Operations Lead - at Wally Des Plaines, Illinois

Wally Operations Manager

Location: Chicago (3 studios, multi-site) Compensation: $80k-$100k: 0.01%-0.05% Equity

About Wally

We're Wally, a fast-growing start-up building the future of dental care - giving the power back to patients and clinicians. We're uprooting the dental industry with innovative Swiss technology, unlimited cleanings and whitening, and affordable memberships. The result: No more getting drilled by a dentist again. We're expanding beyond the Northeast and launching in Chicago and we need a sharp, scrappy operator to help us build it right from day one.

The Role

This is a ground-floor opportunity to own operations across Wally's first three Chicago studios. You'll be equal parts hospitality lead, logistics operator, and market builder, making sure members have a seamless experience while keeping the studios running at full capacity. As the market grows, so does this role.

What You'll Work On

• Studio Operations & Standards
• Own day-to-day operations across Chicago studios. This includes leading teams, facilities, equipment, inventory, and brand standards
• Manage vendor relationships, supply budgets, and maintenance schedules to minimize downtime
• Be the boots-on-the-ground point person that keeps the studios running smoothly.

• Schedule & Member Experience
• Own schedule utilization ensuring studios are fully booked and members can get appointments when they need them
• Serve as a front-line escalation point for complex member situations, turning friction into delight
• Analyze member feedback to identify and fix pain points in the Chicago member journey

• Market Expansion
• Support studio launches through coordinating equipment, inventory, and operational systems so every location opens at Wally standards
• Build and document Chicago-specific processes and playbooks that can scale as the market grows
• Partner closely with NYC ops leadership to adapt systems for a new market context

• Market Growth & Activation
• Partner with Wally's growth team to execute local activations, events, and partnerships in market
• Be the boots-on-the-ground executor for growth initiatives, ensuring they land seamlessly in Chicago
• Serve as the local eyes and ears, feeding real-time member and community feedback back to the growth team

Who You Are

• 2-4 years in operations, hospitality, retail, or consulting
• Comfortable being the only ops person in the market - resourceful and self-directed
• Strong communicator, both with members and cross-functional teams
• Data-driven with solid Excel/analytical skills
• Calm under pressure, solutions-oriented, and genuinely hospitality-minded
• Excited to build something from scratch, not just maintain what exists

What We Offer

• Equity + competitive salary
• Health insurance
• Direct mentorship from Wally's Senior Leadership
• A real ownership opportunity in a market you'll help define

How to Apply: Submit your application and email your resume to View email address on click.appcast.io with a note on why you want to help build Wally's first market outside of the Northeast.