Chief of Staff

About the Role

We are seeking a Chief of Staff to serve as the strategic right hand to our CEO. This is a high-trust, high-impact role for a rising strategic operator who thrives in dynamic, high-growth environments. You’ll work closely with the CEO and executive team to drive clarity, alignment, and execution of the company’s most important initiatives. This role is ideal for someone who’s equal parts thought partner, program driver, culture builder—and a future organizational leader.

You’ll be stepping into a function currently led by a trusted advisor (Saki), inheriting the connective tissue role across teams and executive stakeholders. We are looking for someone who can not only continue this work but take it to the next level—with a strong blend of strategic thinking, structured execution, and interpersonal influence.

Strategic Execution & CEO Partnership

• Work 1:1 with the CEO to brainstorm, clarify, and translate ideas into structured plans and outcomes

• Track and drive execution of key initiatives, OKRs, and leadership team commitments

• Shape executive communications, offsite agendas, and board materials

Program & Portfolio Leadership

• Own cross-functional strategic projects that don’t have a clear departmental home

• Step in as an interim lead or “fixer” for functions or initiatives that are under-resourced or stuck

• Build systems for prioritization, tracking, and accountability

Executive Team Enablement

• Partner with executives (e.g., CFO, COO, VP of People, Head of Science) to remove friction, unlock alignment, and move critical work forward

• Design rituals and forums to help the leadership team operate as a high-performing unit

Intelligence & Decision Support

• Gather insights on market, competitive, regulatory, and internal dynamics to inform strategy

• Structure ambiguous problems and surface decision-ready recommendations for the CEO

Communication & Culture

• Shape internal narratives to keep the team informed and aligned (e.g., All Hands, newsletters)

• Help cultivate a transparent, inclusive, and high-performance culture in collaboration with the executive team

• Act as a trusted, respected connector across technical and non-technical teams—including engineers and scientists
  

Strategic Operator

• 6+ years of experience in strategy, consulting, BizOps, or prior Chief of Staff roles—ideally in startups or fast-growing tech organizations

• Prior experience in startups or high-ambiguity environments where priorities shift fast and ownership is critical

• Strong executive presence with the ability to partner directly with CxOs and influence without formal authority

Structured Thinker & Doer

• Clear, logical thinker who can distill complexity and drive execution

• Excellent written communicator—strong slides, structured documentation, and crisp messaging

• Self-starter who thrives in ambiguity and builds systems from scratch

• Operates with maturity and sound judgment; able to work independently with minimal oversight

Credible Leader

• Brings a track record of excellence that earns trust from technical teams, including scientists and engineers

• Has demonstrated the ability to influence outcomes across deeply cross-functional teams

• Embodies humility, resilience, and discretion when navigating sensitive leadership issues

Technically Curious

• No need to be a deep subject matter expert, but you’re excited to engage with hard tech (fusion, renewables, deep tech)

• You enjoy learning how technical systems work and can translate between scientific and business domains

Culture Contributor

• High EQ and interpersonal fluency—someone who acts as connective tissue across people and functions

• Passionate about creating healthy, collaborative team cultures

• Able to reinforce company values through both actions and influence

Focused Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Focused Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, benefits.

Apply to this Job