Senior Director, Chief of Staff to CEO

Job Description

The Senior Director, Chief of Staff to the CEO is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving enterprise-wide priorities, ensuring operational excellence, and enabling the CEO’s vision across the organization. Serving as a trusted advisor, the Chief of Staff leads cross-functional initiatives, manages Board and executive communications, and facilitates decision-making processes to advance corporate objectives. This role is pivotal in aligning senior leadership, optimizing resources, and fostering a culture of accountability and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Translate the CEO’s vision into actionable strategies and initiatives that align with organizational goals.
• Lead enterprise-wide integration efforts, ensuring cross-functional collaboration and synergy.
• Serve as a thought partner and provide strategic advice and support to the CEO on matters relating to company goals, initiatives, and structure.
• Conduct market, competitive, and organizational analyses to inform executive decision-making and maintain a forward-looking view of opportunities, risks and dependencies affecting organizational performance.
• Drive operational excellence by identifying and implementing process improvements, efficiency measures, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Design, implement, and manage governance models to ensure accountability, compliance, and risk mitigation.
• Program and project manage critical initiatives on behalf of the CEO, ensuring timely and impactful execution.
• Oversee executive-level communications in partnership with Corporate Communications, including briefing materials, board presentations, and enterprise-wide messaging.
• Act as a central conduit between the CEO and key stakeholders, strengthening cross-functional engagement and decision-making.
• Partner with external affairs, community engagement, and government relations to represent the CEO’s office with key stakeholders, including regulators, community leaders, and provider partners.
• Facilitate meetings and workshops for the Executive Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and other groups.
• Lead high-performing, matrixed teams; mentor talent and foster an inclusive, innovative culture.
• Champion cultural transformation efforts, ensuring alignment with enterprise values and leadership principles.
• Support the CEO in preparing for board meetings and external engagements.
• Ensure confidentiality and act as a liaison between the CEO and other constituencies.
  
  

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years relevant experience including 10 years in management roles.
• Prior experience as a Chief of Staff or in a similar executive advisory capacity.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Background in strategy, operations, finance, or consulting preferred.
• Experience driving complex, multi-faceted projects to successful completion.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including executive and board presentation experience.
• Proven ability to influence and drive performance across senior leadership teams.
• Experience managing mid- to large-size teams and leading cross-functional initiatives.
• High emotional intelligence, executive maturity, and resilience in dynamic environments.
• Capable of challenging senior and line management in a constructive, balanced way, offering solutions and fresh thinking.
• Seasoned business judgment, board-level stature and a passion for increasing member value and improving processes across the enterprise.
  
  

About The Team

About Stellarus and the Ascendiun Family of Companies

Stellarus, launched in January 2025, is designed to scale innovative healthcare solutions that support customers in creating a health care experience deserving of their family, friends, and neighbors.

Stellarus is part of a family of organizations that is overseen by a nonprofit corporate entity named Ascendiun. The Ascendiun Family of Companies also includes Blue Shield of California and its subsidiary, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan and Altais, a clinical services company.

Stellarus’ vision is to empower its customers to create a healthcare experience that is worthy of their family, friends, and neighbors. Stellarus’ objective is to offer innovative, modern, scalable solutions that challenge the health care status quo. This very closely aligns with Blue Shield of California’s vision by using innovation to improve quality, affordability, and experience for members.

To achieve our mission, we foster an environment where all employees can thrive and contribute fully to address the needs of the various communities we serve. We are committed to creating and maintaining a supportive workplace that upholds our values and advances our goals.

Our Values:

At Stellarus, our core values of agility, trust, drive, courage and service shape our approach to developing innovative product offerings.

Our Workplace Model:

At Stellarus and the Ascendiun Family of Companies, we believe in fostering a workplace environment that balances purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility. As we continue to evolve our workplace model, our focus remains on creating spaces where our people can connect with purpose – whether working in the office or through a hybrid approach – by providing clear expectations while respecting the diverse needs of our workforce.

Two Ways of Working:

• Hybrid (Default): Work from a business unit-approved office at least two (2) times per month (for roles below Director-level) or once per week (for Director-level roles and above).Exceptions:
• Member-facing and approved out-of-state roles remain remote.
• Employees living more than 50 miles from their assigned offices are expected to work with their managers on a plan for periodic office visits.
• For employees with medical conditions that may impact their ability to work in-office, we are committed to engaging in an interactive process and providing reasonable accommodations to ensure their work environment is conducive to their success and well-being.
• On-Site: Work from a business unit-approved office an average of four (4) or more days a week.
  
  

Physical Requirements:

Office Environment - roles involving part to full time schedule in Office Environment. Based in our physical offices and work from home office/deskwork - Activity level: Sedentary, frequency most of work day.

Please click here for further physical requirement detail.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

External hires must pass a background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with arrest records and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with Federal, State and local laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or disability status and any other classification protected by Federal, State and local laws.