Chief of Staff, Research & Development

Overview

A partner company based in the United States seeks an experienced Chief of Staff for its Research & Development division. This executive-level role provides a unique chance to influence strategy, streamline operations, and ensure effective execution within a high-performing R&D team. You will collaborate closely with senior leaders in Product and Engineering, translating strategic goals into tangible results and enhancing operational processes across product, engineering, and design units.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior R&D executives, assisting in priority-setting, preparing executive and board-level presentations, and facilitating impactful decision-making.
• Lead the organization and management of operational cadences such as quarterly planning, business reviews, OKR monitoring, and team alignment.
• Create and maintain dashboards that track engineering workload, product delivery status, staffing levels, and overall organizational health.
• Oversee complex, cross-departmental initiatives including organizational structuring, integration of AI operating models, procedural improvements, and operational transformations.
• Collaborate with Finance, People Operations, Product, Engineering, and Design leadership on budget planning, recruitment strategies, workforce management, and resource distribution.
• Assess competing priorities, develop strategic recommendations, and help leadership focus on initiatives that deliver maximum business value.
• Compose executive communications, board reports, and strategy documents while refining governance, decision frameworks, and operational efficiencies within the R&D group.

Candidate Requirements

• At least 12 years of experience in roles such as strategy, operations, management consulting, product management, or Chief of Staff within fast-growing SaaS or tech companies.
• Minimum of 5 years leading teams with proven success in people management.
• Comprehensive knowledge of modern R&D structures covering product lifecycle, engineering operations, design processes, roadmap and capacity planning, and scaling organizations.
• Strong influencing capabilities with senior executives including VPs, SVPs, and C-level leaders, without direct reporting lines.
• Advanced financial acumen along with operational and analytical expertise covering budgeting, business forecasting, resource allocation, and performance metrics.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for creating executive presentations, board materials, and strategic content.
• Excellent organizational aptitude to juggle multiple high-priority projects with attention to detail.
• Experience supporting combined Product and Engineering functions, familiarity with planning tools, OKR systems, roadmapping platforms, and data-driven delivery insights highly desirable.
• High emotional intelligence coupled with sound judgment, discretion, and adaptability in dynamic settings.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary ranges from $216,000 to $300,000 annually.
• Zone-based salary bands: Zone 1 (NY, CA, WA) between $237,000 and $356,000; Zone 2 (other eligible U.S. states) between $216,000 and $324,000.
• Eligibility for Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employees and eligible family members.
• Company-paid life and disability insurance policies.
• Robust mental health support services accessible to employees and their families.
• 401(k) plan with 50% matching on the first 6% contributed.
• Flexible paid time off plus designated wellness and recharge days.
• Parental leave up to 16 weeks fully paid.
• $1,000 yearly lifestyle spending allowance.
• Home office setup stipend plus monthly reimbursement for internet expenses.
• Paid time off for volunteering and matching for charitable donations.
• Additional perks include financial wellness programs, commuter benefits, childcare and eldercare support, and discounted pet insurance.
• Remote-first workplace with flexible location options within eligible U.S. states.
• Strong opportunities for executive exposure, leadership development, and career growth.

Additional Information

This recruitment is managed through a partner company that handles applications and subsequent hiring steps independently. The selection process employs AI-assisted tools for application review to ensure objective and fair evaluations, culminating in human-led hiring decisions. Data privacy and the use of AI in recruitment are disclosed to candidates in accordance with applicable laws.