Chief of Staff to the CEO

About the role

This role functions as a critical extension of the CEO's leadership, providing strategic counsel and operational support to navigate complex business challenges. You will own the synthesis of high-level strategy and execution, translating board-level vision into actionable plans across the organization. The position requires a high level of discretion and judgment when managing sensitive initiatives and executive communications. You will be responsible for ensuring that all departments are aligned with the company's overarching goals and timelines. This is an onsite position based at our headquarters in Redwood City. You will engage directly with the highest levels of the organization to drive clarity and momentum. The role demands comfort with ambiguity and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Your work will directly influence the trajectory of the company by enabling the CEO to make timely, informed decisions.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Function as a strategic sounding board for the CEO, challenging assumptions and refining business strategy, prioritization, and complex problem-solving approaches.
• Architect and lead cross-functional transformation projects, including market entry analysis, pricing strategy development, organizational design initiatives, and M&A diligence oversight.
• Design, manage, and optimize the executive operating rhythm, ensuring cohesion between leadership meetings, quarterly planning sessions, and OKR execution cycles.
• Translate ambiguous business challenges into structured decision memos, utilizing data-backed recommendations and rigorous analysis to guide leadership choices.
• Conduct in-depth reviews of technical architecture, code quality, and data infrastructure to facilitate effective communication and collaboration with engineering leadership.
• Serve as a primary representative of the CEO in external meetings, partner discussions, high-stakes negotiations, and executive recruitment efforts.
• Proactively identify systemic operational bottlenecks and implement solutions to sustain organizational health, scalability, and performance.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and market trends to assess potential impact and strategic relevance to the company's long-term vision.
• Drive alignment between executive priorities and operational capabilities through clear communication and rigorous follow-through.
• Support the development of key business cases, investment assessments, and strategic frameworks used for major corporate decisions.
• Monitor competitive landscape shifts and translate insights into recommendations for strategic response and positioning.
• Act as a bridge between the executive team and functional leaders to ensure consistent messaging and goal alignment.

Requirements

• Possess 8-12 years of cumulative experience integrating top-tier management consulting expertise with hands-on operating roles at high-growth technology companies.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree as a minimum educational requirement, with preference for degrees in Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, or Computer Science.
• Demonstrate the capacity to explain sophisticated technical concepts such as AI/ML and data infrastructure to non-technical leadership with clarity and precision.
• Maintain a proven history of structured problem-solving and the production of executive-level written deliverables under stringent time constraints.
• Exhibit a high-agency mindset, navigating complex ambiguity and driving task completion autonomously without requiring constant direction.
• Be authorized to work in the United States without the need for company-sponsored work authorization.
• Bring intellectual curiosity and resilience to tackle multifaceted problems in a dynamic, high-growth SaaS and AI environment.
• Adhere to the highest standards of professionalism, discretion, and integrity when handling confidential executive-level information.

Nice to have

• Hold an MBA from a top-tier business school.
• Have prior experience serving as a Chief of Staff, early operator, or founding team member within a high-growth AI or enterprise software company.
• Include background in a CEO Office or executive staff function at a late-stage or public organization.
• Possess direct professional experience in cloud infrastructure, enterprise SaaS, or AI/ML markets.

Practical notes

• This position requires full-time onsite presence at the C3 Ai headquarters in Redwood City, California.
• C3 Ai is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.