Chief Operating Officer (Chicago, IL)

Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals, INC.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public-sector benefits

Job summary

The Illinois International Port District in Chicago seeks an experienced Chief Operating Officer to lead day-to-day port operations within a landlord port model. The COO will coordinate with maritime terminal operators, tenants, rail providers, and logistics partners to support business development and cargo growth.

The role requires strong leadership, financial acumen, and regulatory expertise to manage safety, FTZ operations, and infrastructure across IIPD’s 1,800-acre port system in a

Qualifications

• 5+ years of senior leadership experience in port, maritime, logistics, or industrial real estate
• Experience with landlord port authorities and third-party terminal operators
• Proven success in business development, cargo growth, and tenant relations
• Strong operational, financial, and regulatory expertise

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day port operations within a landlord port model
• Coordinate with maritime terminal operators, tenants, rail providers, and logistics partners
• Lead capital planning, budgeting, and infrastructure management
• Support business development, cargo growth, and real estate utilization
• Ensure safety and regulatory compliance across operations

Skills

Port operations oversight

Leadership & people management

Regulatory compliance

Business development

Financial management

Landlord port authority experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Tools

ERP systems

Cargo management systems

Job description

TheIllinois International Port District (IIPD)is seeking an experiencedChief Operating Officerto help lead one of the Midwest’s most strategic multimodal port and logistics systems.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Reporting to the Executive Director, the COO will oversee day-to‑day port operations within alandlord port model, coordinating with maritime terminal operators, tenants, rail providers, and logistics partners—while supporting business development, cargo growth, and real estate utilization across IIPD’s 1,800-acre port system.

KEY FOCUS AREAS

• Port and maritime operations oversight
• Tenant coordination and landlord asset management
• Business development and cargo attraction
• Safety, regulatory compliance, and FTZ operations
• Capital planning, budgeting, and infrastructure management
• Leadership of operational teams in a public-sector environment

IDEAL CANDIDATES BRING:

• 5+ years of senior leadership experience in port, maritime, logistics, or industrial real estate
• Experience with landlord port authorities and third-party terminal operators
• Proven success in business development, cargo growth, and tenant relations
• Strong operational, financial, and regulatory expertise
• Competitive compensation and public-sector benefits

The Illinois International Port District is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates.