Chief Operations Officer; Liquor EXP

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Whiskey

D — Chief Operations Officer (COO), Dark Store & Retail Rollout

Equity Position | National Premium-Spirits Rollout | Backed by Emerald SIG

Compensation:
Equity + Competitive package

Sector:
Retail Operations, Logistics, Alcohol Compliance, Dark Stores, Multi-State Expansion

About WhiskeyD

Whiskey

D is a fast-scaling premium spirits platform built to solve one of the most complex challenges in U.S. e-commerce: how to legally, efficiently, and profitably sell liquor online at national scale.

The business is incubated by Emerald SIG, a U.S.

-based venture builder and investment group focused on backing and developing early-stage e-commerce opportunities with high-growth potential. With Emerald SIG’s operational and financial support, Whiskey

D is now ready for its next major stage of expansion: a nationwide network of legally compliant, high-margin dark stores supported by a proprietary technology stack.

The founding team covers investment, technology, digital marketing, compliance architecture, and national e-commerce strategy. We are now seeking a senior U.S. operator to own and scale the physical store network, lead the next stage of the capital raise, and become a founding-level leader in a uniquely positioned category disruptor.

Your Role: COO (Dark Stores & Retail Operations)

You will be responsible for building and operating the entire physical infrastructure of the business.

- Lead site selection, licensing, build-out, staffing, and launch of dark stores in Florida, Texas, California, New York and additional states.

- Build scalable, compliant processes for receiving, stocking, picking, packing, and delivery.

- Implement operational systems across all stores and ensure statewide legal compliance.

- Identify acquisition targets with strong unit economics.

- Lead due diligence, license transition, supplier contracts, and operational integration.

- Convert retail stores into hybrid fulfillment/retail hubs.

- Manage distributor relationships and negotiate favorable terms.

- Ensure accurate inventory, shrinkage control, and operational SOPs.

- Oversee state-by-state regulatory requirements in collaboration with compliance support.

- Recruit store managers, warehouse teams, compliance coordinators, and logistics personnel.

- Establish KPIs, dashboards, operational metrics, and multi-unit governance frameworks.

- Support the founders and Emerald SIG in fundraising, investor discussions, and operational modelling.

- Present rollout plans, cost structures, and operational readiness to investors.

Required

• 7+ years senior operations experience in at least one of:
  • alcohol retail or beverage distribution
  • last-mile logistics (Gopuff, Door Dash, Amazon Fresh, Instacart)
  • regulated consumer retail (pharma, tobacco, gaming)
• Strong knowledge of—or ability to rapidly master—U.S. alcohol licensing, distributor networks, and three-tier compliance.
• Experience launching or scaling multi-location operations.
• Financial and operational fluency (P&L ownership, budgets, labor modelling).
• Strong leadership and execution capability.

Bonus

• Prior role in venture-backed operations or involvement in fundraising.
• Existing relationships with distributors in TX, FL, CA, NY.
• Spirits category knowledge (premium, allocated, rare products).

• Meaningful equity in a high-growth, high-margin e-commerce/retail hybrid.
• A leadership role in a venture-incubated business with proven technology and validated unit economics.
• Opportunity to architect a national operational footprint from day one.
• Long-term growth into COO / President of U.S. operations as the network scales.

• Executive

• Full-time

• Management and Manufacturing
• Retail