techniques, EPA compliance, and the use of internal maintenance software.
Strategic Planning: Future-proof the fleet by researching and implementing technological advancements and updating fleet requirements as the industry evolves.

Required Qualifications:

Extensive Locomotive Troubleshooting Experience: Proven ability to diagnose complex failures and read/interpret intricate electrical schematics.
Multi-Platform Knowledge: Deep understanding of EMD and GE locomotive systems, including mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic components.
General Engine Proficiency: Familiarity with a diverse range of engines including Cummins, MTU, EMD, and GE.
Legal Literacy: Comprehensive knowledge of 49 CFR Subtitle B, Chapter 2, specifically regarding safety glazing (223), reflectorization (224), locomotive safety standards (229), safety appliance standards (231), and brake system safety (232).
Documentation Mastery: Expert-level knowledge of Blue Card requirements and EPA-mandated record keeping.
Project Management Experience: Ability to structure workloads, manage shop flow, and plan complex overhaul projects.
Resource Efficiency: Skill in monitoring fuel burn and power distribution to enhance the bottom line.
Adaptability: A forward-thinking mindset regarding locomotive technology and industry shifts.
Industry Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in locomotive mechanical maintenance and railroad operations is strictly required.
Education: While no specific degree or certification is required, the candidate must demonstrate a career trajectory that reflects mastery of the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed above.

Additionally, the ability to work in a railroad shop environment, including climbing on/off equipment and working in various weather conditions, is essential. Finalist candidates must also pass a mandatory pre-employment DOT drug screen and background check.

Division Controller - Commercial

Our client operates multiple commercial, residential, and municipal government services provider organizations across the United States. We are currently recruiting for a detail-oriented and highly organized Division Controller - Commercial to support three of these operating companies.

The portfolio includes a Southern California commercial service business with some construction activity, a Texas-based construction business with a growing service operation, and a larger California construction business with deep municipal and government experience that is expected to expand over time into more private-sector work.

This is not a traditional single-entity controller role. It is a divisional finance leadership position designed for someone who can move between accounting, operations, and project-level execution. The person in this role will work directly with project managers, general managers, and company leadership to improve the financial rigor of the business, especially around job costing, WIP reporting, project reconciliations, revenue recognition, cash forecasting, and close discipline.

The ideal candidate is hands-on, detail-oriented, operationally credible, and comfortable improving processes in businesses that are growing and professionalizing. Travel to operating company locations in California and Texas is an expected and important part of the role. This role will be hybrid in nature, and ideal candidate will also be currently located in the Austin, Texas metropolitan area, or within a commutable distance.

Core Mandate:

The key mandate is to improve the connection between accounting and operations across the commercial division. This person should help project managers and business leaders better understand project financial performance while also improving the underlying accounting discipline and reporting accuracy.

This role is especially important in strengthening WIP and earned revenue processes, improving job cost integrity and project reconciliations, building more reliable weekly cash forecasting, supporting monthly close discipline and audit readiness, and bringing consistency across multiple operating companies with different business mixes.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the accounting and financial control function across the three commercial operating companies in close coordination with PBSI leadership and the Corporate Director of Finance.
Partner directly with project managers and operating leaders to improve visibility into project performance, cost tracking, margin performance, and reporting accuracy.
Drive process discipline around job costing, WIP schedules, percentage-of-completion accounting, revenue recognition, project reconciliations, cost-to-complete thinking, and backlog and earned revenue visibility.
Support and at times directly perform core accounting work, including journal entries, accruals, prepaid schedules, account reconciliations, and reclasses.
Improve close processes and ensure timely, accurate monthly financial reporting across all entities.
Build and maintain detailed weekly cash forecasts with entity-level visibility into collections, disbursements, payroll, and project cash requirements.
Strengthen accounting processes across AP, AR, payroll, and reporting, with a focus on standardization, internal controls, and scalability.
Support certified payroll, prevailing wage compliance, and reporting needs associated with municipal and government work.
Ensure financial records, schedules, and documentation are audit-ready and aligned with parent-company reporting requirements.
Help improve or optimize use of current systems, including QuickBooks Online, BuildOps, ServiceTitan, Bill.com, ADP Run, and Payroll4Construction, while supporting future system evolution.
Provide practical financial analysis to leadership on margin trends, project performance, cash conversion, and operational execution.
Travel regularly to operating company locations to build relationships, support implementation, and drive consistency across the commercial portfolio.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
At least 5 years in a controller, assistant controller, senior accounting manager, or similar finance leadership role.
Strong construction accounting foundation, including job costing, WIP, percentage-of-completion accounting, revenue recognition, project reconciliations, and monthly close discipline.
Experience partnering directly with project managers and operating leadership.
Working knowledge of certified payroll and prevailing wage environments.
Ability to manage across multiple entities and competing priorities.

Preferred Experience:

Commercial contracting or specialty trades background.
Multi-entity environment experience.
Municipal/government project accounting experience.
Exposure to commercial service plus project/construction mix.
CPA, public accounting background, or both.

What Success Looks Like:

Within the first 6 to 12 months, a successful hire would likely improve consistency and accuracy of WIP reporting, tighten project reconciliations and close support, increase confidence in project-level reporting, deliver more reliable weekly cash forecasting, build credibility with project managers and operating leaders, and help create more consistent financial discipline across the commercial portfolio.