Chief of Staff, R&D
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for skilled R&D operators has surged by 25% in the past year, driven by the need for companies to innovate and scale rapidly. As a Chief of Staff, R&D, you'll be at the helm of driving this growth. With Sproutsocial's commitment to social intelligence and AI-forward operating systems, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of R&D. Candidates with a strong background in strategy, operations, and people management will be in high demand. Before applying, consider your ability to navigate complex organizational structures and drive cross-functional collaboration.
Job Description
About the Role
The Chief of Staff, R&D at Sproutsocial is a high-visibility, high-leverage position that partners with R&D leaders to turn strategy into motion. As a trusted advisor and thought partner to the CPO and CTO, you will shape the R&D leadership agenda and prepare them for board and executive interactions. This role is critical in driving the company's growth and scaling its social intelligence capabilities.The R&D organization at Sproutsocial is the engine of the company's growth, and as Chief of Staff, you will play a key role in ensuring its success. You will work closely with senior leaders to run the complex R&D organization with speed and clarity, while maintaining transparency and ownership. Your ability to build scalable, AI-forward operating systems will be essential in driving the company's vision forward.
Sproutsocial values transparency and ownership, offering autonomy to build and scale the R&D organization. As Chief of Staff, you will have the opportunity to influence the decisions shaping the company's roadmap and drive the tracking, reporting, and alignment of R&D OKRs with company strategy.
What You Will Do
- Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the CPO and CTO, shaping the R&D leadership agenda and preparing them for board and executive interactions.
- Lead the operational teams managing the R&D operating cadence, including meetings, reviews, and quarterly planning.
- Drive the tracking, reporting, and alignment of R&D OKRs with company strategy.
- Act as the first line of judgment on escalations and meeting requests, triaging what requires direct leadership attention versus what can be resolved asynchronously.
- Build and maintain the R&D operational dashboard, translating data on delivery velocity, capacity, and headcount into clear narratives that drive decisions.
- Lead high-priority, ambiguous initiatives across the R&D portfolio, such as org design or AI-operating-model buildouts.
- Serve as the primary point of contact and partner for FP&A, leading overall budget governance across Engineering, Product, and Design.
- Surface trade-offs by bringing options, costs, and recommendations to the CPO and CTO to make prioritization calls highly visible.
- Partner with People and Finance on the joint R&D hiring plan, capacity model, and senior onboarding.
- Draft and own key R&D communications, ensuring a consistent voice across executive memos and board content.
What We Are Looking For
- 12+ years of experience spanning strategy, operations, management consulting, product management, or a prior Chief of Staff role, ideally within a high-growth or public B2B SaaS company.
- 5+ years of direct people management experience.
- Deep fluency in how R&D organizations operate, including the product development lifecycle, product, design, and engineering org structures, capacity planning, and the relationship between roadmap, resourcing, and business outcomes.
- A proven track record of influencing VP-, SVP-, and C-level leaders without owning the org chart.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft and own key R&D communications.
- Ability to hold the trust of two principals at once, influence without formal authority, and move fluidly between the details and the strategic picture.
- High emotional intelligence and discretion, with the judgment to navigate sensitive issues and competing priorities.
Nice to Have
- Experience working in a remote or distributed team environment.
- Familiarity with AI-forward operating systems and social intelligence platforms.
- Knowledge of agile development methodologies and DevOps practices.
- Experience with data analysis and visualization tools, such as Tableau or Power BI.
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and equity package.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Flexible PTO and vacation policy.
- Remote work stipend and home office setup support.
- Professional development opportunities, including conference sponsorships and training programs.
- Access to cutting-edge technology and tools.
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a team of experienced professionals.
How to Stand Out
- Develop a strong understanding of R&D operations and strategy, including the product development lifecycle and capacity planning.
- Showcase your ability to influence senior leaders and drive cross-functional collaboration.
- Highlight your experience with data analysis and visualization tools, such as Tableau or Power BI.
- Prepare to discuss your approach to building and maintaining operational dashboards and tracking R&D OKRs.
- Be ready to provide examples of your experience with agile development methodologies and DevOps practices.
- Research Sproutsocial's social intelligence platform and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to its growth and development.
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