Chief of Staff (COS)

About the role

The Chief of Staff translates executive strategy into execution for Voyager's leadership office. This role represents Voyager externally and builds organizational infrastructure. The Chief of Staff serves as a strategic multiplier, ensuring that the vision articulated at the highest levels is translated into concrete, measurable outcomes across the enterprise. This position requires a high degree of ownership over complex, ambiguous initiatives where success is defined by the ability to drive closure and alignment. The hire will be instrumental in shaping the strategic discourse and enabling the executive team to make timely, informed decisions. Success in this role is defined by the ability to remove cross-functional barriers and create the conditions for sustainable execution. The Chief of Staff will act as a key advisor, challenging assumptions and refining priorities to ensure capital and resources are directed toward the highest-impact opportunities.

Key facts

What you'll do

Architect the CEO's strategic agenda and challenge core assumptions to refine priorities and guide major decisions on positioning and capital.

Design and implement meeting structures, capture critical decisions, and drive the executive team's operating rhythm to ensure alignment and closure on critical issues.

Establish enterprise frameworks through standardized meeting templates, decision tools, reporting cadences, and accountability systems to remove execution barriers.

Orchestrate cross-functional execution on enterprise initiatives spanning engineering, operations, business development, talent, finance, and compliance to maintain momentum and coherence.

Serve as the primary external representative for Voyager, engaging in industry forums, conferences, and M&A conversations to articulate the company's vision and strategy.

Develop and maintain deep expertise in defense, national security, and space technology sectors, ensuring fluency in government contracting fundamentals and regulatory environments.

Build and leverage data-driven decision frameworks and structured planning tools to define day-to-day work and measure the impact of strategic initiatives.

Lead high-stakes projects that require rapid adaptation, minimal guidance, and ownership of ambiguous problems, ensuring timely and effective outcomes.

Champion a culture of discipline and transparency by instilling best practices in communication, decision-making, and performance management across the executive team.

Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive team, providing candid counsel and strategic perspective on sensitive personnel, M&A, and long-term positioning matters.

Requirements

Hold a Master's degree in a relevant field such as an MBA, MS in Engineering, or MPA from an accredited institution.

Demonstrate at least 10 years of cumulative professional experience, with a minimum of 2+ years in a Chief of Staff, Director of Strategy, or equivalent capacity supporting a C-level or flag-level executive.

Show deep, demonstrated experience in the defense, national security, or space technology sectors with fluency in government contracting fundamentals and compliance.

Prove a consistent track record of building infrastructure and capability within high-growth environments that exhibit minimal process maturity.

Have a history of success as a public speaker and external representative at industry forums, conferences, and stakeholder engagements.

Maintain the highest standards of discretion and judgment when handling sensitive personnel, M&A, and strategic portfolio decisions.

Exhibit strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and present clear recommendations to senior leadership.

Possess robust problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze ambiguity, identify root causes, and drive toward actionable solutions.

Demonstrate a results-oriented mindset with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliverables in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Commit to upholding the company's values and contributing to an inclusive, high-performance organizational culture.

Nice to have

Technical training in engineering, computer science, or physics may support domain-specific initiatives and enhance credibility with technical stakeholders.

Background in management consulting or investment banking focused on the defense and aerospace sectors is valued for strategic and financial acumen.

Experience in energetics, space systems, or hypersonics domains may deepen impact and broaden the scope of strategic contributions.

Prior M&A due diligence and post-integration leadership experience can accelerate value creation and improve outcomes in transactional initiatives.

Experience in engaging with acquisition targets and corporate development functions is preferred for seamless collaboration in growth scenarios.

Practical notes

U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency is required to meet ITAR and export control requirements for this role.

The position is eligible for participation in the company's incentive plan, aligning individual performance with enterprise success.

The interview process typically includes a strategy case, a people scenario, and a values conversation to assess fit for the leadership role.

Candidates may be asked to turn around a struggling team or plan for growth to demonstrate problem-solving and leadership capabilities under pressure.

Past results are examined closely, with a focus on how decisions were made and the consequences of those decisions.

Preparing two or three decision stories with supporting numbers and lessons learned is the best use of time for the interview process.

Good to know

The role operates at the intersection of space, defense, and national security technology, requiring a nuanced understanding of these domains.

Success depends on strategic thinking, enterprise architecture, and cross-functional influence to drive complex initiatives forward.

The environment demands rapid adaptation, minimal guidance, and ownership of ambiguous problems without clear precedent.

Industry events and external representation are integral responsibilities, requiring strong public speaking and relationship-building skills.

Data-driven decision frameworks and structured planning tools define day-to-day work and are essential for measuring progress and impact.

Career growth

Leadership careers move from manager to senior manager, director, and executive roles, with each step adding more scope and responsibility for outcomes.

The best leaders continuously learn how to delegate, communicate, and make effective decisions that align with organizational goals.

Leadership careers reward a record of building and developing people, fostering talent, and creating pathways for future growth.

The higher you advance in your career, the more your communication skills shape the entire organization and its strategic trajectory.