VP Chief of Staff at Clickatell

Purpose

We are seeking a curious, collaborative and creative thought leader, strategist and communicator to serve as Chief of Staff to the CEO, supporting the CEO with communications, strategy, special projects and Exco and Leadership Team execution. The Chief of Staff is a coordinator who leads the strategic alignment across the organization on a continual basis.

The ideal candidate will be a world-class communicator, have the proven ability to work independently with experience at a top-tier consulting firm or similar strategy experience, and have a track record of delivering distinctive results. You will need to possess strong leadership qualities and be detail-oriented, organized, analytical, and strategic thinker. You’re a perfect fit for this role if, over a wide diversity of projects, businesses or clients you’ve built and honed your skills in structured problem solving, outcome-oriented execution, meticulous attention to detail, and executive level communications - all with high analytical capability and rigor.

This role represents a unique opportunity to be exposed to and operate at the highest levels of business strategy and operations at a truly global and industry-leading organization that continues to scale. You’ll build relationships with senior leaders and bring the skills you’ve built to bear on some of our most interesting, high stakes work.

Responsibilities of the Role

• Assist the CEO and Exco with cross functional execution of the company strategy with a view to define, meet and deliver on key milestones;
• Think strategically while providing tactical support to implement ideas while keeping it simple and drama free;
• Implement the appropriate tools and measurement systems to optimize and streamline operations and drive the adoption of the organizational strategy;
• Partner with the Exco team to define, prepare and communicate organization plans, including quarterly, annual and long-term strategy and operational plans;
• Track, analyze and report on progress or performance of high priority initiatives for the CEO as per SLAs, OKR/ KPO’s, project goals, and change initiatives;
• Oversee strategic business initiatives from development through successful execution under the guidance of Exco;
• Increase efficiency and effective responsiveness into existing operations, by assisting with new operational strategies, working with CEO and Exco on special projects;
• Manage the meeting cadence and company calendar for the Exco and Leadership Team, ensuring materials are sent in advance, time is well spent, and objectives are achieved;
• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives and ensure action items are executed on behalf of the CEO;
• Provide analysis, recommendations, and options to the CEO regarding high impact decisions;
• Ensure an effective information management protocol that delivers up-to-date information easily and when it is needed;
• Be a thought leader in maximizing the organization’s operating performance and achieving its financial goals.
• Maintaining awareness of competitors, expansion opportunities, customers, markets, and new industry developments and standards.
• International travel for 5 business days may be required up to 4 x per year (the Exco off-site cadence).

Requirements of the Role

• Master’s degree in Business Administration or similar field;
• Passport and the ability to travel internationally;
• Permission to conduct a background check, reputation is important to us and the clients we serve;

Work Experience

• 8+ years working experience in a high-growth, international organization;
• Broad business experience driving execution and adoption of key strategic programs across departments and large teams;
• A track record in leading and delivering complex large-scale projects and partnerships, often managing a range of internal and external stakeholders;
• Experience planning and leading strategic initiatives;
• Consulting experience with a focus on operations management (advantageous).

Knowledge / Abilities

• Proven ability to develop and lead the implementation of strategic plans, develop a communications strategy as well as policy and operational plans in support of a successful outcome, across an organization with remote management;
• Strong project reporting skills, with a focus on interdepartmental communication;
• Ability to work in a flexible manner in line with the organization’s objectives and willingness to undertake other duties as reasonably requested;
• Possess a commanding presence that can strongly influence the decision-making of the Leadership Team and Exco with their unique insight of the industry and drive innovative thinking.
• Ability to lead on behalf of the organization with an elevated level of conviction and perspective.
• Strong financial analysis, budget planning and management experience and skills;
• Extremely versatile, dedicated to efficient productivity;
• Business-minded and a strategic planner;
• Proven creative thinker with strong business acuity;
• Working knowledge of Strategy development methodologies and or Scaling Up principles (Gazelle, Rockefeller Habits, OKR’s, etc.).
• Demonstrate the courage to prioritize ruthlessly and avoid being buried under the weight of low impact activities.
• Able to remain objective at all costs, sometimes at the expensive of your own ideas and projects, to gain a broader perspective for what’s best for the company.
• Able to be a cultural and ethical leader with strong core values and ethics in chaotic circumstances.
• In-depth understand of how to manage diversity, foster inclusivity, create psychological safety and operate with high emotional intelligence.

A Bit About You

• You are a trailblazer, who translates the future vision into strategies for others.
• You are a problem-solver and thought leader who drives implementation by turning ideas into objectives for the organization and ensures alignment.
• You thrive in a fast pace, high growth environment and relentlessly drive and support a culture of collaboration across the organization.
• You create a robust way of working, conducive to change, and enable others to solve complex problems.
• You optimize resources by ensuring we are doing the right things, at the right time.
• You have a fascination for how technology can shape our everyday life and the business acumen to take us there.

Benefits

• Ability to work remote or at one of our office locations
• Home office set-up with laptop, monitor and other related items.

A great compensation package that includes:

• Medical Aid contribution
• Pension fund contribution
• A quarterly performance incentive bonus
• Risk benefit company contributions
• Reimbursable communications allowance for internet and mobile phone bills

Outsized leave days:

• 5 personal days leave a year, over and above your annual leave
• An additional half-day off on your birthday