Hiring the right Chief of Staff (CoS) is a strategic decision that can significantly impact your organization’s effectiveness. As the right-hand person to the CEO or other senior executives, a CoS serves as a force multiplier, facilitating communication, driving key initiatives, and ensuring that leadership priorities are executed efficiently.
However, because the CoS role varies widely across industries, company sizes, and leadership styles, crafting the perfect job description requires careful consideration. The right job description should not only reflect the needs of the business but also attract top-tier talent who can thrive in a fast-paced, high-impact environment.
In this guide, we will outline the key elements of an effective Chief of Staff job description, from defining core competencies to setting clear expectations for career growth.
1. Understanding the role of a Chief of Staff
Before drafting the job description, hiring managers must define how the CoS will function within their specific organization. This role is highly adaptable and can encompass a wide range of responsibilities, including:
- Acting as a trusted advisor to the CEO
- Overseeing strategic initiatives
- Managing cross-functional projects
- Acting as a liaison between departments
- Driving operational efficiency
- Supporting decision-making processes
Key Consideration:
The responsibilities of a CoS differ depending on company size and stage. For example, in a startup, the CoS may be deeply involved in fundraising, product management, or go-to-market strategies. In a larger enterprise, they may focus on organizational alignment, executive communications, and internal operations.
2. Defining the key personality traits
A Chief of Staff is not just another executive assistant or project manager—it’s a role that requires a unique blend of strategic thinking, interpersonal skills, and operational excellence.
Essential personality traits for a CoS:
✔️ Empathy & Emotional Intelligence:
A successful CoS must navigate complex relationships, understand team dynamics, and build trust across the organization.
✔️ Sense of Urgency & Bias for Action:
The best CoS professionals excel in fast-paced environments, driving execution and ensuring that critical projects don’t stall.
✔️ High Adaptability & Problem-Solving Mindset:
Because no two days look the same, an agile, solutions-oriented approach is essential.
✔️ Strong Persuasion & Influence Skills:
The CoS frequently acts as a proxy for the CEO, meaning they must be comfortable making decisions and communicating on behalf of leadership.
✔️ Coachable & Ego-Free Attitude:
A good CoS must be able to take feedback, continuously improve, and act as an enabler rather than a disruptor.
3. Structuring the Job Description
To attract top-tier candidates, your job description should be clear, compelling, and tailored to the role’s strategic importance.
Key sections to include:
🔹 Role Overview
Start with a concise summary of the position, explaining how the CoS fits into the broader organizational structure.
💡 Example:
« We are seeking a highly strategic and operationally-minded Chief of Staff to serve as a trusted partner to our CEO. This role is designed for a proactive leader who can drive key initiatives, enhance organizational efficiency, and act as an extension of the executive team. »
🔹 Responsibilities
This section should outline the core duties of the role while keeping room for flexibility.
Some responsibilities:
- Serve as a thought partner to the CEO, offering strategic insights and operational support
- Lead and execute special projects across multiple business functions
- Act as a liaison between the CEO and senior leadership, ensuring effective communication
- Drive execution of strategic initiatives and operational improvements
- Oversee cross-functional collaboration to remove bottlenecks and enhance team productivity
- Prepare reports, presentations, and briefings for executive leadership
- Support fundraising, investor relations, and stakeholder engagement (for startups)
🔹 Ideal candidate profile
To ensure alignment, clearly articulate the qualities and experiences that would make someone successful in this role.
Key Qualifications:
✅ 5+ years of experience in strategy, consulting, operations, or executive support roles
✅ Strong business acumen with a background in finance, management consulting, or corporate strategy
✅ Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
✅ Experience working directly with C-level executives or in a high-growth startup environment
✅ Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to juggle multiple projects
✅ Strong analytical skills and data-driven decision-making capabilities
4. Addressing career growth: the « Tour of Duty » concept
One of the most overlooked aspects of a Chief of Staff job description is career progression. Unlike other roles, a CoS often serves a 18–24 month term before transitioning into another leadership position.
💡 Best Practice:
Explicitly mention how you envision the CoS role evolving and what career opportunities exist post-tenure.
Example:
« This position is designed as a stepping stone for future leadership roles. After a 24-month tenure, we will work together to explore your next career move—whether it’s transitioning into an executive role within the company or pursuing external opportunities. »
5. Compensation & leveling expectations
Since the CoS role varies significantly between organizations, it’s important to set clear expectations regarding leveling and compensation.
Key Considerations:
- Company size/stage impacts CoS responsibilities and seniority
- Compensation should be competitive and may include equity options for startups
- Leveling should align with the Chief of Staff Growth Framework (e.g., Level 1-5, based on responsibilities and impact)
6. Why You, as a CEO ?
A personal touch can make your job description stand out. Top-tier candidates want to know who they will be working with and what they can learn from you.
Example:
« You will work directly with [CEO Name], a former [background: founder, executive, investor]. Our previous Chiefs of Staff have gone on to become [example career outcomes]. If you’re looking for a role that will challenge you and accelerate your career, we’d love to chat. »
Conclusion: the perfect Chief of Staff Job Desc attracts the best talent
A well-crafted Chief of Staff job description should do more than list duties and qualifications—it should tell a compelling story about the role, the company, and the opportunities for growth.
Key Takeaways:
✔️ Clearly define the role’s impact and career trajectory
✔️ Highlight the strategic and operational nature of the position
✔️ Attract top talent by framing the CoS as a leadership accelerator
✔️ Set realistic leveling and compensation expectations
By following these principles, you can recruit and retain a top-tier Chief of Staff who will drive real impact and growth within your organization.
Need More Hiring Insights?
For more best practices on hiring and structuring a Chief of Staff role, check out our recruiting services
TGC have endorsed multiple times the Chief of Staff role in the iGaming, either as a permanent contract or as external partner.
Reach us directly through the following links.
Pierric Blanchet
Founder @ TGC