NOTE: This is a Chicago-based role, not remote.
Mainland is a 18-year growth-focused marketing and public relations agency serving franchise and multi-unit brands. We specialize in disciplined storytelling, performance-driven strategy, and operational excellence.
As we scale, we are strengthening our leadership spine and building a more institutional, execution-driven organization. We are hiring a Chicago-based Chief Operating Officer to anchor in-office leadership, elevate performance, and protect execution across the company.
This is not a symbolic COO role. This is an execution and accountability role.
The Role
The COO will serve as the Integrator of the organization — translating vision into execution and ensuring performance standards are upheld across all portfolios and delivery teams.
You will oversee:
• Portfolio performance (revenue, margin, client health)
• Account leadership discipline
• Delivery team execution (PR, Content, Digital)
• Recruiting and talent development
• Operational systems and infrastructure
• In-office leadership culture
The CEO focuses on vision, growth, partnerships, and strategy. You own execution.
Core Responsibilities
1. Leadership & Accountability
- Directly manage Portfolio Leads and Operations Managers
- Run weekly executive KPI reviews
- Enforce standards around deadlines, scope, and performance
- Address underperformance quickly and professionally
- Build leadership density in the Chicago office
2. Portfolio & Revenue Oversight
- Monitor revenue and margin performance by portfolio
- Ensure client retention and service consistency
- Identify growth and risk areas early
- Protect scope discipline and delivery predictability
3. Delivery Excellence
- Oversee PR, Content, and Digital performance
- Ensure capacity planning and workflow discipline
- Implement systems that eliminate recurring operational breakdowns
4. Recruiting & Talent Infrastructure
- Own leadership hiring process
- Build structured onboarding and 30-60-90 plans
- Develop high performers and address low performers
5. Operational Systems
- Strengthen internal systems (Accelo and reporting dashboards)
- Improve process clarity and cross-team communication
- Eliminate inefficiencies and unnecessary founder dependency
What Success Looks Like (First 6–12 Months)
- Deadlines are consistently met
- Portfolio margin improves
- High performers feel supported and elevated
- Underperformance is addressed swiftly
- Founder is removed from day-to-day enforcement
- Chicago office becomes the leadership center of gravity
Ideal Profile
- 8+ years leading operations in a professional services, agency, or consulting environment
- Experience managing 25–75 person teams
- Strong track record of enforcing accountability without creating drama
- Comfortable having difficult performance conversations
- Operationally disciplined and systems-oriented
- High emotional intelligence with strong backbone
- Comfortable working in-office 3+ days per week (Chicago-based required)
Experience in agency, marketing services, or franchise-related industries is strongly preferred.
Compensation
Competitive executive compensation aligned with experience.
Performance-based incentives tied to company growth and margin improvement.
Why This Role Matters
This is a pivotal hire. We are building an institutional firm — one that performs consistently whether the founder is in the room or not. If you are energized by structure, clarity, accountability, and building high-performing teams — we want to speak with you.
