Chief Operating Officer

ABOUT REPUBLIC LIVE

Republic Live is a privately-owned, internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning Canadian live entertainment company and venue owner of Burl's Creek Event Grounds. Republic Live takes pride in creating world-class, time of your life experiences and works with a multitude of partners on a variety of platforms to create unique experiences for fans, artists, industry partners and sponsors. Republic Live's flagship event is Boots and Hearts Music Festival, Canada's largest camping and country music festival held annually at Burt's Creek Event Grounds in Oro-Medonte, Ontario.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Republic Live is seeking an experienced, commercially driven Chief Operating Officer to lead business operations, strengthen financial performance, and help shape the company's continued growth in live music and entertainment.

Working closely with company ownership and departmental directors, the COO will provide strategic and operational leadership across Republic Live's portfolio of live events and venue operations.

This position combines the business leadership of a COO with significant financial and commercial responsibilities. The successful candidate will bring strong financial acumen, entrepreneurial thinking, and the ability to translate business opportunities into profitable outcomes.

This is a hands-on executive role for a leader who understands the economics of live entertainment, can challenge assumptions and evaluate new business opportunities, while managing financial and operational risk.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Business & Operational Leadership

• Lead company-wide business operations, working with departmental directors and leads to ensure effective planning, coordination, accountability, and execution.
• Oversee operational performance across live events, venue activities, production, ticketing, partnerships, and related business functions.
• Establish clear performance expectations, improve internal processes, and strengthen organizational efficiency.

Financial Leadership & Profitability

• Oversee financial planning, annual budgets, forecasting, cash flow, financial reporting, and financial controls.
• Analyze profitability across events and revenue streams, identify opportunities to increase margins, optimize costs, and improve financial performance.
• Evaluate significant expenditures, commercial commitments, and financial risks to ensure disciplined, profitable decision-making.
• Work with the finance team and external advisors to maintain sound financial management, reporting, and corporate compliance.

Commercial Strategy & Business Development

• Identify opportunities to grow revenue, improve existing business performance, and maximize the commercial potential of Republic Live's events and venue.
• Provide strategic input on ticketing economics, sponsorships, concessions, venue agreements, and other revenue-generating activities.

Corporate Oversight & Risk Management

• Oversee material commercial agreements, corporate insurance, regulatory exposure, and significant contractual obligations.
• Ensure appropriate financial and operational controls, approval processes, and risk-management practices.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Republic Live is seeking a strategic business leader with strong operational capabilities, financial expertise, and commercial judgment.

The successful candidate will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience in business operations, finance, commercial management, or a comparable executive position.
• Strong command of budgets, cash flow, profitability analysis, financial controls, commercial agreements and investment evaluation.
• Strong commercial instincts and experience evaluating business opportunities, investments, and growth initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead departmental managers, improve organizational performance, and drive accountability.
• Experience in live entertainment, festivals, venues, hospitality, sports, or other event-driven businesses is highly desirable.
• An entrepreneurial, collaborative leadership style with the ability to balance strategic thinking and practical execution.

THE IMPACT

This is an opportunity to help shape the operational, financial, and commercial direction of an established live entertainment business.

The COO will play a meaningful role in strengthening Republic Live's existing operations, improving profitability, evaluating opportunities, and supporting the company's continued evolution

We are looking for a leader who understands that successful live entertainment businesses require more than exceptional events - they require strong financial discipline, sound commercial judgment, and effective business leadership.