Chief of Staff

Worker Type

Job Description

 

Summary

The Chief of Staff to the CEO is a high-impact, strategic role responsible for driving operational excellence, ensuring follow-through on executive projects and initiatives, and acting as an extension of the CEO across a dynamic, fast-paced, mission-driven organization. This individual contributor role requires a highly organized, well-spoken, and strong willed professional, who can manage multiple projects and tasks within the CEO office, while building strong relationships with the rest of the CEO staff.  The Chief of Staff partners closely with all the senior leaders across the company to support the CEO in meetings, internal and external communications, and project and individual task execution.

This position is based in either Simi Valley, CA or Washington D.C.

Position Responsibilities

• Follows through on all the tasks and action items, which come out of any meeting or engagement the CEO participates.
• Drives forward key actions from weekly, monthly and quarterly staff & off-site meetings, ensuring completion and alignment across the executive team.
• Develops and maintains tools, processes, and cadences to ensure strategic initiatives and CEO office projects progress to completion with clear ownership, timelines, follow ups, and status reporting.
• Prepares CEO meeting agendas, presentation material, and coordinates leadership schedules.  Ensures briefing materials and data are accurate, timely, and professional.
• Sometimes, represents the CEO in meetings or events where there is a schedule conflict, while providing continuity and follow-up.
• Reviews and approves lower-level operational items (e.g. capital requisitions, purchase requisitions, etc.) on behalf of the CEO with sound judgment and attention to detail.
• Crafts and manages high-level written communications, including follow-up emails, external letters, and executive correspondence to customers, industry leaders, partners, and heads of state.
• Proactively monitors organizational dynamics, identifies risks and opportunities, and advises the CEO on where to focus attention or escalate issues.
• Serves as a professional and persistent driver of progress across the executive team, helping maintain a high-tempo operating rhythm.
• Maintains absolute discretion and demonstrates strong judgment, presence, and integrity in all engagements.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, English, Journalism, Engineering, Public Policy, Government, History, or a related field; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.
• 5 to 10 years of progressive experience in project management, business strategy, operations, management consulting, or executive-level support roles.
• Demonstrated experience working with or supporting senior executive leadership.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with a proven ability to create structure, processes, dashboard, and tool within a large technology, engineering, and manufacturing company.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with experience drafting high-level correspondence and messaging (internal and external).
• Ability to work at a fast pace, manage multiple priorities, and stay composed and effective under pressure.
• High degree of emotional intelligence and situational awareness; Able to read the room and adapt accordingly.
• Comfort operating in complex, technical, or defense/aerospace-related environments.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Experience in the aerospace & defense, federal government, or high-tech sectors is preferred.
• Previous experience in a Chief of Staff or similar strategic advisor role is a strong plus.
• Ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across senior-level stakeholders without causing damage.
• Strong initiative, ownership mentality, and bias toward action.
• High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in work product.
• Displays leadership, collaboration, and a team-first mindset.
• Comfortable holding others accountable and pushing through resistance when needed.
• Committed to continuous learning and personal development.
• Highly trustworthy, discreet and capable of handling confidential information.
• Flexibility and ability to travel.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office environment (Constant)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Specia