What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief of Staff position at Future of StoryTelling?
Company Overview
The Future of StoryTelling (FoST) is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary story studio passionately committed to creating transformative stories and experiences that bring people together, inspire curiosity, and enact positive change. We help the world’s biggest brands, artists, and marketers tell their stories in ways that are powerful and meaningful, across many different platforms. FoST also produces original content throughout the year, including the biweekly Future of StoryTelling Podcast and the monthly FoST in Thought newsletter.
FoST’s book division, Melcher Media, is a leading producer of award-winning content with a reputation for helping authors and companies translate their brands into innovative, tactile, and impeccably produced illustrated books. For more than 30 years we have been at the forefront of storytelling, publishing 33 New York Times best-sellers and winning multiple design awards for both apps and print products.
At FoST, our clients have included some of the biggest celebrities and corporations, including Oprah Winfrey, Kobe Bryant, Garth Brooks, Al Gore, Apple, Netflix, Meta, and PepsiCo, among others. For more information, please visit www.futureofstorytelling.org.
As a company, FoST is entering an exciting new phase of growth and transformation. Our current project portfolio has recently expanded to include a number of opportunities with greater scale and potential for profound and lasting cultural impact. To sustain and further this growth, we are looking to add a smart, driven, and efficient Chief of Staff to work directly with our CEO out of our New York office.
Role Overview
The Chief of Staff (CoS) is a senior strategic partner to the CEO, responsible for translating vision into execution, aligning teams around priorities, and driving cross-functional initiatives. This role enhances the effectiveness of the executive office by ensuring focus, clarity, and follow-through across the organization.
The ideal candidate combines strong strategic judgment with hands-on execution skills and thrives in complex, fast-moving environments.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Support
- Act as a trusted thought partner to the CEO, helping shape strategy, priorities, team growth, and long-term planning
- Prepare briefing materials, decision memos, and strategic analyses
Execution & Operations
- Drive execution of company-wide initiatives and strategic priorities
- Track progress on goals; surface risks and blockers early
- Ensure follow-through on leadership decisions
Cross-Functional Alignment
- Coordinate across departments
- Identify misalignment, inefficiencies, or gaps in communication
- Clarify decision-making frameworks and escalation paths
Communication & Information Flow
- Serve as a central point of coordination for the CEO
- Filter, prioritize, and synthesize information for leadership
- Communicate key messages from leadership clearly and consistently across the organization
Special Projects & Problem Solving
- Lead high-priority or sensitive initiatives that require discretion and judgment
- Step in to manage projects that cut across teams or lack clear ownership
- Support organizational change, growth, or transformation efforts
Qualifications
Required
- MBA or equivalent advanced degree
- 8–12 years of experience in strategy, operations, consulting, production, or executive leadership roles
- Proven ability to manage complex, cross-functional projects
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical and organizational abilities
- High degree of discretion, integrity, and emotional intelligence
Preferred
- Experience working directly with C-suite or founder-led organizations
- Background in media, entertainment, technology, cultural institutions, or large-scale productions
Core Competencies
- Strategic thinking with operational follow-through
- Systems-level perspective
- Calm under pressure; thrives amid ambiguity
- Influences without authority
- Balances creative vision with business realities
Success in this Role Looks Like
- Leadership decisions are executed clearly and consistently
- Teams are aligned around shared priorities
- The CEO has more time to focus on vision, external relationships, and creative leadership
- Complex initiatives move forward efficiently with fewer surprises
Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience
- Comprehensive benefits package