Chief of Staff Job Description Template (Free, 2026)

Job Title: Chief of Staff Department: Executive / Office of the CEO Location: [City, State] — Hybrid or On-site Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Employment Type: Full-Time About [Company] [Company] is a [stage/industry] company on a mission to [mission statement]. We operate across [geographies/verticals] and are scaling rapidly — our team has grown from [X] to [Y] employees in the past [Z] years. We move fast, think structurally, and invest heavily in our leadership team. About the Role The Chief of Staff serves as a force multiplier for the CEO, owning the operating rhythm of the executive office and ensuring that strategic priorities translate into accountable, measurable outcomes. This is not a shadow role — you will own critical workstreams, represent the CEO in key forums, and have direct authority over cross-functional initiatives. You will thrive here if you combine rigorous analytical thinking with exceptional interpersonal influence and a bias for action. Key Responsibilities • Own the CEO's operating cadence: prepare board decks, leadership offsites, and all-hands materials that communicate strategy clearly and compellingly. • Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives from scoping through execution, tracking milestones and escalating blockers proactively. • Act as the CEO's proxy in internal and external meetings — synthesize outcomes, assign owners, and ensure follow-through. • Maintain a real-time view of company-wide OKRs; surface risks and opportunities to the CEO weekly. • Draft, review, and improve executive communications including investor updates, company-wide announcements, and board correspondence. • Partner with People/HR to drive leadership hiring, onboarding, and succession planning for director+ roles. • Manage the CEO's priorities and time allocation, shielding them from low-leverage activities while ensuring high-stakes items receive sufficient attention. • Build and maintain relationships with key internal stakeholders (VPs, department heads) to ensure alignment on shared goals. • Lead special projects — market assessments, M&A due diligence support, new market entry analysis — as assigned by the CEO. • Develop and maintain the organizational governance framework, including decision rights, escalation paths, and meeting structures. Required Qualifications • 7+ years of progressive experience in strategy, management consulting, investment banking, or a high-growth operating role. • Demonstrated track record of driving complex, cross-functional projects to successful completion. • Exceptional written and verbal communication; able to distill complex information into crisp executive narratives. • Strong analytical skills — comfortable building financial models, interpreting data, and making data-driven recommendations. • High emotional intelligence; proven ability to influence without formal authority across all levels of an organization. • Bachelor's degree required; MBA or equivalent graduate degree strongly preferred. Nice to Have • Prior Chief of Staff or strategy/operations lead experience at a company with 200+ employees. • Experience supporting a CEO through a fundraising round, acquisition, or IPO process. • Familiarity with the [industry] landscape and competitive dynamics. • Experience with OKR software (Lattice, Workboard, or similar). What We Offer • Base salary: $130,000 – $200,000 depending on experience • Annual performance bonus: up to 20% of base • Equity participation (stock options or RSUs) • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance • 401(k) with [X]% company match • Flexible PTO policy + [X] company holidays • Learning & development budget: $[X]/year • Direct access to the CEO and the full executive leadership team