President-in-Residence - Manufacturing & Machining

Location: (U.S.) — On-site — You must be willing to relocate or travel to the acquisition target’s location.

About Mainshares

Mainshares partners with experienced operators who want to control their destiny. We source curated, lower-middle-market opportunities and provide the capital, deal execution, and operating resources needed to transition you from senior operator to hands-on CEO and majority shareholder.

We’re looking for expert operators in manufacturing, so if you have a track record of success leading small businesses and an appetite for ownership, you could be a fit.

To name a few, we’ve been a part of the acquisition of:

• Precision machining and metal fabrication shops

• Custom manufacturing and light industrial plants

• Building materials production and specialty fabrication

• Plastics, glass, and composites manufacturers

• Other regional, family-owned manufacturing companies

Role overview

The CEO-in-Residence becomes part of Mainshares’ operating talent network and is an active candidate for CEO placement and majority ownership of companies in our acquisition pipeline. You’ll partner with our deal team during diligence to shape operational plans. Mainshares runs the transaction — your primary focus is evaluating operational fit and, post-close, stepping into day-to-day leadership and ownership.

Key responsibilities

• Evaluate operational fit and co-design value-creation plans during diligence.

• Build and execute a 100-day plan and longer-term strategy once placed.

• Take full P&L ownership: set strategy, manage budgets, deliver EBITDA/cash-flow targets, and steward capital.

• Lead, coach, and recruit teams; establish company culture and execution cadence.

• Drive organic growth, operational improvements, and disciplined capital allocation.

• Report performance to Mainshares and the board; escalate issues and ask for support when needed.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing or industrial setting (plant manager, operations director, production manager, or similar).

• Proven ability to oversee production teams, maintenance staff, and shift supervisors in a plant or shop environment.

• Direct P&L responsibility: experience with capacity planning, labor efficiency, COGS management, and quality control.

• Strong track record in process improvement/lean manufacturing, safety programs, and compliance.

• Demonstrated ability to scale operations or improve margins through workflow changes, equipment investments, or team development.

• Comfortable being on the shop floor daily, working alongside supervisors and operators.

• Ownership mentality with a clear desire to transition into majority ownership.

• Prior small business ownership or equity participation is a plus, but not required.

• No private equity or finance background required. We’re looking for hands-on manufacturing leaders.

What we offer

• A direct pathway to majority ownership and the financial upside that comes with it upon placement.

• Access to Mainshares’ deal flow, capital partners, operating playbooks, board support, and coaching.

• Freedom to focus on running and growing a business — we handle the transaction.

What You Can Expect

After a quick onboarding where we build a Mainshares profile that captures your industry focus, leadership strengths, and ownership goals, we match you to acquisition opportunities. For deals that fit, we loop you into diligence—sharing materials, joining calls, and arranging site visits—so you can assess operational fit and help co-design the post-close plan. From there Mainshares leads negotiation, financing, and closing; if you’re selected, we support your transition with board setup, operating playbooks, and a clear, structured path to majority ownership.