Hire a Chief of Staff: Complete Employer Guide
Looking to hire a Chief of Staff? This guide covers everything: when you need one, what to look for, how to structure the role, and how to run an effective hiring process.
Signs You Need to Hire a Chief of Staff
These are the most common triggers for companies deciding to hire their first CoS:
CEO/Founder is the bottleneck
Everything waits for the CEO. They're in every meeting, every decision. The company can't scale without leverage.
Strategic projects keep stalling
Important initiatives that don't belong to any single department get deprioritized or abandoned.
Cross-functional coordination is broken
Teams work in silos. No one owns the connections between departments.
Preparing for major change
Fundraising, M&A, rapid hiring, or transformation on the horizon requires dedicated senior attention.
Executive team needs air traffic control
Leadership meetings are ineffective. Decisions don't get implemented. Follow-through is poor.
Need a future leader pipeline
Want to develop high-potential talent with broad exposure before promoting to executive roles.
What to Look For When Hiring
Beyond the CV, these are the attributes that separate good Chiefs of Staff from great ones:
Strategic + Operational
Can think at 30,000 feet but also roll up sleeves to execute. Comfortable switching between modes.
Executive Presence
Commands respect in the room. Can represent the CEO to board members, investors, and senior leaders.
Influence Without Authority
Gets things done across teams without direct reports. Builds coalitions and drives consensus.
Discretion & Trust
Handles confidential information flawlessly. The CEO can share anything without worry.
Ego-Free Leadership
Makes others successful. Doesn't need credit. Comfortable with ambiguous authority.
Learning Agility
Picks up new domains quickly. Can add value in areas they've never worked in before.
UK Chief of Staff Salary Benchmarks
What you'll need to pay to attract top talent (London adds 20-30% premium):
| Company Type | Base Salary | Equity | Bonus | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early-Stage Startup | £60,000 - £90,000 | 0.2-0.5% | 10-20% | £70,000 - £120,000+ |
| Growth / Scale-up | £80,000 - £130,000 | 0.05-0.2% | 15-25% | £100,000 - £180,000 |
| Enterprise / FTSE | £120,000 - £180,000 | RSUs | 20-40% | £150,000 - £250,000 |
| PE-Backed | £100,000 - £160,000 | Carry potential | 25-50% | £130,000 - £220,000 |
For detailed salary data, see our complete UK salary guide.
The Hiring Process
A typical Chief of Staff hiring process takes 6-12 weeks. Here's the recommended approach:
Define the Role
1 weekClarify scope: Strategic vs operational? CEO-only or broader? What specific problems will they solve?
Source Candidates
2-3 weeksTarget ex-consultants, bankers, or operators. Use specialist recruiters. Leverage CEO's network.
Initial Screening
1 week30-min calls to assess communication, motivation, and basic fit. Look for CEO chemistry potential.
Deep Interviews
2-3 weeks2-3 rounds with leadership team. Test strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and cultural fit.
Case Study / Project
1 weekReal-world scenario: 'How would you approach X?' or mini-project to see work product quality.
CEO Final Round
1 weekExtended time with CEO. Chemistry and trust assessment. Often includes informal setting.
Reference & Offer
1-2 weeksDeep references with former executives. Negotiate package including equity and growth path.
Common Hiring Mistakes to Avoid
Hiring an Executive Assistant
The CoS role is strategic, not administrative. If you need calendar management and travel booking, hire an EA. If you need a strategic partner, hire a CoS.
Unclear Scope
Vague job descriptions attract wrong candidates. Define specific problems they'll solve and what success looks like in 6-12 months.
Skipping the Chemistry Test
CEO-CoS relationship is intimate. Spend real time together before hiring - dinner, travel, crisis simulation. Trust is everything.
Underpaying the Role
Top CoS candidates have options. Below-market compensation signals you don't understand the role's value. This is a senior position.
Why Use a Specialist Chief of Staff Recruiter?
What We Offer
- ✓Access to passive candidates not on job boards
- ✓Pre-vetted candidates with CoS-specific assessment
- ✓Market intelligence on compensation and competition
- ✓Faster hiring - 2-4 weeks vs 6-12 weeks typical
Our Approach
- →Deep understanding of the CoS role and its variations
- →Network of ex-consultants, bankers, and operators
- →Help defining scope and structuring the role
- →Post-hire support for onboarding success
- →For membership organisations, we partner with specialist agencies like membership marketing agency experts to align leadership with growth goals
Ready to Hire Your Chief of Staff?
Post your role for free or speak with our team about your requirements.