Chief of Staff

Brightwater Executive; Dublin; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightwater Executive has been exclusively engaged to lead the search for a Chief of Staff in an Ireland-based, market-leading financial services organisation. The role partners with the CEO and ExCom to drive strategic priorities, ensure governance, and coordinate key initiatives across functions.

The Chief of Staff will translate priorities into roadmaps, manage executive workflows, support board preparations, and lead cross-functional projects in a fast-paced growth environment.

Qualifications

• 8-12+ years' experience in management consulting, strategy, Chief of Staff, senior project/program management, or similar, ideally with exposure to C-suite stakeholders.
• Prior experience supporting a CEO or C-level leader in a senior strategic, governance, operations, or programme management capacity.
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional projects and driving execution in fast paced or transformation environments.
• Exceptional organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage many concurrent tasks while maintaining high standards.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability; able to synthesize complex information into concise insights and recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to tailor style for Board, ExCom, and broader organisation.

Responsibilities

• Translate CEO and ExCom priorities into clear roadmaps, milestones, and action plans across functions.
• Track and drive follow through on CEO and ExCom decisions, ensuring owners, timelines, and outcomes are defined and delivered.
• Prepare the CEO for key internal and external meetings; run or support special cross functional projects.
• Represent the CEO in selected internal meetings and working sessions, escalating decisions and risks as appropriate.
• Support preparation for Board and Board Committee meetings, gathering input from functions and ensuring materials are concise and decision ready.
• Manage ExCom operating rhythm and alignment with Board and business cycles.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives, surface dependencies and trade-offs.
• Build relationships to facilitate collaboration and unblock execution.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive advisory

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Project management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in relevant field

Job description

Brightwater Executive has been exclusively engaged to lead the search for this Chief of Staff appointment.

Joining a market leading financial services organisation at a pivotal stage of their strategic road map, this is a unique and exciting time to join, with their ambitious growth journey ahead.

The Role Purpose

The Chief of Staff partners with the CEO and ExCom to drive strategic priorities, ensure operational discipline, coordinating ExCom workflows, key initiatives, governance, and all aspects of information flow, and meeting preparation.

Strategic Partner to CEO & ExCom (Chief of Staff)

• Act as a trusted advisor and sounding board to the CEO on strategy, priorities, and organisational issues.
• Translate CEO and ExCom priorities into clear roadmaps, milestones, and action plans across functions.
• Track and drive follow through on CEO and ExCom decisions, ensuring owners, timelines, and outcomes are defined and delivered.
• Prepare the CEO for key internal and external meetings; Run or support special cross functional projects (e.g., strategic reviews, transformation initiatives, annual planning, budget cycle).
• Represent the CEO in selected internal meetings and working sessions, escalating decisions and risks as appropriate
• Support preparation for Board and Board Committee meetings, gathering input from functions and ensuring materials are concise and decision ready.

Executive Committee & Governance Management

• Manage the ExCom operating rhythm: Ensure alignment between ExCom meetings, Board, and key business cycles (strategy, budget, performance reviews).
• Coordinate cross functional alignment on major initiatives, proactively surfacing dependencies, conflicts, and trade-offs.
• Maintain a central view of strategic initiatives, KPIs, and risk items, and ensure regular reporting to the CEO and ExCom.
• Build strong relationships across senior leaders to facilitate collaboration and unblock execution

Communication and Culture

• Act as a communication arm for the CEO, ensuring consistent, timely messages to leaders and teams. Draft or coordinate CEO communications (town halls, ExCom updates, board letters, key stakeholder messages).
• Strategic Planning& Execution
• Executive Governance & Board Support
• Financial & Business Acumen
• Data, Reporting & Decision Support
• Stakeholder Communications
• Understanding of Insurance Business Models

Experience & Qualifications

• 8-12+ years' experience in management consulting, strategy, Chief of Staff, senior project/program management, or similar, ideally with exposure to C suite stakeholders.
• Prior experience supporting a CEO or C-level leader in a senior strategic, governance, operations, or programme management capacity.
• Proven track record of leading cross functional projects and driving execution in fast paced, high growth or transformation environments.
• Exceptional organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage many concurrent tasks while maintaining high standards.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability; able to synthesise complex information into concise insights and recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to tailor style for Board, ExCom, and broader organisation.

Brightwater Executive has been exclusively engaged to lead this search.

Estelle Davis at [e-mail]