Chief of Staff / Operations Specialist
Column
Column is the software platform for public information. We build automated tools and workflow solutions that help governments, law firms, and media organizations notify the public. Today, thousands of publishers and tens of thousands of agencies, firms, and individuals rely on Column to keep their communities informed every day. We’re reimagining how public information connects people, institutions, and media.
We're a 50-person B2B SaaS company in late-stage Series A, and we need a strategic operator to help us scale with discipline. This role will own the operational backbone of the company—improving how we execute, coordinate across teams, and run the business day-to-day.
This is a high-ownership, high-trust role reporting directly to the CEO. You'll split your time between operational execution (40%), administrative infrastructure (30%), and strategic partnership (30%). You'll have broad exposure across finance, people ops, compliance, and cross-functional initiatives—but no direct reports.
What You'll Own
Operational Execution (40%)
- Lead cross-functional projects spanning product, ops, finance, and people
- Improve internal processes and workflows to increase efficiency and reliability
- Establish operating rhythms: planning cycles, reporting cadences, accountability systems
- Identify bottlenecks and misalignment; drive resolution without waiting for permission
- Track execution across departments and ensure initiatives reach completion
Administrative & Compliance Infrastructure (30%)
- Coordinate with external partners (legal, accounting, payroll, benefits providers)
- Own compliance requirements and ensure internal policies are maintained
- Manage people operations: onboarding, offboarding, role changes, documentation
- Maintain company handbook and HR processes (operational support, not strategic HR leadership)
- Ensure administrative systems run smoothly so leadership can focus on growth
Strategic Partnership & CEO Support (30%)
- Serve as thought partner on prioritization, strategy, and key decisions
- Translate strategic direction into clear plans with milestones and accountability
- Conduct analysis and synthesize information to support business planning
- Own high-priority or sensitive projects requiring discretion and judgment
- Reduce CEO's operational burden through proactive execution and follow-up
Success in Year One
- First 90 days: Own and deliver an updated company handbook
- Ongoing: Demonstrably improve operational efficiency and cross-functional execution
- Impact: Help the company improve profitability through better operational rigor and execution discipline
What We're Looking For
Required:
- 4–7 years in operations, strategy, consulting, or program management
- Track record coordinating complex, cross-functional initiatives
- Strong operational judgment and comfort working independently
- Excellent written communication and ability to synthesize complexity
- Exposure to people operations, compliance, or administrative systems
- Energized by both strategic problems and unglamorous operational details
Bonus Points:
- Experience in scaling startups (Series A/B stage)
- Background as a generalist operator vs. functional specialist
- Familiarity with B2B SaaS business models
Why This Role Matters
This role creates leverage at the center of the organization. You'll have direct access to the CEO, exposure to every part of the business, and ownership of initiatives that directly impact our path to profitability. The scope is broad, the expectations are high, and the impact is immediate.
If you're energized by bringing order to complexity and translating strategy into results, let's talk.