Chief of Staff

Zeno Power•Washington, DC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Zeno Power is seeking a dynamic, strategic Chief of Staff to work alongside the CEO and leadership team to drive operational excellence, support business development, and help scale the company. The role offers broad exposure to strategy, partnerships, and organizational operations, and requires a mission-driven operator who can move between tactical execution and strategic thinking while remaining highly organized. The Chief of Staff acts as an extension of the CEO, helping clarify and execute priorities and turning meetings into substantive follow-up deliverables. The role builds and manages the company’s operating rhythm, including leadership meetings, quarterly strategy and OKR processes, and cross-functional accountability cadences, without directly managing people. It also leads high-ownership special projects, supports investor relations and capital readiness, develops financial and operating metrics, conducts targeted market and competitor assessments, and partners on executive communications. The position requires in-office presence in Washington, D.C. (Mt. Vernon/Chinatown) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays; remote work is optional Mondays and Fridays. Exceptional Seattle candidates may be considered with an expectation of spending at least one week per month in Washington, D.C. Travel is required at 15–20%. Applicants must be a U.S. person as defined in the job description.

Requirements

5–8+ years of relevant experience in defense, space, hardware, robotics, or adjacent deep-tech environments.
Demonstrated experience engaging with government customers or programs, such as DoD, Space Force, NASA, or Navy, and familiarity with government contracting processes.
Ability to independently scope ambiguous problems, drive research, synthesize insights, and produce executive-ready outputs quickly.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical and regulatory topics into clear, actionable materials.
Experience implementing OKRs/KPIs and cross-functional operating rhythms, and comfort driving accountability without direct people management.
High EQ, discretion, and stakeholder management skills across senior leaders and technical teams.
Mission alignment with government-facing hardware and deep-tech work, and interest in remote power applications and national programs.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Must be a U.S. person as defined in the job description.
Ability to meet the described physical requirements, including extended sitting or standing and safely lifting up to 15 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Growth-stage startup experience is strongly preferred.
Prior business development, strategy, or operations work interfacing with federal stakeholders is a plus.
An advanced degree is a plus.
Exceptional Seattle candidates may be considered, with an expectation of spending at least one week per month in Washington, D.C.

Responsibilities

Act as an extension of the CEO to clarify and execute priorities, and accelerate post-meeting follow-ups with substantive deliverables such as tailored two-pagers, client-specific decks, and briefings.
Build and run the internal operating rhythm, including weekly leadership meetings, quarterly strategy and OKR processes, and cross-functional accountability cadences; track outcomes and follow-ups without directly managing people.
Lead high-ownership special projects, including evaluating new business lines and developing market sizing, customer mapping, feasibility assessments, and go/no-go business cases for alternative isotope or adjacent opportunities.
Support investor relations and capital readiness by contributing to board materials, coordinating the fundraising data room and diligence responses, ensuring timely and accurate information flow, and prioritizing investor outreach and inbound coordination for the CEO.
Develop and use financial and operating metrics to identify trends, assess tradeoffs, and provide forward-looking recommendations to executive leadership.
Conduct targeted market and competitor assessments related to near-term decisions in defense, space, and government programs, producing concise, decision-ready briefs.
Partner with the internal communications team on executive communications, memos, and presentations that synthesize technical and commercial inputs for external stakeholders and internal audiences.