Hybrid Chief of Staff

at Qumis

• Job title: Chief of Staff
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Lead
• Salary: $120,000 - $180,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Chicago, United States

About the role

• Chief of Staff managing operations and strategic initiatives in a venture-backed AI startup. Collaborating with the Founder/CEO to ensure operational excellence and cultural alignment.

Responsibilities

• You will own the execution of our information security program (managing the engineers/auditors) and vet/manage our finance operations and other key vendors.
• You will act as the first filter for executive and key hires. You will vet recruitment agencies, negotiate terms, and ensure only the top 1% of candidates reach the CEO’s desk.
• If a problem is stuck between departments, you are the one who dives in, untangles it, and drives cross-functional alignment.
• You will run the weekly leadership meetings, ensuring agendas are set, action items are tracked, and the CEO is briefed on "blind spots."
• From fundraising due diligence to board meeting prep, you will handle high-stakes ad-hoc projects that require discretion and speed.
• You will own the "day-to-day experience"—upgrading furniture, managing layout flow, and ensuring the space signals "high performance" to the team and investors.
• As we scale, you will track our headcount velocity and lead the strategic planning for our *next* office move in ~12 months (scouting, budgeting, and design).
• You will overhaul our swag and internal assets. No cheap throwaways. You will source high-quality goods that reflect the premium nature of our product.
• You will own the company calendar—planning All-Hands, team dinners, and offsites. You ensure these aren't just "mandatory fun" but are curated experiences that build genuine connection.

Requirements

• 5-8 years of experience: Ideally in high-performance environments (Law, Management Consulting, or early-stage Startup Operations).
• High Agency: You don’t ask "what should I do?" You say "Here are the three options I’ve researched, and here is the one I recommend we execute."
• Zero Ego / High Standards: You are willing to assemble a desk or negotiate a million-dollar contract on the same day. You believe that *how* we do anything is how we do everything.
• Taste Level: You have an opinion on design and quality. You know the difference between "expensive" and "valuable."

Benefits

• Access: You will work directly with the Founder/CEO (former attorney turned founder) and see exactly how a VC-backed company is built from the inside.
• Impact: You aren't a cog in a machine. You are building the machine.
• Upside: Meaningful equity in a high growth venture capital backed company with a clear path to Series A and beyond.