DEY. Ideas + Influence has partnered with Chaloner on their search for a Chief Operating Officer.

About DEY. Ideas + Influence

Do you have a passion for tackling humanity’s biggest challenges and a desire to be part of the team focused on issues such as climate change, health/science, artificial intelligence, technology for good, foreign policy, and global health? Are you excited by the opportunity to work alongside leading thinkers and visionary institutions to amplify transformative ideas and solutions? DEY. Ideas + Influence could be the place for you. We are looking for someone who is not only skilled but deeply curious about the world and motivated to contribute to meaningful progress.

DEY. partners with some of the world’s most influential organizations, authors, and thinkers to amplify their big ideas and help them make a meaningful impact in society. Our approach emphasizes quality over quantity, working with a curated list of clients that share a commitment to moving the needle on the global issues that vex humanity. Our diverse portfolio includes Nobel Prize winners, globally recognized NGOs, philanthropic organizations, innovative think tanks, and distinguished nonfiction authors. As a boutique firm, we pride ourselves on providing all client-facing team members, at every level, direct access to high-profile clients, including organizations like The World Bank, The Ford Foundation, The United Nations, MIT, The Gates Foundation, and Stanford Medicine.

Position Overview 

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of the senior leadership team who can partner with the CEO to lead the firm through its next phase of growth.You will be responsible for leading and optimizing DEY.'s internal operations and infrastructure. The COO will oversee day-to-day business operations, talent and HR functions, technology platforms, and internal systems to enable sustainable growth and support the agency's mission-driven work. 

This role requires a strategic operator with a deep understanding of PR agency environments and strong executional leadership. The position reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and does not have any direct reports at the moment.

Core Responsibilities 

Leadership

• Work closely with CEO on ongoing firm leadership and differentiation topics
• Drive strategic implementation and operational excellence by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technological adoption
• Serve as a thought leader on developing agency culture
• As a member of the leadership team, participate in ad hoc initiatives
• Manage any offsite or biannual company-wide meetings or events
• Collaborate with CEO on long-term operational strategy and goal setting

Operations & Infrastructure 

• Lead daily operational management, ensuring processes are efficient and scalable 
• Design and optimize internal processes and systems. Manage client contracts, vendor agreements, and resource planning in collaboration with CFO and legal support 
• Maintain and evolve a centralized process library to support consistent delivery across teams 
• Partner with account leads to help manage time tracking, assess delivery capacity and client team structure 
• Monitor quality assurance frameworks and client satisfaction signals in collaboration with Client Service Director 

People & Culture 

• Lead all HR operations including recruiting, onboarding, professional development, performance reviews, and compliance 
• Manage team documentation including job descriptions, compensation tracking, and the org chart 
• Oversee employee engagement, development initiatives, and DEI practices
• Supervise internal support roles such as interns, executive assistants, and contractors 

Strategic Enablement & Growth 

• Support business development through process oversight, proposal management, and pipeline tracking
• Oversee sales pipelines, pricing strategies, and account growth
• Lead agency marketing execution including case studies, award submissions, and newsletters 
• Monitor team utilization and capacity planning across client and internal projects 

Technology & Innovation 

• Oversee technology tools including project management, CRM, media databases, and file sharing platforms 
• Manage relationships with external IT vendors and ensure tech-readiness for new hires
• Promote AI adoption and support internal digital transformation 
• Develop and enforce IT and AI governance policies 

Skills and Qualifications 

• Minimum ten (10) years of professional experience, including at least five (5) years in an operations role at a PR, communications, or professional services firm 
• Proven ability to design and lead systems that support business scaling and team performance 
• Proven demonstration of strong business acumen and problem-solving skills
• Familiarity with tools such as Airtable, Asana, Muck Rack, HubSpot, and AI platforms 
• Based in the NYC metro area and available for a hybrid work model 

What Else You Should Know

• Location: The position is full-time and hybrid, NYC metro preferred
• Salary: The salary range for this position is $145,000 to $175,000
• Benefits: We offer a robust benefits package for full-time employees including paid time off; health, dental, vision, and disability insurance; 401k with company match; annual gym membership/fitness classes stipend; CitiBike membership (NYC only); annual curiosity stipend for books, exhibitions etc.; and an employee referral bonus.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor, or take over sponsorship of, employment visas at this time. 

Interested candidates should apply by using the application form. Chaloner will review all applicants and, upon qualification, contact you to determine next steps.