Chief of Staff

Vates is a French software company specializing in virtualization, offering a credible alternative to proprietary solutions on the market. Our Vates VMS solution enables companies to manage their IT infrastructures in a simple, efficient, and controlled way.

We are looking for a Chief os Staff to act as the CEO’s right-hand person and bridge the gap between vision, strategy, and execution. You will ensure that Vates makes decisions quickly and effectively, and that those decisions are followed through.

This is an operational role, not an administrative support position. You will personally develop analyses, models, and recommendations, and present them to the Strategic Committee, of which you will be a member. You will not manage a team or replace any existing department head.

Your Responsibilities:

Strategic Committee and Company Operating Rhythm

The executive team retains ownership of the agenda and decision-making. You help the CEO structure and prioritize the topics brought to the Strategic Committee, and you ensure that decisions are followed through to completion.

• Work with the CEO to structure and prioritize the topics brought to the Strategic Committee, determining what needs to be decided, in what order, and based on which information.
• Prepare meetings, including agendas, pre-reads, meeting minutes, and follow-up on decisions through to completion.
• Ensure, both during and between meetings, that the company stays on its agreed course, and raise the alarm as soon as a high-priority issue starts to drift off track.
• Build and maintain a dashboard of key performance indicators for the CEO and the Strategic Committee.
• Track progress against OKRs and the roadmap, and flag any deviations.
• Consolidate board materials and investor reporting with the CFO, drawing on contributions from each team.
• Contribute to the business plan through analyses, scenarios, and assumptions, under the CFO's responsibility.
• Propose decision-making guidelines (who decides what, when, and how), secure approval, and ensure they are applied consistently.

Supporting the Organization's Growth and Scalability

• Design the target organizational model and its associated budget, working with HR and the relevant team leaders.
• Identify processes that are no longer fit for purpose as the company grows beyond 150 employees (planning, budgeting, reporting, tools), and bring these issues to the Strategic Committee.
• Work with the Chief Transformation Officer to assess the resulting initiatives and identify potential efficiency gains through automation, shared resources, and AI.
• Take ownership of cross-functional topics that lack a natural owner, from initial scoping through to delivery or the appointment of a dedicated owner.
• Help communicate the company's vision, strategy, and priorities across all teams, in coordination with the Chief Culture & Engagement.

Expansion and Go-to-Market

• Develop business cases for expansion initiatives (countries, segments, offerings, pricing) with the CRO and relevant stakeholders, from market research through to recommendations.
• Coordinate the launch of approved initiatives with the Sales, Marketing, Product, and Support teams.

Amplifying the CEO's Impact

• Frame complex issues into clear options and actionable recommendations.
• Help the CEO arbitrate between competing demands and focus their time on the highest-priority topics.
• Represent the CEO under an explicit mandate, both internally and with partners, customers, investors, or advisory board members.
• Identify and escalate early warning signs before they become urgent issues.
• Ensure rigorous follow-through, with a clearly identified owner, a deadline, and closure for every topic.

Required Skills:

• Strategic thinking: Ability to understand complex business challenges, evaluate opportunities, and translate strategy into concrete action plans.
• Project and program management: Strong ability to coordinate complex cross-functional initiatives and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Business analysis: Ability to analyze business performance, interpret data, and develop actionable recommendations.
• Financial acumen: Understanding of financial statements, budgeting, forecasting, and key business performance indicators.
• Performance management: Ability to define, monitor, and interpret KPIs, dashboards, and progress reports.
• Process improvement: Ability to identify inefficiencies and implement practical solutions to improve organizational efficiency.
• Executive communication: Excellent written and oral communication skills, including preparation of executive presentations and strategic reports.
• Change management: Ability to support organiz