Chief of Staff

Ellevation•Boston, MA

4d•$110,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief of Staff partners with the CEO to keep Ellevation connected, informed, and moving together. Reporting directly to the CEO and serving on the leadership team, this role leads culture strategy and internal communications, supports the R&D organization, and helps build an intentional, engaging workplace culture. The Chief of Staff acts as a liaison between the CEO and staff, ensuring leadership updates are clear and feedback loops remain active. The role owns internal communications, including planning all-company meetings, writing and editing CEO messages, and establishing a regular cadence of updates through Slack, email, and live forums. It leads communications about company announcements and changes, helping leaders anticipate questions and share difficult news clearly and thoughtfully. In partnership with the people team and executive team, the Chief of Staff develops culture and engagement initiatives, defines the purpose of in-office days, plans team and company gatherings, and oversees the annual all-company event and leadership offsites. The role also supports recognition, rituals, onboarding, and leadership development, and manages the Culture & Events Manager. As a trusted CEO advisor, the Chief of Staff manages information flow to and from the executive office, represents the leadership team in meetings when needed, coordinates leadership team agendas and follow-up, and helps identify key issues. The role drives special projects from concept through execution and partners with the Chief Product Technology Officer on culture and execution initiatives across R&D. The position requires regular work from the company office and travel for leadership offsites, company gatherings, and occasional meetings with Curriculum Associates. The first-year goals include learning the business and its customers, completing a company-wide listening tour, improving communication and feedback systems, defining a plan for in-office time and hybrid work, and delivering company-wide and leadership gatherings with measurable improvements in employee engagement and understanding of company priorities.

Requirements

At least 8 years of experience in roles such as chief of staff, internal communications, strategy and operations, or program leadership.
Experience working closely with senior executives and earning their trust through discretion, directness, and reliability.
Exceptional writing and communication skills, including the ability to make complex decisions clear, warm, and honest.
A track record of building culture and engagement programs that employees value.
Strong project management and execution skills.
Familiarity with product development sufficient to partner credibly with product and engineering leaders.
Strong emotional intelligence and the ability to connect with people across levels and teams.
Ability to notice when teams are becoming disconnected and raise difficult topics with senior leaders.
Entrepreneurial and energetic approach, high ethical standards, and commitment to championing Ellevation's culture and core values.
Deep curiosity about the company's customers.
Willingness to work from the office regularly and travel for leadership offsites, company gatherings, and occasional meetings with Curriculum Associates.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a growing software or education company.
Experience at a company operating inside a larger parent organization.
Education background (not required).

Responsibilities

Own internal communications so employees understand company strategy, progress, and their role in it.
Plan and produce all-company meetings, write and edit CEO messages, and maintain a predictable update cadence across Slack, email, and live forums.
Lead communications about company announcements and changes, helping leaders anticipate questions and communicate difficult news clearly and thoughtfully.
Partner with the people team and executive team to build a culture that reflects belonging and supports employee engagement.
Define the purpose of in-office days and design team and company gatherings that foster connection.
Oversee planning of the annual all-company event and leadership offsites.
Bring company values to life through recognition, rituals, and onboarding, and support leadership development initiatives.
Manage the Culture & Events Manager.
Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and manage information flow to and from the executive office.
Represent the leadership team in meetings when needed.
Coordinate leadership team agendas and follow-up, and provide input on important issues to address.
Drive special projects from concept to execution, including project plans, milestone tracking, and cross-team coordination.
Partner with the Chief Product Technology Officer on culture and execution initiatives across R&D.
Complete a company-wide listening tour and assess employee needs and culture.
Evaluate how leadership information is cascaded through the company and recommend improvements.
Establish an ongoing employee feedback loop and create a vision for hybrid work.
Put lasting communications and culture systems in place, deliver an all-company gathering and leadership offsite, and work toward measurable gains in employee engagement and understanding of company priorities.
Work regularly from the office and travel for leadership offsites, company gatherings, and occasional meetings with Curriculum Associates.