Chief of Staff Job Description for Senior Executive Leadership

This Chief of Staff job description explains the role and who should apply. It is suitable for experienced strategic operators and senior managers who can translate executive priorities into measurable outcomes, coordinate cross functional programmes and manage high level stakeholder relationships.

Chief of Staff Job Profile

The Chief of Staff provides direct support to a senior executive and acts as a strategic partner to drive priorities across the organisation. The role focuses on aligning leadership agendas, facilitating decision making, and ensuring complex programmes progress on time and to scope.

The postholder will operate at the intersection of strategy and delivery, enabling the executive to focus on high value activity by managing execution, preparing briefings and materials, and coordinating cross organisational initiatives that require senior alignment.

Chief of Staff Job Description

The Chief of Staff is responsible for orchestrating day to day executive workflows and longer term strategic projects. This includes preparing board level and executive materials, managing the executive calendar and priorities, convening and driving cross functional working groups, and tracking progress against key performance metrics.

The role requires frequent interaction with senior stakeholders across the organisation and external partners, exercising sound judgement and confidentiality. The Chief of Staff must deliver clear, concise analysis and recommendations, escalate risks appropriately and ensure that critical decisions are supported by robust information and stakeholder input.

Work is typically fast paced and ambiguous. The successful candidate will be expected to influence without relying solely on formal authority, to resolve competing priorities and to foster collaborative approaches that advance the executive agenda and organisational objectives.

Chief of Staff: Duties and Responsibilities

• Partner with the executive to clarify strategic priorities and translate them into annual and quarterly plans.
• Manage executive calendar, agendas and briefing materials to optimise time and decision capacity.
• Prepare concise board papers, executive summaries and stakeholder briefings for senior forums.
• Coordinate cross functional programmes, ensure milestones are met and unblock issues impeding delivery.
• Analyse performance data and provide actionable insights to inform executive decisions.
• Convene and facilitate leadership meetings, record actions and drive accountability for outcomes.
• Act as a trusted liaison between the executive and internal or external stakeholders.
• Support change initiatives by developing implementation plans, communication approaches and governance structures.
• Identify and mitigate risks to critical projects and escalate where appropriate.
• Lead or oversee special projects on behalf of the executive, including cross organisational reviews.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Ensure alignment of programme budgets and resource plans with strategic priorities.
• Coach and mentor direct reports or project teams as required to enhance delivery capability.
• Represent the executive at meetings and forums when required and present decisions and progress to stakeholders.

Chief of Staff: Requirements and Qualifications

• Degree level education or equivalent professional experience in a relevant discipline.
• Proven experience supporting senior executives or leading cross functional programmes at a senior level.
• Demonstrable strategic thinking with the ability to convert strategy into operational plans.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience preparing executive and board materials.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills across all organisational levels.
• Proven project or programme management capability with attention to delivery and governance.
• High level analytical and problem solving skills, able to present complex information simply.
• Discretion and professionalism in handling confidential and sensitive matters.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise work under pressure and manage competing demands.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and making recommendations with incomplete information.
• Financial literacy sufficient to monitor budgets and assess business cases.
• Experience of working with executive teams, boards or senior advisory groups is desirable.
• Strong interpersonal skills and credibility to build relationships and foster collaboration across functions.