Founding COO — Portable Sanitation Operations

JOB DESCRIPTION —FOUNDING CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, PORTABLE SANITATION OPERATIONS

Reports to: Founder & CEO

Location: Phoenix, Arizona (relocation assistance available for the right candidate)

Employment type: Full-time, Executive — founding equity participation

Start: Pre-launch — role must be filled before Hero Johns' initial capital raise

Company Overview

Hero Johns is building the first veteran-owned national portable sanitation franchise, addressing a $4B+ U.S. market with roughly 1,300 operators and no dominant national brand. Backed by a founding equipment partnership with PolyJohn, Hero Johns will create a structured pathway for the 200,000+ service members who transition out of the military each year to become franchise owners and skilled operators in the portable restroom, septic pumping, and waste hauling industry.

Position Summary

Hero Johns is seeking a Founding Chief Operating Officer to build and lead all operational functions of the company from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to design the operating backbone of a national franchise system before it exists — equipment standards, route and service protocols, septic compliance, fleet management, franchisee onboarding and training, and the operational playbook that will be replicated across every Hero Johns location nationwide. The Founding COO will be the company's operational credibility with franchisees, equipment partners, and investors, and will work side by side with the CEO to take Hero Johns from a business plan to a fully operating national franchise.

Key Responsibilities

1. Design and stand up Hero Johns' core operating model: service delivery standards, equipment specifications, route logistics, and septic/waste compliance protocols across all franchise tiers.
2. Build the Operations Manual and franchisee training curriculum that will be used to onboard and certify every Hero Johns franchise owner and operator nationally.
3. Own the relationship with PolyJohn on equipment standards, field deployment, and the NEUROFY smart hub technology rollout across the fleet.
4. Establish vendor, supplier, and waste-disposal partnerships needed to support franchise operations in new markets.
5. Lead the Arizona pilot program — stand up and operationally validate the first 3 Hero Johns franchise locations in Phoenix as the proof-of-model for national rollout.
6. Define KPIs, quality-control standards, and field audit processes to ensure operational consistency and brand standards across franchisees.
7. Partner with the CEO and CFO on franchise unit economics, equipment financing needs, and the operational sections of investor and crowdfunding materials.
8. Support recruitment and evaluation of franchise candidates from veteran pipeline partners, assessing operational fit and readiness.
9. Serve as a founding executive and public face of Hero Johns' operational credibility with PolyJohn, industry partners (PSAI, WWETT), and prospective franchisees.

Minimum Qualifications

1. 8+ years of progressive operations experience in the portable sanitation, waste hauling, septic services, or a closely related field-service/route-based industry (e.g., portable restroom rental, dumpster/roll-off services, industrial cleaning, or fleet-based field services).
2. 3+ years in a senior operations leadership role (VP Operations, Director of Operations, General Manager, or equivalent) with responsibility for multi-site or multi-route operations.
3. Direct experience with fleet management, route optimization, and regulatory/compliance requirements for waste or septic handling.
4. Demonstrated experience building or scaling operational systems, SOPs, or training programs from the ground up — startup or early-stage operational build experience strongly preferred.
5. Willingness to be based in or relocate to the Phoenix, Arizona area to lead the pilot program.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Prior experience in a franchise operating company, either at the corporate/franchisor level or as a multi-unit franchise operator.
2. Familiarity with PolyJohn or comparable portable sanitation equipment lines.
3. Experience operating in a founder-stage or pre-revenue company, including comfort with ambiguity and building infrastructure without an existing playbook.

Veteran Preference

Hero Johns is a veteran-owned company, and building an all-veteran executive team is a core part of our mission and brand. Consistent with that mission, qualified veterans are strongly encouraged to apply, and veteran status will be considered a meaningful, positive factor in the evaluation of candidates who otherwise meet the qualifications above. This preference reflects Hero Johns' founding purpose and is applied consistent with applicable federal and state law; it is not used to exclude or disadvantage any applicant based on a protected characteristic.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Hero Johns is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Compensation & Equity

Base salary commensurate with experience, plus founding executive equity in Hero Johns. Specific compensation details will be discussed directly with qualified candidates.

Hero Johns | Founding COO — Portable Sanitation Operations | Confidential

To apply, contact Tony Hudson, Founder & CEO| 480-217-5514 | tony.hudson@herojohns.com