The profession of Chief of Staff, very widespread in the United States, has recently arrived in France. From now on, start-ups in France no longer hesitate to recruit their new “CEO’s right-hand man” for various functions, from strategy to consulting, including operations. The editorial staff tells you all regarding this new job! Training, daily life, missions, salary…
Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff, CEO’s right-hand man, Chief of Staff… If several names are given to this new profession, its role is much clearer! If you want to discover and learn all the workings of a company’s business units in order to join the ComEx or launch a startup, this job can become a real springboard for your career. As the CEO’s right-hand man, his role is to manage various projects in connection with the strategic direction.
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The missions of the Chief of Staff
Originally, this profession was exercised by American politicians or soldiers. Now present in the biggest startups, the Chief of Staff is one of the insiders of an organization. Thanks to his closeness to managers, he participates in the prioritization of their work, promotes external and internal relations and optimizes decision-making. He plays the role of internal consultant reporting to the CEO.
The main missions of the Chief of Staff are:
- steering and management of the company’s strategic projects;
- management and monitoring of the company’s overall performance;
- the definition of target processes and, if necessary, the deployment of tools to optimize performance;
- identification and definition of recruitment needs;
- involvement in strategic issues (fundraising, acquisitions, etc.).
In addition, the Chief of Staff carries out consultancy, strategy, information management and also operations missions.
Advice mission
Close to the CEO, the Chief of Staff develops a consultant role. He becomes a “third” character in the company, neutral, with no hierarchical link with the various managers. He provides assistance to enable managers to achieve the objectives set by the CEO.
Strategy
True right-hand man of the CEO, he is an operational support. He participates in the strategy. Sometimes, it can become the driving force behind the generation and creation of KPI’s and their monitoring.
Information management
Guarantor of the proper transmission of information within the company, he must listen and understand the issues and expectations of each. Close to management, he is one of those who know the most regarding the company. For this reason, the Chief of Staff must ensure good internal communication between members of the executive, but also with customers and various partners.
Operational assignments
Its missions are diverse and varied. The Chief of Staff adapts to the strengths of the company and the agenda of the CEO. He participates in the structuring of new teams, develops new business ideas. Sometimes, he may also be called upon to carry out HR and financial analysis missions.
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The daily life of a Chief of Staff
A true Swiss army knife, the daily life of a CoS (Chief of Staff) is never the same. Moreover, the days of a CoS are different from one startup to another. It is a position in which you have to know how to adapt according to the needs of the moment. It is intimately linked to the personality of the person occupying it as well as that of the CEO. Highly sought following by startups and unicorns because of the hyper growth they are experiencing, CoS can evolve in a company of ten employees or many more.
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To exercise the profession of Chief of Staff, it is generally necessary to have obtained a bac+5 level diploma in one of the most prestigious business or engineering schools in France. In addition, candidates for this position often go through consulting firms (BCG, McKinseyetc.) Startups recruit two CoS profiles, the first (the most sought following) are candidates from consulting firms, the second profiles sought are already evolving in the world of startups in an operational position.
In France, job offers to become Chief of Staff remain quite rare and these talents remain in high demand. It is therefore necessary to be persevering and to remain alert so as not to miss one of them.
The skills of a Chief of Staff
What skills do you need to have to become Chief of Staff? In order to exercise this profession in optimal conditions, you must have the following skills:
- have excellent project management skills;
- be able to analyze performance indicators;
- have an analytical mind;
- have a solid knowledge of marketing;
- have excellent interpersonal skills, good communication skills and be able to work in a team;
- master business concepts;
- know how to take a step back and have a good strategic vision;
- manage stress and pressure;
- to speak English fluently.
The qualities of CoS
To carry out all the missions entrusted to him, a Chief of Staff must possess certain qualities such as:
- the sense of listening;
- great diplomacy;
- sense of priorities and adaptation;
- rigor and versatility;
- humility.
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The career paths of a Chief of Staff
Through its various missions, the CoS acquires solid skills that allow it to evolve therefollowing. As proof, rare are the Chiefs of Staff who remain in their position for more than five years. Very often, following a successful experience, they move on to management and executive management positions. The positions most often occupied following a CoS experience are:
- Operation Manager
- Head of Operation
- COO
- Head of Customer Succes
- Sales Operation Manager
The salary of a Chief of Staff
Obviously, you want to know the remuneration of the latter. The salary of a Chief of Staff varies a lot depending on the companies and their size. The income received is between €40,000 and €250,000 annually. However, on average, a junior earns €25,000 per year, a confirmed Chief of Staff receives a salary of €75,000 and an expert is around €120,000 per year.
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