This position is open to candidates in/near Los Angeles or New York City.
Position Summary:
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Elle Communications will be responsible for driving business growth through client acquisition, management, and retention while overseeing the company’s daily operations. In this critical role, the COO will focus on developing and nurturing key client relationships, ensuring exceptional service delivery, and expanding the agency’s client portfolio. As a key member of the executive team, the COO will collaborate with the CEO, Dolphin Entertainment’s CFO, HR, and legal teams, and department heads to align operational strategies with client needs, optimize internal processes, and ensure financial sustainability. This position offers the opportunity to lead already well-established operations, with a focus on refining and improving existing systems to enhance efficiency and growth. The individual in this role will be instrumental in delivering on client expectations, enhancing satisfaction, and contributing to the agency's long-term success.
Key Areas of Responsibilities:
Business Strategy & Growth:
- Collaborate with the CEO and executive team to define and execute the company’s long-term strategic objectives.
- Identify new business opportunities, partnerships, and revenue streams.
- Manage key client relationships and ensure overall client satisfaction and retention.
Financial Oversight:
- Develop annual budgets in collaboration with the Dolphin Entertainment CFO and monitor financial performance.
- Analyze revenue streams, operational costs, and profitability metrics.
- Implement cost-control measures and ensure efficient resource use.
Team Leadership & Development:
- Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performance work environment.
- Lead recruitment efforts for senior roles and ensure continuous professional development for staff.
- Mentor department heads and establish clear KPIs and performance evaluation systems.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for both Elle and Dolphin’s HR teams in collaboration with CEO and President
Client Services & Quality Assurance:
- Oversee quality control for client-facing deliverables and campaigns.
- Implement feedback mechanisms to ensure client satisfaction and service improvement.
- Ensure all client objectives are achieved.
Technology & Innovation:
- Identify and implement new technologies to streamline agency operations.
- Foster a culture of innovation by encouraging new ideas, tools, and methodologies.
- Ensure cybersecurity, data privacy, and compliance with legal requirements.
Risk Management & Compliance:
- Develop and enforce company policies, procedures, and legal compliance measures.
- Identify potential risks in operational procedures and implement mitigation strategies.
- Ensure adherence to industry regulations and ethical PR practices.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all legal matters for Elle Communications and liaise with the Dolphin Entertainment legal team as necessary.
Operational Leadership:
- Develop and implement operational strategies to optimize workflows across all departments.
- Oversee resource allocation and project management systems to ensure client deliverables are on time and within budget.
EXPECTATIONS
- Strategic Planning: You develop and execute strategic plans with a long-term vision, focusing on expanding the business and fostering organizational health. You create strategies that drive efficiency, effectiveness, and continuous improvement within existing operations, while also enhancing client satisfaction and growth. Your plans will be built around managing a division of clients and teammates, ensuring the alignment of business objectives with client needs.
- Financial & Business Acumen: You leverage people, technology, legal resources, and data to achieve business outcomes. You use data-driven insights to inform decisions, and you actively identify and implement best practices to increase profitability and social impact. Your ability to manage both financial performance and operational processes will play a key role in the success of client divisions under your leadership.
- Build Talent: You foster a culture of support across the organization by building strong relationships with both clients and internal teams. You’re skilled at navigating challenging situations and facilitating productive outcomes, paying attention to the cultural impact of your leadership. You respect the diversity of thought and recognize the value of healthy tension in the creative process, encouraging a balance of differing perspectives. You lead a division of clients and teammates, mentoring them to achieve both individual and collective success.
- Drive Collaboration: You lead your teams toward effective cooperation and collaboration, ensuring smooth cross-functional communication and alignment with client goals. By promoting an open exchange of ideas and diverse viewpoints, you create a collaborative environment that engages everyone involved. When conflicts arise, you manage them constructively to maintain a positive and productive team dynamic while ensuring client satisfaction remains a priority.
- New Business Development & Client Oversight: You will actively drive an ongoing pipeline of new business by identifying and securing new client opportunities, while ensuring the successful onboarding and management of the clients you bring in. Your role will involve balancing the acquisition of new business with the ongoing oversight of existing client relationships, ensuring both client satisfaction and the continued growth of the agency. You'll foster long-term relationships and continuously look for opportunities to expand services to meet evolving client needs.
Requirements:
- (Preferred) Bachelor's or Master's degree in business administration, marketing, or a related field.
- 10+ years of experience in PR agency operations.
- Proven track record in developing and implementing successful strategic plans.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Strong business development skills with a history of successful client projects. Optional: the opportunity to bring current clients with you into our company.
- Ability to manage budgets, staff, and multiple projects simultaneously.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to manage conflict
- Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with clients and industry leaders.
- Ability to stay up-to-date with industry trends and new technologies.
- Strong understanding of social and environmental impact, sustainability, and corporate responsibility.
- Based in or near LA or NYC office
DISCLAIMER
The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.
All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.
Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.
