Chief of Staff to CEO, [startup / scaleup X] 

Summary 

[Startup / Scaleup X] is looking for a Chief of Staff to provide the CEO with leverage and help the company deliver on its ambitious plans for growth. Reporting directly to the CEO, this full-time role will be instrumental in providing strategic support across execution, leadership, and special projects, serving as a critical component of the leadership team.

Compensation for this position is in the region of £100,000 per annum, with potential performance-related bonuses and equity in the business, depending on experience.

Key role responsibilities 

Strategic Prioritisation & Execution

• Collaborate with the leadership team to define, prioritise, and oversee the execution of critical strategic initiatives.

• Lead the end-to-end OKR (Objectives and Key Results) process, ensuring robust goal setting, diligent monitoring, and successful achievement.

• Design and manage the cadence of leadership and company-wide meetings, ensuring clear objectives, optimal attendance, structured agendas, and actionable follow-ups.

Strategy & Insights

• Act as a trusted strategic advisor to the CEO, providing objective counsel and support on critical decisions.

• Equip the leadership team with timely and relevant market insights to inform strategic planning.

• Orchestrate and facilitate high-impact collaborative sessions, including off-sites and quarterly prioritisation exercises.

Leadership Support

• Support in the preparation of cross-functional presentations, including strategic plans, investor updates, and all-hands communications.

• Coordinate comprehensive board meetings, managing agendas, attendee logistics, material preparation, pre-reading distribution, and follow-up actions.

• Provide first-level screening and prioritisation of the CEO's external communications (emails, social media).

• Serve as a key liaison, fostering seamless communication and collaboration between the CEO and the broader organisation.

• Draft and cascade impactful internal communications to ensure company-wide alignment and transparency.

Special Projects & Interim Leadership (if time permits) 

• Initiate and lead early-stage cross-functional projects, such as strategic partnerships, corporate development opportunities, and new business line explorations.

• Support the HR lead in talent acquisition for senior-level roles, from crafting compelling job descriptions to designing rigorous case studies.

• Step into interim leadership roles for key functional areas (e.g., HR, Finance, Legal) as needed, ensuring continuity and progress.

Experience required

Essential

• 6+ years of professional experience 

• 3+ years in management consulting, or similar fast paced analytical roles

• Project management experience, including leading cross-functional projects

• Experience at a rapidly growing start-up or scale-up 

• 2:1 degree or higher in a STEM subject from a top-tier university 

• Ability to teach yourself new skills fast

Desirable

• Degree relevant for the company/industry 

• Experience relevant for the company/industry 

• MBA

• Data analysis experience for the purposes of financial forecasting and decision making

• Previous Chief of Staff or Head of Operations experience 

Likely personality traits 

• Ambitious & Results-Oriented: Laser-focused on exceeding targets and driving impactful outcomes.

• Entrepreneurial & Proactive: A self-starter with an inherent entrepreneurial spirit, capable of independently setting and advancing ambitious agendas.

• Strategic Problem Solver: Possesses a strong track record of dissecting complex challenges and implementing effective solutions, ideally gained in a startup or strategy consulting context.

• Highly Organised & Productive: An expert in prioritisation, obsessed with optimising processes and operational efficiency.

• Analytical & Numerate: Adept at deriving deep, actionable insights from data sets.

• Focused & Resilient: Capable of navigating complex and ambiguous situations with composure and adaptability.

• Collaborative & Communicative: Empathetic and skilled at building strong relationships across all organisational levels, with exceptional communication abilities.

• Discreet & Trustworthy: Proven experience handling highly confidential information and sensitive projects with the utmost integrity.