Chief of Staff, R&D

Sprout General Referrals

20d•$216,000 - $300,000•Remote

About The Position

Sprout Social is looking for a Chief of Staff to partner with our R&D leaders (Product, Engineering, and Design) to turn strategy into motion. Reporting to the CPO and supporting both the CPO and CTO, you will hold a high-visibility, high-leverage position at the intersection of strategy and execution. You’ll shape how a category-leading Social Intelligence company builds and scales for the world's most forward-thinking social media practitioners. R&D is Sprout’s single largest investment area and the engine of our growth. As Chief of Staff, you’ll help senior leaders run this complex organization with the speed and clarity expected by our shareholders. We value transparency and ownership, offering the autonomy to build scalable, AI-forward operating systems. This role provides a rare seat with direct exposure to executive leadership and the opportunity to influence the decisions shaping our roadmap.

Requirements

12+ years of experience spanning strategy, operations, management consulting, product management, or a prior Chief of Staff role, ideally within a high-growth or public B2B SaaS company
5+ years of direct people management experience
Deep fluency in how R&D organizations operate — the product development lifecycle, product, design, and engineering org structures, capacity planning, and the relationship between roadmap, resourcing, and business outcomes. You don't need to have been an engineer, but you do need to read an architecture diagram, a capacity model, and a P&L with confidence
A proven track record of influencing VP-, SVP-, and C-level leaders without owning the org chart
Exceptional written and verbal communication — you can draft board materials and present to senior leaders, framing complex topics clearly and proactively
Strong operational and analytical rigor: you build repeatable processes and hold yourself to a high standard of accuracy and accountability

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting a combined Product and Engineering (or R&D) organization, or reporting into a CPO, CTO, or CPTO
Background in high-growth SaaS or technology companies, ideally with exposure to multiple planning cycles and periods of organizational change
Familiarity with the tooling of modern R&D operations — OKR and planning systems, roadmapping tools, and delivery/velocity analytics

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to both the CPO and CTO, shaping the R&D leadership agenda and preparing them for board and executive interactions.
Lead the operational teams managing the R&D operating cadence (meetings, reviews, and quarterly planning) and drive the tracking, reporting, and alignment of R&D OKRs with company strategy.
Act as the first line of judgment on escalations and meeting requests—triaging what requires direct leadership attention versus what can be resolved async.
Build and maintain the R&D operational dashboard, translating data on delivery velocity, capacity, and headcount into clear narratives that drive decisions.
Lead high-priority, ambiguous initiatives (e.g., org design or AI-operating-model buildouts) across the R&D portfolio.
Serve as the primary POC and partner for FP&A, leading overall budget governance across Engineering, Product, and Design.
Surface trade-offs by bringing options, costs, and recommendations to the CPO and CTO to make prioritization calls highly visible.
Partner with People and Finance on the joint R&D hiring plan, capacity model, and senior onboarding.
Draft and own key R&D communications, ensuring a consistent voice across executive memos and board content.

Benefits

Premium BCBSIL medical, dental (high/low plans), and vision (Eyemed) insurance for you and your eligible dependents.
Full, free access to Modern Health for you and your dependents, including coaching, therapy sessions, and digital wellness resources.
401(k) plan with a 50% company match on your first 6% of contributions (a 3% total match).
100% employer-paid Life and Disability insurance for your peace of mind.
A flexible PTO policy, supplemented with additional company-wide Rest & Recharge days throughout the year.
Up to 16 weeks of paid leave for new parents to support you in expanding your family.
A $1,000 USD annual Lifestyle Spending Account to spend on your physical, mental, and financial well-being.
A one-time $550 USD stipend to set up your home office, plus a monthly $50 USD stipend for internet.
16 hours of paid volunteer time annually, plus a $100 annual match for your charitable donations.
Access to pre-tax commuter benefits, subsidized child/eldercare (Care.com), discounted pet insurance (Figo), and no-cost personalized financial wellness support through Your Money Line.