General Manager

Position: General Manager
Organization: Acme | Lock & Door – A Cobalt Service Partners Company
Location: On-Site | Cincinnati, OH
Reports To: President, Entrance Solutions

Acme Lock & Door Overview

Founded in 1933, Acme | Lock & Door has been a trusted name in the tri-state area for over 90 years, providing top-tier locksmithing services, door and frame installation, glass and storefront installation, and access control solutions for commercial, industrial, and institutional clients.

With a reputation built on quality craftsmanship and exceptional customer service, we are dedicated to securing our customers’ spaces while delivering reliable and innovative solutions. Our team of skilled technicians are passionate about their work and take pride in maintaining the highest standards of safety and professionalism.

Acme | Lock & Door is proud to operate as part of Cobalt Service Partners — a private equity-backed platform building the leading commercial access and security integration business in North America, backed by Alpine Investors.

Position Overview

As the General Manager, you will lead a well-established, legacy business — while driving the next chapter of aggressive, sustainable growth. This key leadership role requires a strong blend of people management, financial acumen, operational excellence, and sales grit.

With the backing of a fast-growing PE platform, a values-driven team, and a proven playbook, you will have the opportunity to roll up your sleeves, develop your leadership, and build meaningfully on a business that has already earned the trust of its community for generations.

Key Responsibilities

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  The General Manager will drive organic growth and EBITDA uplift by executing across the following areas:

  
  
  
  
  • P&L ownership: Develop and execute strategic plans to achieve financial targets, including year-over-year monthly revenue growth and annual EBITDA improvement. Monitor progress, identify opportunities, and present financial reports, budgets, and forecasts to senior leadership.
  
  
  • Sales & business development: Drive revenue growth through effective sales strategies, market analysis, and client relationship management. Roll up your sleeves and bring new accounts into the business, while building and training a strong sales team. Continuously assess market trends, competitive dynamics, and customer needs to refine and sharpen your approach.
  
  
  • Operational excellence: Develop and implement initiatives that drive EBITDA through improved field operations, enhanced customer satisfaction, and thoughtful stewardship of company resources.
  
  
  • People management & leadership: Lead a high-performing, results-oriented team by recruiting, training, and developing talent through clear goal setting and a culture of continuous improvement. Inspire action across diverse teams and exemplify our values in every interaction.
  
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or other relevant advanced degree preferred.


• Proven track record of driving impact and exceeding measurable expectations — demonstrated experience in an SMB general management or senior leadership role preferred.


• Experience with FP&A; demonstrated expertise in financial management, budgeting, and P&L responsibility strongly preferred.


• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels of an organization.


• Resourceful and scrappy; eager to roll up sleeves and get the job done.


• Strong problem-solving abilities and a strategic mindset.


• Proficiency in data-driven decision-making.


• High EQ and genuine interest in people management — including hiring, training, and development.


• Exceptional leadership and team-building capabilities.


• Experience in or deep respect for the trades.

Core Competencies

• Ownership mentality: Takes full accountability for the performance of the business — top line, bottom line, and everything in between.


• Sales grit: Brings energy and persistence to business development; not afraid to pick up the phone, knock on a door, and build new relationships.


• People-first leadership: Builds trust quickly, develops talent intentionally, and creates an environment where people do their best work.


• Financial discipline: Comfortable in the numbers; makes decisions grounded in data and keeps a close eye on the metrics that matter.


• Operational curiosity: Wants to understand how the business works at every level — and is always looking for ways to make it better.


• Strategic agility: Balances near-term execution with longer-term vision; adapts quickly as market conditions evolve.


• Respect for the craft: Appreciates the skilled trades and brings genuine respect for the technicians and field teams who are the backbone of the business.

Compensation and Timing

Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Acme Lock & Door offers a comprehensive benefits package including healthcare, 401(k) match, and flexible time off. We are looking to fill this role in the near term as a critical investment in the company’s continued growth and future.

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Cobalt Service Partners Overview

Cobalt Service Partners is a private equity–backed platform building the leading commercial access and security integration business in North America. Our partner companies design, install, and service mission-critical systems including access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, and related low-voltage infrastructure for enterprise, institutional, and commercial customers.

Backed by Alpine Investors, a private equity firm specializing in middle-market companies in the services and software industries with $15B+ in AUM, Cobalt has scaled rapidly since launch. With more than 20 acquisitions completed in a highly fragmented operating environment, Cobalt is building a differentiated, data-driven platform designed to scale through both organic growth and M&A.

Cobalt’s Core Values Are

• Unwavering stewardship: We believe advancing founders’ legacies is a privilege. We do right by our founders, teams, and customers in good times and in bad.


• Excellence in action: We hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards. We’re bold in our pursuits, don’t make excuses, and relentlessly empower each other to get the job done.


• Seek and tell the truth: We’re honest with ourselves and others. We do what we say we’ll do, say what needs to be said, and search for the right answer regardless of where it comes from.


• Love learning: We’re always learning as individuals, as a team, and as a business. We show up humble, curious, and with the courage to change our minds.


• Enjoy the ride: We’re fired up by our mission, love our team, and don’t take either for granted. We show up authentically, assume best intent, and try not to take ourselves too seriously.