Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Location: Chicago or Northern California (with regular global travel)

A global retail experience agency is seeking a dynamic and commercially-minded Chief Operating Officer to lead its operational strategy and execution across international hubs. This business partners with some of the world’s most recognizable consumer brands, delivering physical and digital retail solutions at scale.

This is a senior leadership role, reporting into the CEO, with full responsibility for operational planning, production, supply chain, project management, and global delivery. The COO will play a pivotal role in transforming operational infrastructure to support the company’s ambitious growth trajectory and its commitment to delivering bold, tech-enabled experiences for retail spaces worldwide.

The COO will oversee all aspects of operational delivery - from initial planning through to production, logistics, and installation - ensuring projects are executed on time, within budget, and to brand-defining standards. This individual will also spearhead the modernization and scaling of operational systems, processes, and teams to keep pace with evolving client needs and market trends.

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as the global leader for operational planning and execution, ensuring seamless coordination from concept to delivery.
• Driving operational strategy focused on efficiency, scalability, and profitability.
• Leading multi-site operations, including facilities in the US and Asia, while managing global vendor and supplier relationships.
• Overseeing financial performance and operational KPIs, with accountability for gross margin and operational cost control.
• Championing operational innovation through automation, data-led decision-making, and process improvement initiatives.
• Building, mentoring, and scaling a high-performing global operations team.
• Partnering with cross-functional leadership across creative, commercial, finance, and engineering to ensure flawless, high-quality execution.
• Leading operational readiness for market expansions, new service launches, and large-scale rollouts.
• Ensuring compliance with global standards in sustainability, health and safety, and ethical sourcing.

Ideal experience:

• 15+ years in operational leadership, ideally within experiential marketing, retail display manufacturing, or technology-driven service environments.
• P&L leadership experience across multi-site, international operations.
• Expertise in supply chain management, production, procurement, project management, and logistics.
• Demonstrated ability to modernize operational frameworks and lead business transformation initiatives.
• Data-driven approach with strong financial acumen.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced business qualification preferred.
• Comfortable with frequent global travel.

This is an opportunity to shape the operational future of a forward-thinking, globally recognized business at the forefront of retail experience innovation. Interested? Apply below, or reach out to sian.larsen@dnarecruit.com for more info.

DNA is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
Although we try to respond to all applications, unfortunately, due to the high number we receive, we are unable to respond to all of those who are unsuccessful. 

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DNA Recruit deliver dynamic recruitment, search and talent solutions and provide insight, knowledge, and credible introductions necessary for client-side and agency roles. Areas we specialise in New Business, Account and Project Management, Strategy and Planning, Events, Experiential, Creative and User Experience Design, Technology, Product, Marketing and Data roles in permanent, contract and freelance recruitment, search and selection, talent advisory and consulting across the UK and globally.