Operations Lead - Chicago

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. 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 #J-18808-Ljbffr