Hiring guide · Updated 2026-07-16
How to hire a Chief of Staff
A Chief of Staff at a startup is a leverage multiplier for the CEO. They translate strategy into weekly execution, close loops across functions, and take on any zero-to-one project that does not yet warrant a full-time hire. The role only works when the founder is disciplined enough to give it real scope.
When to hire
- You have twenty or more employees and cross-functional friction is your top bottleneck.
- You can hand over three real projects on day one, not just calendar management.
- You are prepared to be genuinely transparent with them about the business.
What they own
- Run the CEO's operating cadence: staff meetings, board packs, OKRs.
- Own two or three high-priority projects at any time, cross-functional.
- Prepare and drive strategic reviews (pricing, org design, market entry).
- Act as a sounding board and pre-editor for major decisions.
Must-haves
- Strong written communication — a real portfolio of memos and decisions.
- Analytical rigour: comfortable in a spreadsheet, notebook, and BI tool.
- Track record of shipping across functions in ambiguity.
Nice-to-haves
- Consulting or investment banking foundation, but with real operating time after.
- Prior founder or early-employee experience.
Red flags
- Sees the role as a two-year stepping stone to a title.
- Cannot name a project they killed and why.
- Wants to run meetings but not own outcomes.
Where to source
- Ex-consultants (BCG, Bain, McKinsey) with 2+ years of subsequent operating experience.
- Ex-founders whose company did not survive but who ran a real team.
- Warm intros from other founders who have had a CoS.
Interview loop
- Founder chat: what leverage looks like in the current quarter.
- Written case: 90-minute take-home memo on a real strategic question.
- Live decision review: you walk through a hard call, they push back live.
- References from a manager and a peer.
Compensation bands (2026)
| Market | Base | Equity |
|---|---|---|
| UK seed | £85k–£110k | 0.25%–0.75% |
| UK Series A | £100k–£140k | 0.15%–0.5% |
| US seed | $140k–$180k | 0.25%–0.75% |
| US Series A | $170k–$220k | 0.15%–0.5% |
Copy-paste JD template
**Chief of Staff to the CEO at [Company]** [Company] is [context]. We are hiring a Chief of Staff to give the CEO leverage across strategy and execution. **What you will own** - The operating cadence: staff meeting, board pack, OKR reviews. - Two or three high-priority cross-functional projects at any time. - Strategic reviews on pricing, org design, and market entry. **About you** - Strong writer with a portfolio of memos. - Analytical: spreadsheet, notebook, and BI tool fluency. - Have shipped across functions in ambiguity. **Comp** [Base] + [equity]. Direct exposure to the full business.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chief of Staff a pathway to a specific role?
It should not be marketed as one. The best CoS hires join because the scope is uniquely broad, not because it is a fast route to a VP title. Framing it as a pipeline attracts the wrong candidates.
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