What Does a Chief of Staff Do? (With Job Description)
What Is a Chief of Staff?
A chief of staff is a senior professional who supports an executive, leadership team or organizational office. The position commonly reports to a chief executive officer, founder, president or another senior leader.
A chief of staff may act as:
- Strategic adviser
- Program leader
- Executive representative
- Communication coordinator
- Decision facilitator
- Project manager
- Organizational problem-solver
- Leadership-team coordinator
The role is usually influential but does not always have direct authority over every team it coordinates.
What Does a Chief of Staff Do?
A chief of staff may:
- Translate executive priorities into plans
- Coordinate projects across departments
- Prepare executives for decisions
- Manage leadership meetings
- Track strategic objectives
- Develop executive communications
- Identify organizational risks
- Conduct research
- Resolve cross-functional issues
- Oversee special projects
- Communicate decisions
- Support annual planning
- Coordinate budget discussions
- Protect executive time
- Represent the executive in selected meetings
- Maintain confidentiality
- Monitor organizational performance
- Develop stakeholder relationships
The balance among these responsibilities depends on the executive’s needs.
Core Chief of Staff Responsibilities
Strategic planning
The chief of staff may help leadership define priorities, establish goals and develop implementation plans.
This can include:
- Market research
- Scenario planning
- Annual planning
- Goal setting
- Resource discussions
- Strategic reviews
Executive decision support
The chief of staff gathers relevant information and presents it in a form that helps the executive make decisions.
They may prepare:
- Briefing documents
- Decision memos
- Research summaries
- Financial comparisons
- Risk assessments
- Presentation decks
Cross-functional coordination
Important initiatives often require several departments to work together. The chief of staff clarifies responsibilities, deadlines and dependencies.
Meeting management
The chief of staff may develop agendas, distribute materials, document decisions and track follow-up actions.
Special projects
Executives may assign projects that do not belong clearly to one department. Examples include organizational redesign, new-market research or strategic partnerships.
Internal communication
The chief of staff may prepare presentations, company announcements, reports and talking points on behalf of leadership.
Performance tracking
They may create or review key performance indicators and ensure leadership receives useful progress updates.
Risk identification
Because the chief of staff works across departments, they may identify conflicts, delays and information gaps before these issues reach the executive.
Chief of Staff vs. Executive Assistant
| Category | Chief of staff | Executive assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Strategy, coordination and execution | Administrative and logistical support |
| Typical work | Strategic initiatives, decision support and leadership alignment | Scheduling, travel, correspondence and meeting logistics |
| Authority | May represent the executive or lead projects | Usually supports the executive directly |
| Scope | Often organization-wide | Often centered on the executive’s activities |
| Career level | Commonly senior | Varies from junior to highly experienced |
| Deliverables | Plans, decisions, communications and project outcomes | Organized schedules, information and logistics |
The positions may work closely together and can have overlapping duties.
Chief of Staff vs. Chief Operating Officer
A chief operating officer generally has formal authority over company operations and may be responsible for departments, revenue, budgets and operational performance.
A chief of staff typically increases the effectiveness of an executive or leadership team. The role may coordinate departments without directly managing them.
Some growing companies use a chief of staff as a temporary step before creating a COO position, but the roles are not interchangeable.
Chief of Staff vs. Strategy Director
A strategy director usually leads a defined strategy function, such as corporate planning, market analysis or mergers and acquisitions.
A chief of staff may participate in strategy but often has a broader responsibility for executive priorities, communication and organizational follow-through.
Skills Chiefs of Staff Need
Strategic thinking
Chiefs of staff need to connect individual decisions with wider organizational objectives.
Communication
The role involves writing, presenting, listening and adapting information for different audiences.
Project management
They may coordinate complex initiatives with multiple stakeholders and deadlines.
Leadership
Chiefs of staff often lead through influence rather than direct authority.
Emotional intelligence
Understanding relationships, concerns and organizational dynamics is important when facilitating sensitive conversations.
Judgment
The chief of staff may handle incomplete information, conflicting priorities and confidential matters.
Organization
They must maintain visibility across several projects while ensuring important details are not lost.
Analytical thinking
Research, performance data and financial information may all support executive decisions.
Diplomacy
Chiefs of staff frequently communicate between leaders who have different priorities or perspectives.
Adaptability
Executive priorities can change quickly, requiring the chief of staff to revise plans without losing strategic focus.
Chief of Staff Education and Experience
Employers may prefer candidates with:
- A bachelor’s degree
- A graduate or professional degree
- Management experience
- Strategy or operations experience
- Project leadership
- Executive communication experience
- Industry knowledge
- Financial understanding
- Cross-functional experience
There is no single required career path. Chiefs of staff may come from:
- Consulting
- Operations
- Finance
- Product management
- Program management
- Law
- Communications
- Public policy
- Human resources
- Executive administration
Chief of Staff Work Environment
Chiefs of staff commonly work in:
- Corporations
- Startups
- Nonprofit organizations
- Government offices
- Universities
- Health care organizations
- Political offices
- Professional services firms
The position may involve long working hours, travel, urgent requests and frequent communication with senior stakeholders.
Because the role is close to executive decision-making, confidentiality and professional discretion are essential.
How To Become a Chief of Staff
1. Develop functional expertise
Build credibility in an area such as operations, finance, strategy, consulting or project management.
2. Gain leadership experience
Lead projects, mentor employees and coordinate work across departments.
3. Improve executive communication
Practice preparing concise recommendations, briefings and presentations for senior leaders.
4. Learn how the business operates
Develop an understanding of customers, revenue, costs, people and organizational processes.
5. Work across functions
Cross-functional projects can demonstrate your ability to lead without relying solely on formal authority.
6. Develop trusted relationships
Chiefs of staff require credibility with both the executive and the wider organization.
7. Seek stretch assignments
Volunteer for planning, transformation or special projects that require judgment and coordination.
8. Find a mentor
An experienced executive or chief of staff can explain the demands and career implications of the role.
Chief of Staff Job Description Template
Job title: Chief of Staff
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Position summary:
We are seeking an experienced chief of staff to help the CEO and leadership team translate organizational priorities into coordinated action. The successful candidate will manage strategic initiatives, improve executive decision-making and facilitate communication across departments.
Responsibilities:
- Coordinate strategic planning and execution
- Prepare executive briefings and presentations
- Manage leadership meeting agendas and follow-up
- Track company objectives and key performance indicators
- Lead high-priority cross-functional projects
- Identify risks, dependencies and unresolved decisions
- Develop internal and external executive communications
- Conduct research on markets and business opportunities
- Represent the CEO in selected meetings
- Coordinate annual planning and budget discussions
- Support organizational change initiatives
- Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
- Build effective relationships across departments
- Complete other strategic assignments as required
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
- Relevant experience in strategy, operations, consulting or program management
- Experience working with senior executives
- Strong written and verbal communication
- Demonstrated project leadership
- Ability to analyze complex information
- Professional discretion
- Strong organizational skills
Preferred qualifications:
- Graduate degree
- Experience in the organization’s industry
- Financial planning experience
- Change-management experience
- Previous leadership responsibility
Chief of Staff Interview Questions
Employers may ask:
- How do you prioritize requests from several executives?
- Tell us about a project you led without formal authority.
- How do you prepare an executive for an important decision?
- Describe a time you resolved disagreement between departments.
- How do you handle confidential information?
- Which metrics would you use to track company priorities?
- How do you communicate an executive decision that some employees may oppose?
- Tell us about a project that did not achieve its objective.
- How do you decide which information requires executive attention?
- What should a chief of staff accomplish during the first 90 days?
First 90 Days for a Chief of Staff
A new chief of staff may focus on:
Days 1–30
- Understand executive priorities
- Meet key leaders
- Review active initiatives
- Learn decision-making processes
- Identify communication preferences
Days 31–60
- Improve leadership meeting structure
- Establish project tracking
- Clarify decision ownership
- Identify urgent coordination problems
- Develop reporting routines
Days 61–90
- Lead selected strategic initiatives
- Present organizational recommendations
- Improve cross-functional alignment
- Establish measurable objectives
- Agree on the long-term scope of the role
Signs an Organization May Need a Chief of Staff
An organization may benefit from the role when:
- The CEO has too many direct priorities
- Strategic decisions do not lead to coordinated action
- Departments lack alignment
- Leadership meetings produce limited follow-up
- Important projects have no clear owner
- Executives receive too much unstructured information
- Organizational growth increases complexity
- Communication between leadership and employees is inconsistent
Creating a chief of staff position does not replace the need for clear executive and departmental accountability.
Support Executive Strategy With Dokie
Dokie can help chiefs of staff turn research, executive notes and performance data into professional presentations. Use it to create board updates, strategic plans, leadership briefings and cross-functional project reviews.
Dokie can also transform documents, reports and URLs into structured slides, helping leadership teams communicate complex initiatives clearly. Verify every metric, recommendation and confidential detail before sharing the final presentation.
Conclusion
A chief of staff helps an executive convert priorities into coordinated organizational action. Responsibilities may include strategic planning, decision support, communication, project leadership and performance tracking.
The role requires trust, judgment and the ability to lead across departments. Employers should define the scope carefully so the chief of staff complements rather than duplicates other executive positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a chief of staff an executive?
A chief of staff is usually a senior leadership position, although formal executive status depends on the organization.
Who does a chief of staff report to?
The role commonly reports to a CEO, founder, president or another senior executive.
Does a chief of staff manage employees?
Some chiefs of staff manage project teams or executive-office employees, while others lead primarily through influence.
Is a chief of staff higher than a COO?
Not usually. A COO generally has formal operational authority, while a chief of staff supports executive effectiveness and coordination.
What background is best for a chief of staff?
Useful backgrounds include strategy, operations, consulting, finance, product management, program management and executive administration.