Chief Operating Officer

Dealteam; Illinois; On-site; USD 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Job summary

DealTeam, a multi-location Midwest specialty retailer, is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to drive growth while preserving the unique culture. The COO will guide operational discipline, lead a professional management team, and expand the business beyond reliance on a few long-tenured individuals.

You will oversee operating performance, build leadership depth, and spearhead the development of e-commerce and AI-enabled reporting across locations to scale the business effectively.

Qualifications

• Proven track record revitalizing a retail business and driving revenue growth.
• Experience leading multi-location retail with P&L, merchandising and marketing accountability.
• Fluency with AI and e-commerce, and willingness to implement both.

Responsibilities

• Own operating and financial performance across multiple locations: revenue, margin, labor, inventory and cash.
• Build the next generation of leadership by recruiting key leaders and developing the team.
• Lead store and category audits, and launch new categories and product lines.
• Build an e-commerce capability from the ground up and implement scalable AI tools.
• Strengthen brands and marketing across stores and channels.
• Lead from the front during peak seasons and hand leadership off to store leaders.

Skills

P&L accountability

Multi-location leadership

E-commerce fluency

AI literacy

Change management

Job description

Chief Operating Officer | Multi-Location Specialty Retail | Midwest

About the Company

DealTeam is working with a multi-generational, family-owned specialty retailer in the Midwest, known for garden, home décor and seasonal holiday shopping. The business has 150+ employees, many of whom have been with the company for decades because of its great culture. That same culture keeps a loyal customer base coming back year after year.

The business operates multiple locations, anchored by a large destination flagship store. Its stores offer a curated, constantly evolving mix of plants, home décor, gifts and seasonal merchandise. The company is entering its next stage of growth, including adding new categories, building the e-commerce platform and building our the leadership team.

Role Overview

The COO will lead the business into its next generation. The goal is to keep what makes it special while building the structure, leadership bench and operating discipline needed to grow. That means moving the business beyond reliance on a few long-tenured individuals toward a professional management team with clear accountability.

What You’ll Do

• Own operating and financial performance across all locations: revenue, margin, labor, inventory and cash.
• Build the next generation of leadership by recruiting key leaders, developing the existing team, and building out the processes the business runs on.
• Lead a store and category audit, and launch new categories and product lines.
• Build an e-commerce capability from the ground up.
• Put in place the systems, reporting and AI tools the business needs to run and scale.
• Strengthen the brands and marketing across every store and channel.
• Lead from the front during the holiday peak, on the floor when it counts, while building store leaders you can hand that off to.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• A proven track record revitalizing a retail business and driving significant revenue growth.
• A strong retail COO first. Experience in home improvement, garden center or adjacent specialty retail is a plus.
• Multi-location retail leadership with P&L, merchandising and marketing accountability.
• Fluency with AI and e-commerce, and a willingness to implement both.
• Introduces systems patiently and brings a long-tenured team along rather than forcing change.
• Hands-on and willing to roll up their sleeves, more grounded than corporate polish.
• Committed to a 5 to 10 year tenure and willing to relocate.

The Opportunity

This is a chance to lead the next chapter of a respected family business with a strong culture and loyal customers. For the right long-term leader, the role includes an equity ownership stake.