About Assist Services

Founded in 1997 and based just outside of Portland, Oregon, Assist Services provides scheduled transportation of students to and from school and other activities under state and federally-funded and mandated programs. The company exclusively works on behalf of school districts, non-profits, and government agencies and provides no public transportation services. Nearly all of the riders are homeless, foster, and special needs students that are not well served by traditional yellow bus routes. The current ownership acquired the company in March of 2019 and is looking to expand rapidly into new geographies and transform the existing small business into the dominant company in its industry.

Chief Executive Officer Job Description

Really special businesses don’t come around very often. We think we have one. Seriously. We’ve looked at thousands of businesses and been owners and operators of dozens and this one is special. Large ($1B), underserved market – check. Recession-resistant – check. Fragmented and often unsophisticated competition – check. Social mission addressing a real need – check. Asset light, scalable, recurring revenues with high margins and strong operating leverage – check, check, check. The only thing we don’t have is an entrepreneurial leader capable of bringing the company to its full potential. If this has you fired up and ready to run through walls to make Assist Services great, read on.

The Chief Executive Officer will be Assist Services’ first executive-level hire and will lead the daily operations and growth of the company. The CEO will work closely with the Board of Directors to determine overall company strategy, develop and nurture the company’s culture with a particular emphasis on safety, make key hiring and personnel decisions, and chart a course for the company to grow at least 5x within the next five years and 25x within 10 years. We are looking for a humble, driven, and people smart leader who is as comfortable working on the front lines with drivers, students, and caregivers as they are scaling a company to dozens of locations and thousands of employees. This is a compelling opportunity for the person that seeks to take on a defining role in a proven, high-potential company with extreme levels of autonomy and authority. The CEO will have a positive impact on a vulnerable population in our society, create an enduring, legacy company, and generate substantial personal wealth as the company reaches its full potential.

The CEO may be based in any medium- to large-sized urban area and will be expected to travel regularly. Compensation will include a base salary, annual bonus, and equity option plan.

Job Requirements

To encourage applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds and with a range of experience, we have few formal requirements.

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated track record of professional success, at least five years of work experience, including at least one role that has involved direct management of a team. In addition, the CEO should be comfortable working in an environment with few formalized processes, enjoy creating and optimizing work flows, have a talent for identifying and recruiting talent, and be comfortable operating in environments where resources may be limited.

In terms of character, we value integrity, humility, curiosity, drive, and high emotional intelligence.

No prior knowledge about transportation is required. Experience with small businesses and multi-location operations would be helpful, but is not necessary.


Interested candidates can contact me at --@----.com with the subject line Assist Services CEO Search