Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff About the Company Worker-owned creative collective building brands, apps & IoT, open source, profit-sharing, and spinning out bold new ideas Industry Environmental Services Type Privately Held Employees 1-10 About the Role We are hiring a Chief of Staff to work directly with Hugh & co in expanding the creative collective A worker-owned creative collective operating at the intersection of technology, design, culture, and community. We build brands, digital products, physical spaces, and entirely new ventures. Our work spans brand systems, cross-platform applications, IoT devices, publishing, community infrastructure, and experimental media. We are not a traditional agency or startup. We share profit, open-source our work, spin out new companies, and invest in ambitious ideas through both financial and in-kind support. We value independence, long-term thinking, and building systems that allow creativity to thrive. Our collaborators and partners have included organizations such as Google, Stripe, Figma, Mozilla, MIT, The Nobel Prize Foundation, Etsy, and others. We’ve contributed to products like The Light Phone and Mill, and we operate Index Space — a decentralized global community space network designed to connect builders, thinkers, and creators across cities. We care deeply about how we work: transparency, ownership, curiosity, calm communication, and shared accountability define our culture. The Role We are seeking a highly capable Chief of Staff to work directly with Founder & President Hugh Francis. This role is designed to serve as a strategic and operational multiplier across the collective. You will translate vision into execution. You will align priorities across teams. You will build systems that allow creativity and innovation to scale without chaos. This is a leadership role that requires strong judgment, operational rigor, emotional intelligence, and comfort operating in complexity. You must be equally comfortable thinking long-term about strategy and diving into tactical execution when needed. What You’ll Be Responsible For Strategic Alignment 1. Convert high-level vision into operational plans and measurable milestones 2. Ensure initiatives across teams are aligned and sequenced properly 3. Identify bottlenecks and remove friction before it compounds 4. Operational Infrastructure 5. Design and refine systems for resourcing, utilization, hiring, and accountability 6. Oversee workflow clarity across multiple concurrent initiatives 7. Improve forecasting and financial visibility 8. Support margin health and sustainability 9. Cross-Functional Leadership 10. Act as connective tissue across design, engineering, marketing, operations, finance, and community 11. Lead strategic meetings and translate outcomes into action steps 12. Increase clarity in decision-making and reduce organizational drag 13. Executive Partnership 14. Serve as trusted thought partner to the Founder 15. Help prioritize high-impact opportunities 16. Manage special projects and confidential initiatives 17. Step in to lead new ventures during early formation 18. Growth & Expansion 19. Support launches of new Index Space locations 20. Evaluate acquisition or spin-out opportunities 21. Assist with global operational infrastructure 22. Help incubate new business lines inside the collective Who You Are - 8–15+ years of experience in operations, consulting, strategy, or executive leadership - Proven ability to scale services-based or creative organizations - Strong financial literacy (P&L, forecasting, budgeting, ROI analysis) - Comfortable influencing senior leaders without relying on hierarchy - Systems thinker who naturally creates structure from ambiguity - Excellent communicator, both written and verbal - Calm under pressure and capable of independent decision-making - Motivated by long-term value creation over short-term wins - Experience with venture incubation, M&A, physical spaces, emerging technologies, or global teams is a strong plus. Who you are The person we’re looking for is happy, relaxed and easy to get along with and appreciates a commitment to a culture of transparency, non-dictatorial leadership styles, and alternative methodologies. They’re flexible on anything except conceits that will lower their usually outstanding work quality. They work “smart” by carefully managing their workflow and team. How We Work - Remote-first, async-friendly culture - Transparent financial discussions - Shared ownership mindset - Focused, calm communication over unnecessary meetings - Long-term incentives aligned with impact - We aim to build a durable, values-aligned ecosystem rather than a short-lived growth machine. Compensation & Structure This role begins with a 4-month trial contract to ensure strong mutual fit. Trial Compensation: $100–$125 per hour depending on experience and scope. Estimated Annual Equivalent (Full-Time): Approximately $160,000–$225,000 per year. Upon successful completion of the trial: - Transition to permanent leadership role - Compensation tied to revenue growth and expanded responsibility - Earning potential exceeding $200,000+ annually as the collective scales - Opportunity to become eligible for worker ownership participation - Compensation grows with measurable impact and long-term contribution. Why This Role Matters This is not a conventional Chief of Staff position inside a rigid corporate structure. It is an opportunity to help architect a creative ecosystem — one that builds products, spaces, ventures, and communities in a worker-owned model. If you are excited about shaping systems, driving clarity, and helping ambitious ideas become durable realities, we would love to connect. Team Size 50 Travel Percent Less than 10% Functions General Management Business Development Operations Skills Operations required Business Development required Management required