Chief of Staff

Carnot; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 165,000; Part time

Job summary

Carnot is seeking a Chief of Staff to serve as a force multiplier for the CEO. This part-time contract role (at least 20 hours per week, with flexibility on scheduling) moves fluidly between strategy and execution, with real ownership and impact on how the company scales.

The position has a clear path to full-time conversion, with a mutual evaluation at the 3-month mark. The ideal candidate has the horsepower of a top-tier consultant, the scrappiness of an early startup employee, and the

Qualifications

• 2+ years in a high-performance environment: top-tier management consulting, investment banking, or Chief of Staff at a high-growth startup.
• Track record of managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and delivering under pressure.
• Exceptional communication skills. You can take messy information and turn it into a clear, concise narrative.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills.
• Native/Bilingual proficiency in English.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic planning: Own the quarterly planning process, track KPIs, and keep the company aligned on what matters.
• Fix what's broken: Identify bottlenecks in how we work, communicate, and ship. Implement solutions without waiting to be told.
• Lead cross-functional projects: Take ownership of high-priority initiatives that don’t fit neatly into existing teams, e.g., new market analysis, product launch coordination, or fundraising prep.
• Maximize the CEO's time: Manage priorities, prepare materials for board meetings and investor conversations, and handle external engagements.
• Support hiring and culture: Help recruit key roles and maintain a strong, unified culture across SF and Tokyo teams.
• Build the information edge: Conduct research on competitors, market trends, and partnerships to inform top-level decisions.

Skills

Chief of Staff experience

Consulting background

Communication skills

Financial modeling

English fluency

Job description

We're looking for a Chief of Staff to serve as a force multiplier for the CEO. This is a part-time contract role (at least 20 hours per week, with flexibility on scheduling) designed for someone who can move fluidly between strategy and execution.

This isn't a "shadow the executive" role. You'll own real problems, make real decisions, and have direct impact on how the company scales. The position has a clear path to full-time conversion, with a mutual evaluation at the 3-month mark.

The ideal candidate has the horsepower of a top-tier consultant, the scrappiness of an early startup employee, and the judgment to know when to ask questions versus when to just figure it out.

What You'll Do

• Drive strategic planning: Own the quarterly planning process, track KPIs, and keep the company aligned on what matters.
• Fix what's broken: Identify bottlenecks in how we work, communicate, and ship. Implement solutions without waiting to be told.
• Lead cross-functional projects: Take ownership of high-priority initiatives that don't fit neatly into existing teams, whether that's analyzing a new market, coordinating a product launch, or preparing for a fundraise.
• Maximize the CEO's time: Manage priorities, prepare materials for board meetings and investor conversations, and handle external engagements.
• Support hiring and culture: Help recruit key roles and maintain a strong, unified culture across our SF and Tokyo teams.
• Build the information edge: Conduct research on competitors, market trends, and potential partnerships to inform decisions at the top.

RequirementsExperience

• 2+ years in a high-performance environment: top-tier management consulting, investment banking, or Chief of Staff at a high-growth startup.
• Track record of managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and delivering under pressure.
• Exceptional communication skills. You can take messy information and turn it into a clear, concise narrative.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills.
• Native/Bilingual proficiency in English.

Bonus

• Prior experience as a founder or early employee at a venture-backed startup.

Mindset

• Ownership: You treat this like your company. You don't wait for permission to solve problems.
• Adaptability: You're comfortable with ambiguity and can pivot between strategic, financial, and operational challenges without losing momentum.
• Discretion: You'll have access to sensitive information. You operate with integrity and keep confidences.