Chief Operating Officer (COO)

About InkuPlay

InkuPlay is an expanding company in the esports and gaming sector, dedicated to developing brands, teams, competitive formats, and digital experiences that engage players, fans, creators, and partners. Our vision is to cultivate esports not just as a competition but as a scalable entertainment and community ecosystem.

Role Overview

We are seeking a dynamic operational leader to take charge of our operational management, build structures, align business units, and drive the execution of our strategic objectives throughout this growth phase.

Key Responsibilities

• Assume comprehensive operational responsibility for InkuPlay's day-to-day activities.
• Design scalable frameworks for esports teams, tournaments, leagues, events, and community initiatives.
• Translate corporate strategies into specific targets, budgets, roadmaps, and clearly defined responsibilities.
• Coordinate collaboration among team management, coaching, talent management, content, marketing, sales, partnerships, finance, and operations departments.
• Ensure alignment between athletic performance, media production, and commercial goals.
• Develop standards and operational processes for players, coaches, creators, freelancers, and external partners.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor team performance, audience reach, community growth, partner activation, revenue, and profitability.
• Manage budgeting, financial forecasting, resource allocation, and operational cost oversight.
• Identify and proactively mitigate risks in areas including team availability, tournament scheduling, contract management, travel planning, and partner commitments.
• Support the formation of new teams, titles, markets, and business models.
• Collaborate with the commercial team to advance existing sponsorship and brand partnership initiatives.
• Ensure reliable execution of commitments made to sponsors, publishers, event organizers, and other partners.
• Develop effective leadership and reporting structures.
• Serve as a key strategic partner to the executive management and lead cross-functional critical projects.

Candidate Profile and Qualifications

• Proven extensive leadership experience in operational roles such as COO, General Manager, Head of Operations, or Head of Esports.
• Prior involvement in esports organizations, gaming agencies, leagues, event management, media companies, or digital growth enterprises is preferred.
• Deep understanding of the esports ecosystem dynamics and comprehensive knowledge of stakeholders including players, teams, publishers, tournament operators, platforms, fans, and sponsors.
• Demonstrated skills in establishing and scaling teams, processes, and organizational structures.
• Strong grasp of esports business models, sponsorships, media rights, content creation, merchandising, events, and community monetization strategies.
• Aptitude to balance competitive ambitions with financial and business needs.
• Analytical, entrepreneurial mindset with a solution-focused approach.
• Effective prioritization capabilities, maintaining clarity in fast-paced environments.
• Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and KPI-driven management.
• Clear, confident, and professional communication skills in both German and English.
• Willingness to take responsibility and engage hands-on operationally when necessary.
• A genuine passion for gaming, esports, and digital communities.

Preferred Additional Experience

• Handling multiple esports titles or teams simultaneously.
• Working with tournament organizers, publishers, or league operators.
• Managing international teams and remote working setups.
• Coordinating player and talent contracts.
• Executing sponsorship activations and partner campaigns.
• Leading esports organizations through growth or professionalization phases.

Benefits and Work Environment

• A central leadership position with direct impact on InkuPlay's development.
• Extensive freedom to shape our esports structures.
• Close cooperation with executive management, teams, talents, and partners.
• Short decision-making pathways and entrepreneurial work culture.
• A dynamic workplace at the intersection of competition, gaming, content, community, and entertainment.
• Flexible working arrangements and autonomy in work execution.
• Opportunity to co-create new teams, formats, and business domains from their inception.
• Competitive compensation and long-term career development opportunities.
• Potential for equity participation depending on role design.