Chief Operating Officer

ESOP Partners • Appleton, WI

47d • Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as the Integrator (operational second-in-command) responsible for translating the company’s strategic vision into disciplined execution across financial management, operations, talent development, and organizational alignment.
This role will scale ESOP Partners’ operations as the firm targets sustained growth, bringing structure, accountability, and performance management to the organization. The COO will partner closely with the President to build scalable systems, develop high-performing leaders, strengthen recruiting and onboarding, and reduce founder dependency while supporting a thoughtful leadership transition.
The COO plays a critical role in transforming ESOP Partners into a scalable, accountable, and high-performing professional services firm while preserving the firm’s mission of helping businesses succeed through employee ownership.

Requirements

• Strong operational leadership with the ability to scale professional service organizations.
• Proven ability to translate strategy into measurable execution and performance.
• Experience building cohesive, high-performing teams and developing leaders.
• Financial and business acumen with experience managing growth and operational efficiency.
• Strong communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance operational discipline with entrepreneurial agility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Management, or related field (MBA preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in people management, operations, consulting, or professional services environments.

Nice To Haves

• Experience implementing or operating in system frameworks such as EOS or similar systems preferred.
• Experience leading organizational growth, operational transformation, or scaling teams.
• None required; leadership, operational excellence, or management certifications are beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Translate strategic objectives into clear operational plans, priorities, and measurable outcomes.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs), dashboards, and operating rhythms that ensure accountability and progress toward growth targets.
• Operate in and refine usage of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to strengthen alignment and execution discipline.
• Build and mentor a strong leadership team capable of managing and scaling their respective functions and teams.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, and accountability across teams.
• Develop systems for recruiting, onboarding, and leadership development to support company growth.
• Partner with the President to ensure disciplined financial management, forecasting, and performance monitoring.
• Identify operational improvements that drive efficiency, scalability, and profitability.
• Support the firm’s goal of sustained year-over-year growth through operational excellence and high client satisfaction ratings.
• Lead the design and optimization of technology, systems, and workflows that improve efficiency and scalability.
• Drive innovation through automation, data visibility, and decision quality.
• Implement tools and processes that increase visibility into performance and decision-making.
• Promote process simplification, automation, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a trusted partner to the President, providing operational leadership, honest feedback, and strategic support.
• Support the transition of the founder to innovation and governance while strengthening organizational leadership.
• Reinforce ESOP Partners’ Core Values and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Strengthen communication, trust, and alignment across teams and functions.
• Advance the company’s mission and employee-ownership mindset while evolving the organization for growth.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees