Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Chief of Staff roles, careers, salaries, and hiring.
About the Role
What is a Chief of Staff?
A Chief of Staff is a senior leader who works directly with the CEO or executive to drive strategic priorities, lead cross-functional initiatives, and ensure organisational alignment. They serve as a 'force multiplier' - extending the executive's capacity without creating bottlenecks.
Learn more →What does a Chief of Staff do day-to-day?
Day-to-day activities include managing strategic projects, preparing board materials, facilitating leadership meetings, acting as liaison between CEO and teams, handling confidential initiatives, and solving cross-functional problems. The variety is what makes the role exciting - no two days are the same.
Learn more →Is Chief of Staff the same as an Executive Assistant?
No. While both support executives, a Chief of Staff focuses on strategic projects, decision-making, and cross-functional leadership. Executive Assistants handle administrative tasks, scheduling, and logistics. Chiefs of Staff typically have P&L responsibility and may lead teams.
What types of Chief of Staff roles exist?
The main types are: CEO Chief of Staff (classic model), Divisional CoS (supporting CFO, CTO, etc.), Office of the CEO (enterprise team structure), and Founder's CoS (early-stage startups). Each has different scope, seniority, and compensation.
Salary & Compensation
What is the average Chief of Staff salary in the UK?
UK Chief of Staff salaries range from £60,000 for early-stage startups to £200,000+ for senior enterprise roles. The average is £80,000-£130,000. London roles command a 20-30% premium. Total compensation including equity and bonus can be 30-50% higher.
Learn more →Do Chiefs of Staff get equity?
At startups and scale-ups, yes. Typical equity ranges from 0.1-0.5% at early-stage companies. Later-stage and enterprise roles may offer RSUs or stock options. Private equity-backed companies sometimes offer carried interest or co-investment opportunities.
What factors affect Chief of Staff salary?
Key factors include: company stage (startup vs enterprise), industry (PE/VC and tech pay highest), location (London premium), years of experience, previous background (ex-McKinsey/Goldman commands premium), and scope of role.
Career Path
How do I become a Chief of Staff?
Most Chiefs of Staff come from management consulting (40%), investment banking (25%), internal promotion from strategy roles (20%), or startup operations (15%). Key requirements are 5-10 years of experience, strategic thinking, executive presence, and the ability to influence without authority.
Learn more →Is Chief of Staff a good career move?
Yes, it's widely considered one of the best career accelerators. 85% are promoted within 3 years, often to COO, VP, or C-suite roles. The exposure to executive decision-making and cross-functional experience is unmatched.
Where do Chiefs of Staff go after the role?
Common next steps include: COO (30%), VP/SVP roles (25%), General Manager (15%), another CoS at a larger company (15%), Founder/CEO (10%), and Board/Advisory roles (5%).
How long do people stay in Chief of Staff roles?
The typical tenure is 2-4 years. Many companies structure CoS as a rotational program designed to develop future executives. Some people take multiple CoS roles at progressively larger companies.
For Employers
When should a company hire a Chief of Staff?
Companies typically hire when: the CEO is stretched thin with no bandwidth for strategic work, important initiatives fall between departments, preparing for rapid growth or transformation, or the executive team needs better coordination.
Learn more →What is a fractional Chief of Staff?
A fractional CoS works part-time (1-3 days/week) rather than full-time. They provide strategic support at lower cost (£800-2,000/day or £3,000-8,000/month), ideal for startups or companies testing the role before committing to full-time.
Learn more →How long does it take to hire a Chief of Staff?
Typically 6-12 weeks from job posting to accepted offer. The process involves screening, 3-4 interview rounds, case study, and CEO final round. Using a specialist recruiter can accelerate this by 2-4 weeks.
What should be in a Chief of Staff job description?
Key elements: role overview and reporting line, specific responsibilities, required qualifications (typically 5-10 years experience), desired skills, compensation range, and career path. Be specific about scope and what success looks like.
Learn more →About Chief of Staff Quest
What is Chief of Staff Quest?
We're a UK-based recruitment agency specialising exclusively in Chief of Staff roles. We operate a job board aggregating CoS opportunities and provide recruitment services for companies looking to hire Chiefs of Staff.
Is the job board free?
Yes, browsing jobs is completely free for candidates. Employers can post jobs for free on our platform as well.
How is Chief of Staff Quest different from other recruiters?
We specialise exclusively in Chief of Staff roles. This focus means we deeply understand the role's nuances, have a curated network of CoS candidates, and can help both employers and candidates navigate this unique position.