Chief of Staff to the VP of Product, Principal

Blue Shield of California•Oakland, CA

2h•$167,896 - $251,720•Hybrid

About The Position

The Product team is seeking to hire a Chief of Staff to the VP of Product, Principal. This is a vital role in developing strategies and strategic planning to support and implement the goals and interests of Stellarus and Product. The Chief of Staff to the VP of Product, Principal role will report to the Vice President, Product. In this role you will be responsible for providing leadership and oversight to ensure coordinated planning and execution of activities necessary to achieve organizational objectives. The candidate will work with the leadership team on strategic business growth & innovation goals, talent management and employee engagement initiatives, internal and external interests, as well as advising leadership on matters that impact the business unit. This role also serves as a strategic advisor, execution partner, and operational integrator for the Vice President and Product leadership team, translating strategy into governance, operating cadence, executive communications, leadership alignment, and measurable business outcomes. Our leadership model is about developing great leaders at all levels and creating opportunities for our people to grow – personally, professionally, and financially. We are looking for leaders that are energized by creative and critical thinking, building and sustaining high-performing teams, getting results the right way, and fostering continuous learning.

Requirements

Requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
Requires at least 10 years of prior relevant experience.
Exceptional verbal and written communication and program/project management skills, including the ability to communicate effectively at an executive level.
Ability to deal with highly confidential information and act as a liaison between leadership and internal/external stakeholders.
Ability to prioritize and manage work and trade-offs against critical project timelines in a fast-paced environment.
Strategic thinker who is self-driven, detail-oriented, organized, and capable of managing multiple programs simultaneously.
Thought leader and continuous learner who can drive innovation and continuous improvement.
Excellent influence and engagement skills in building alignment and accountability without formal authority.
Ability to build strong relationships and interact effectively across all levels of the organization.
Ability to work cooperatively and strategically with professional, technical, and administrative staff while integrating resources in a timely and organized manner.
Acumen to handle complex situations and multiple responsibilities simultaneously with urgency and professionalism.
Experience serving as a Chief of Staff, strategic advisor, business operations leader, or execution partner to senior technology leadership.
Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into execution, synthesize complex inputs, simplify ambiguity, and drive leadership alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
Experience with operating model transformation, portfolio governance, investment governance, enterprise program delivery, or Platform/Product operating models.
Financial and business acumen, including experience with budget planning, forecasting, workforce planning, contract strategy, vendor management, and investment prioritization.
Strong facilitation skills and experience leading executive meetings, planning forums, decision reviews, and cross-functional working sessions.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, represent executive intent, and maintain continuity of decisions in highly visible leadership environments.

Responsibilities

Be responsible for planning and implementation of complex programs spanning multiple business areas, projects, and initiatives where analysis requires evaluation of intangible variance factors.
Ensure strategic direction of programs is aligned to organizational goals and objectives.
Facilitate the annual strategic planning process, including business planning, forecasting, roadmap alignment, investment prioritization, and budget planning.
Work in conjunction with Finance partners to complete business planning and forecasting.
Manage budget planning as part of the annual budget cycle.
Serve as the primary liaison and integrator across business, Product, Engineering, Operations, Architecture, Finance, HR, external vendors, and the IT Applications leadership team to drive alignment, resolve dependencies, and advance strategic priorities.
Represent the Vice President and IT Applications leadership team in internal and external meetings as appropriate, ensuring continuity of decisions, leadership alignment, and accurate representation of organizational priorities.
Support IT Applications leadership in the management and implementation of strategic initiatives, including advancement of the Platform and Product operating model, operating model adoption, governance structures, decision rights, and cross-team engagement mechanisms.
Drive the leadership operating cadence, including executive reviews, decision forums, escalation pathways, follow-up tracking, and accountability mechanisms to ensure work progresses against organizational priorities.
Establish and manage executive governance processes, including leadership reviews, strategic planning forums, risk reviews, and decision-making bodies.
Develop executive communications and executive-ready materials that support leadership decision-making, organizational alignment, stakeholder engagement, and major business initiatives.
Identify emerging risks, delivery gaps, funding misalignments, stakeholder concerns, and operational friction; develop recommendations and drive timely leadership decisions.
Partner with Finance, HR, and leadership stakeholders on workforce strategy, hiring plans, organizational design, succession planning, vendor strategy, and investment trade-offs.
Establish and continuously improve dashboards, KPIs, reporting routines, and collaboration mechanisms that improve transparency, accountability, and operational performance.
Design and facilitate leadership workshops, planning sessions, and organizational forums that accelerate alignment and execution.