Chief of Staff to the CEO

About Lila Sciences and Role Overview

Lila Sciences is pioneering Scientific Superintelligence™, leveraging AI across the scientific method to expedite breakthroughs in life sciences, chemistry, and materials science. Located in Cambridge, MA, the company is seeking an experienced Chief of Staff to collaborate closely with the Founder and CEO, Geoff von Maltzahn. This role supports the CEO in navigating the company's most complex scientific and strategic challenges and acts as a trusted thought partner, amplifying the CEO's strategic and communicative effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the CEO to critically evaluate the company's scientific strategies and experimental directions.
• Conduct rigorous assessments of scientific and technical trade-offs to enhance decision-making before escalating matters to executive leadership or the board.
• Collaborate with strategy and technical teams to convert challenging scientific questions into well-defined priorities and actionable plans.
• Prepare the CEO for critical scientific discussions with board members, investors, and collaborators, ensuring robust underlying rationale.
• Manage all preparations for board meetings, investor communications, and fundraising efforts, translating technical progress into impactful presentations.
• Facilitate communication and coordination between the CEO, executive leadership, and the broader organization to maintain momentum and clarity.
• Drive resolution on key decisions by prioritizing essential actions amidst competing interests.

Qualifications and Skills

• At least 8 years experience in progressive leadership roles such as founder, Chief of Staff, senior operator, or function head in technology or science-driven companies, especially involving AI or scientific research.
• Possession of a PhD, experience founding a technical company, or equivalently deep hands-on expertise within a scientific or AI field to engage at peer level with leadership and research teams.
• Adaptability to operate without established playbooks in a fast-growing, innovative setting, with strong resilience to ambiguity and rapid change.
• Strong discipline and organizational skills to transition from high-level strategy to precise execution without omission.
• Readiness to challenge priorities and strategies constructively, driving alignment and commitment across leadership.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication capabilities to build trust quickly and translate intricate scientific concepts into clear messaging, including drafting communications in executive voices.
• Ability to thrive amid complex, high-stakes environments involving scaling labs and active capital raises.
• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, and reliability consistent with the role's sensitive access.
• Commitment to working onsite at the Cambridge office with willingness to travel as necessary.

Compensation and Benefits

Lila Sciences provides a competitive base salary ranging from $204,000 to $315,000 USD, supplemented by performance bonuses and meaningful early-stage equity. Full-time U.S. employees also have access to comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision insurance, life and disability coverage, flexible time off, generous holidays, paid parental leave, education assistance, commuter benefits, and a subsidized meal program. International employees receive regionally tailored benefits with local salary standards.

Diversity and Commitment

The company adheres to an inclusive hiring approach, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds and ensuring privacy and fairness throughout the recruitment process.

Additional Information

Applications from recruiting agencies are not accepted unless initiated by Lila Sciences’ internal Talent Acquisition team; unsolicited resumes will be considered company property without any referral fees owed.