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.
What You’ll Do
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
Who You Are
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.