Lead fireplace and stove installer job description
A lead fireplace and stove installer runs the install crew in the field. They visit homes before install day, assign the work, solve problems on site and inspect each finished job, and they train installers and keep customers updated while the job is underway.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, other building equipment contractors · BLS, May 2025
Annual pay: 10th percentile $56,510, middle half $65,520 to $95,200, 90th percentile $124,570. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Reports to
Production Manager
Department
Operations
Schedule
Weekdays, some evenings and weekends · Monday to Friday, with evenings and weekends as projects need, and on call for urgent installs or troubleshooting
Also called
Lead installer · Installation supervisor · Hearth install lead · Field supervisor
Lead fireplace and stove installer job description template
This is our Role Blueprint, word for word. Replace the highlighted fields and adjust the example targets and pay to fit your company.
Fireplace & Stove Installation - Field Supervisor / Lead Installer
Company Name:
[INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE]
Department:
Operations
Reports to:
[Production Manager]
Location:
[INSERT LOCATION HERE]
1. Position Summary
Oversees advanced fireplace and stove installations while ensuring exceptional quality and safety standards. Leads and trains installation teams to elevate workmanship and deliver superior customer service. Acts as the primary on-site authority to troubleshoot complex issues and maintain operational efficiency.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Direct and supervise the installation team to ensure timely and high-quality fireplace and stove installations.
Train and mentor new and existing staff on installation best practices and safety procedures.
Inspect completed projects for adherence to industry standards and company policies.
Coordinate with project managers and customers to ensure clear understanding of job expectations.
Maintain necessary documentation and reports to track progress and compliance.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Conduct pre-installation assessments and site evaluations with customers.
Oversee daily installation activities to ensure efficiency and safety compliance.
Provide hands-on technical support and guidance to the installation team.
Schedule and perform regular team training sessions and performance reviews.
Communicate with clients regarding project status and address any concerns promptly.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Installation Quality Rating: >95% compliance on quality inspections.
Customer Satisfaction Rating: >4.8 stars.
On-Time Project Completion: 98% or higher adherence to scheduled timelines.
Team Productivity: Achieve an average of 150 installation hours per month per team.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in fireplace and stove installation or a similar field.
Strong leadership and team management skills.
Excellent problem-solving and technical troubleshooting capabilities.
Proficient in interpreting blueprints, specifications, and safety guidelines.
Effective communication and customer service skills.
6. Preferred Experience
Prior experience within the home services industry focused on installation and field supervision.
Proven track record of managing installation teams and delivering quality projects.
Familiarity with the latest industry trends, tools, and installation technology.
Experience in developing and executing training programs for technical staff.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and maneuver heavy installation equipment.
Comfortable working in varying weather conditions including hot, cold, and confined spaces.
Ability to stand, walk, and work for extended periods during installation projects.
Must be capable of performing physically demanding tasks that require manual dexterity and strength.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical work hours are Monday through Friday, with availability for occasional weekends and evenings as project demands require.
On-site work environment with regular travel between multiple residential and commercial locations.
Occasional exposure to diverse environmental conditions during fieldwork.
May require on-call availability for urgent installations or troubleshooting.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Base salary range: $55,000 – $70,000 per year, depending on experience.
Eligibility for performance-based bonuses tied to project efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Opportunities for professional development and additional fringe benefits.
10. Company Culture and Overview
We foster an inclusive and growth-oriented environment where innovation and teamwork are highly valued.
Our focus on continuous improvement ensures every team member has opportunities to excel and take on leadership roles.
We are committed to excellence, customer satisfaction, and a supportive workplace that encourages career advancement.
Join us to be part of a dynamic team that thrives on quality, integrity, and mutual success.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
Need help filling this role? HireBus posts the ad, Iris interviews every applicant by phone before you do, and you decide who to hire. Start hiring now
What makes leading a fireplace install crew different
A crew lead in any trade keeps the schedule and the standard. Here the lead also judges old chimneys, gas lines and fire clearances in someone's home before anyone lights the new unit.
Old stoves can come with asbestos
EPA lists walls and floors around wood stoves protected with asbestos paper, millboard or cement sheets among the places asbestos may turn up, along with old furnace door gaskets. EPA also says you can't spot it by eye, so before a crew pulls out an old unit or hearth board that might hold it, the lead stops and calls a trained, accredited professional to sample it. OSHA's construction asbestos standard covers any crew whose work disturbs it. Source: EPA: Learn about asbestos.
A vent through the roof is construction work
Cutting a new vent or chimney through a roof counts as residential construction under OSHA's fall rules. Anyone 6 feet or more up needs guardrails, nets or a harness tied into fall arrest gear; a written plan stands in only where the company proves those can't work or add danger. Walking the roof to look before work starts is exempt. The install itself is not. Source: 29 CFR 1926.500: Fall protection scope and the inspection exception (eCFR).
The site visit decides the install
The template has the lead assess each site with the customer before install day. That means finding where the vent can exit, whether the gas line and an outlet reach the spot, what the floor will carry, and whether an old chimney is fit to reuse. A problem found here costs a phone call. Found on install day, it costs the crew a day.
One crew, many brands
A hearth showroom carries several brands, each with its own manuals, venting parts and quirks, and models change often. The lead keeps current manuals on every truck, learns new models before the first one is sold, and teaches the crew the steps that differ, so nobody installs this year's insert the way last year's went in.
How much lead fireplace and stove installers make
The closest BLS group for lead fireplace and stove installers is First-Line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers. First-Line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers who work for other building equipment contractors earned a median of $37.69 an hour ($78,380 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s about the same as the $79,860 median for First-Line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers in all industries. About 2,990 of the 617,500 First-Line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers in that survey work for other building equipment contractors.
The template pays a base salary plus bonuses for efficient projects and happy customers. A salary alone doesn't decide whether a lead is owed overtime; the duties do, as the FAQ explains.
Other building equipment contractors
$78,380$78,380 median Middle half $65,520–$95,200 10th–90th $56,510–$124,570
All industries
$79,860$79,860 median Middle half $62,690–$101,360 10th–90th $49,600–$126,790
$25k$50k$75k$100k$125k$150k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Other building equipment contractors
$56,510
$65,520
$78,380
$95,200
$124,570
All industries
$49,600
$62,690
$79,860
$101,360
$126,790
BLS doesn’t publish pay for fireplace and stove installers on their own. These figures cover other building equipment contractors, which include them. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Has installed gas, wood and pellet units and can do any task on the crew
Assesses a home before install day and catches venting, gas and structural problems early
Directs installers and helpers and keeps them protected on roofs
Reads blueprints, specs and install manuals and holds the crew to them
Tells a homeowner early and plainly when a job will run long or the plan has to change
Teach these on the job
Your scheduling and job cost tools
Running performance reviews and coaching talks
Writing site assessments and change orders
New product lines as the showroom adds them
Roof anchor setup and daily fall protection checks
Leads carry everything an installer does, plus a tablet for site assessment photos and measurements, your scheduling software, and the crew's fall protection: harnesses, roof anchors and roof brackets. Your post should state the crew size the lead will run and whether a take-home truck is included.
Lead fireplace and stove installer interview questions
Two of the 6 questions we'd ask, and what a strong answer sounds like. Ask every candidate the same questions, and rate each answer on your own before you compare notes.
Situational · Fixing a failed inspection
The building inspector fails your crew's insert install because the hearth extension is too short, and the customer just finished new tile. What do you do?
A strong answer: Takes responsibility if the crew missed it, explains options (extend the hearth to the manual's requirement or a listed hearth extension), works out the fix and cost with the office, books re-inspection and trains the crew.
Behavioral · Checking installs before leaving
Tell me about a time your final check on an install caught a problem before your crew left. What did that check include?
A strong answer: A routine based on the manual (clearances, venting, connections, leak test, test fire, customer walkthrough) and a real catch that was fixed before the crew left.
These four measures trade off. Push team hours too hard and quality scores and on-time finishes slip, so review them as a set each month.
Installation Quality Rating
Rate every finished job against a checklist (clearances, venting, gas test, finish work, cleanup) during the lead's own inspection or a manager's spot check. Count the jobs that pass on the first review.
Customer Satisfaction Rating
Average rating on jobs this lead's crew finished, from post-install surveys and reviews. Watch for comments about how well the customer was kept informed when plans changed.
On-Time Project Completion
Jobs finished on the scheduled date, divided by all jobs. Record the cause of each miss, such as parts, weather, a failed inspection or a site problem the assessment missed.
Team Productivity
Installation hours logged per crew each month in your time tracking. Log travel, shop time and callbacks separately so the number reflects install work only.
Career path
InstallerInstalls and services gas, wood and pellet units in customers' homes.
Lead installerRuns the crew on site, trains installers and checks each job.
Production managerBooks installs across every crew and stages the units.
It depends on the work, not the title. The federal executive exemption needs a salary basis, a primary duty of managing the business or a recognized department, regular direction of two or more employees, and hiring and firing authority or recommendations that carry particular weight. The rules add that someone whose main job is skilled trade work doesn't become exempt by also directing others on site. A lead who installs beside the crew most of the day is likely owed overtime. Check state law too.
How much does a lead fireplace and stove installer make?
First-Line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers who work for other building equipment contractors earned a median of $37.69 an hour ($78,380 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $65,520 and $95,200 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and overtime.
How is a lead installer different from a production manager?
The lead works on the job site with one crew: assessing homes, directing the install, fixing problems and checking the finished work. The production manager plans the calendar for every crew, orders and stages the units, and balances installs against service. A lead who keeps asking for the bigger picture may be your next production manager.
Can I promote my best installer to lead?
Look at their site visits first. Send the candidate to assess a few homes alone, then compare their notes with what the crew finds on install day: the vent exit, the gas line, the floor, the old chimney. If their judgment holds up and they can handle all three fuels, let them run the crew on gas inserts before wood stoves that go through the roof.
What should a lead check before the crew leaves a job?
Gas connections leak tested, the unit started and run, clearances and floor protection checked against the manual, and photos of the data plate and venting saved to the job. The customer should know how to run the unit and where the manual is. Last, the crew lifts the floor protection and vacuums.
How should the ad cover lifting and roof work?
The template asks for tasks that "require manual dexterity and strength," which describes the worker more than the job. Name the work instead: moving stoves and inserts with a dolly or stair climber, carrying loads up to 50 pounds, and working on roofs and in tight spaces. Per EEOC guidance, you can ask candidates if they can perform those tasks, and asking them to show the tasks isn't a medical exam either. Hold health questions until you've made an offer.
