Chief Operating Officer (COO) / Co-Founder

Gumtree Golf & Nature Club
New York, NY (Hybrid) - Full Time + Equity

About Gumtree Golf & Nature Club – A fresh-air perspective on golf.

Gumtree Golf & Nature Club (GGNC) is an emerging lifestyle brand at the intersection of golf, nature, design, and cinematic storytelling. Based in Brooklyn, New York and expanding globally, GGNC creates handcrafted, sustainable & one-of-a-kind releases upcycled from found textiles for golf and nature enthusiasts. As well as partnerships, films, and premium experiences inspired by the places where golf and the natural world meet.

In three years GGNC has scaled from a one-person side project to one of the fastest growing and exciting brands in the golf space. With earned media features in everything from Good Morning America & Forbes to Hypebeast & Complex as well as golf staples like Golf Digest & Skratch – proving GGNC is the true model at the correction of culture, fashion and golf. We are in a category of one.

We are now entering our next phase: scaling from a one-person creative engine into a well-run, investor-ready company with disciplined operations, a clear growth plan, and a long-term brand vision.

Gumtree Golf & Nature Club has the potential to be a multi-million dollar truly global brand in the next 24 months through a pipeline of creative lead earned media worthy products, brand partnerships, global wholesale and luxury in-person events.

To do that, we’re looking for a true partner in this business, not just an employee, to join as a Co-Founder/Chief Operating Officer, with meaningful equity and a shared mandate to build this company for the long haul.

You’d be working hand in hand with CEO / Chief Creative Officer & Founder Karsten Jurkschat and would be joining a company where the creative engine is the strategic differentiator. You’d build and own the machine that brings it all to life.

Role Overview

The COO / Co-Founder will architect and manage the operational, financial, and business foundation of Gumtree. You’ll turn creativity into profitability, ideas into systems, and momentum into a scalable, durable business.

This role is equal parts builder, operator, strategist, and co-founder.

CEO / Chief Creative Officer & Founder (Karsten Jurkschat) owns:

  • Brand strategy, identity, tone and ethos

  • Storytelling and overall creative direction

  • Brand design and photography

  • Campaign architecture

  • Earned + PR strategy

  • Founder-led storytelling

  • Big brand partnerships and major collabs

  • Product vision and new product development

  • Long-term roadmap and overall direction

  • High-level sales and market positioning

  • Fundraising and investors conversations

  • Culture and leadership philosophy

  • Major strategic decisions (pricing, distribution, brand evolution)

We’re looking for a COO who builds and owns the machine that brings it all to life.

As the CCO/Co-Founder of GGNC you’ll own:

  • Operations

  • Finance

  • Supply chain

  • Forecasting/modeling

  • Systems and planning

  • Growth strategy

  • Fundraising and investors conversations

  • Development of new revenue channels, including wholesale.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

  • Build the operating system of the company from the ground up.

  • Create structure with workflows, SOPs etc

  • Own the annual and quarterly operating plan.

Finance

  • Build and manage all financial models, budgets, operating forecasts, and investor-ready projections.

  • Maintain clean books, cash flow, inventory valuation, and profitability reporting.

  • Develop margin, pricing, and cost strategies for existing and future products.

  • Present financial performance and growth strategy alongside the Founder during investor conversations.

Product, Supply Chain & Logistics

  • Manage and systemize sourcing, sampling, production, quality control, timelines & costs

  • Create the internal calendar for product drops and long-range planning.

  • Optimize cost of goods, shipping and fulfillment while preserving brand quality.

Wholesale Program Development

  • Research global wholesale opportunities (golf retailers, specialty shops, lifestyle boutiques in the US Europe & Asia-Pacific).

  • Build wholesale strategy: margin structure, terms, distribution model, order cycles and B2B systems.

  • Create a scalable pipeline and launch the first season of wholesale partners.

  • Ensure wholesale aligns with brand identity and premium positioning.

Creative Production Operations

  • Plan and manage creative production budgets, schedules, freelancers and successful project execution.

Investor, Partnership & Growth Strategy

  • Build the investor data numbers, financial pack, KPIs, and long-term business case.

  • Co-own investor outreach, fundraising conversations, and due diligence.

  • Co-own exploring and validating new revenue opportunities: media, events, memberships, retail, licensing.

Hiring & Team Building

  • Co-own the future org chart and hiring plan.

  • Co-own recruiting of early contract-based talent (ops assistant, social media manager, product manager, studio manager etc).

  • Co-own internal culture with a strong operational backbone and a deep respect for creativity and sustainability.


What success looks like:

  • The brand and creative engine led by Karsten is amplified, not slowed

  • Creative and product vision turns into clear profitability.

  • We can take on more project, partnerships and opportunities because there is operational clarity and efficiency.

  • The business runs on systems, not just hustle.

  • Growth is smooth, predictable, and financially responsible.

  • The CEO/CCO is focused on storytelling, brand, product, and strategic growth—not chasing suppliers or fixing logistics.

Is the nature club right for you?

We’re well positioned in this growing marking for some big big few years ahead. We’re looking for something that lives and breathes the essence of this brand, believes in the mission and can see the path forward to bring it to life together. We’re looking for someone to match our founder's creative experience and industry reputation on the business side.

  • You have 6–12+ years experience in operations, finance, supply chain, or GM roles in consumer/lifestyle brands (golf/outdoor/apparel is a bonus).

  • Fluent in financial modeling, forecasting, and cost analysis.

  • A builder: you enjoy the early stages, where systems don’t yet exist and you get to create them.

  • Calm, analytical, and organized — a counterbalance to a high-output creative founder.

  • Someone who cares about excellence, detail, and nature-driven storytelling.

  • Entrepreneurial. You want ownership, equity, responsibility and to be a part of something that’s yours. Not just a paycheck.

  • You want to build a company from the ground up and leave a legacy

Apply Now