Chief of Staff (m/f/x)

Job description

## **About us** We’re **Cortea**, a Berlin-based startup rebuilding how audits are done. Audits are still driven by spreadsheets, checklists, and manual reviews in one of the most regulated, high-stakes areas of business. **We use AI to automate audits end to end,** so highly educated auditors no longer spend 60+ hour weeks on manual work and can focus on judgment, trust, and choices that matter. **With €15m+ in funding, a live product, and paying customers across Europe**, we’re at a stage where your choices will directly shape Cortea’s future, and how audits are done. ## The role This isn't an administrative or "assistant" role. As **Chief of Staff**, you are a core member of the leadership orbit. You will work directly with Valentin (Co-Founder) to translate high-level vision into operational reality. You will sit at the intersection of **Growth, Strategy, Finance, and Operations.** Your mission is to tackle the most complex, ambiguous challenges that don’t yet have a home, whether that’s architecting our international expansion, refining our AI-driven unit economics, or managing the machinery of a Series B fundraise. This role is a springboard. You will gain a "CEO-level" view of building a category-defining AI company. ## What you’ll do - **Strategic Initiatives:** Lead high-impact projects from conception to completion (e.g., designing an AI-era pricing model, spearheading entry into new European markets, or optimizing the sales-to-onboarding funnel). - **Fundraising & IR:** Act as the primary engine behind investor relations and future funding rounds, preparing the narratives and data rooms that will fuel Cortea’s growth. - **Scaling the AI-Native Operating System:** Build the repeatable processes, meeting cadences, and communication loops — supercharged with AI agents and automation — that allow Cortea to scale toward €100m+ ARR without losing speed. You'll treat internal workflows as products, deploying AI wherever it removes friction. - **Founder Force Multiplier:** Act as a proxy for the founders in internal and external meetings, ensuring decisions are made and projects stay on track even when the founders aren't in the room. ## Who you are - **4+ years of experience** in high-velocity environments (Top-tier Strategy Consulting, Investment Banking, or a high-growth VC-backed startup). - **Strategic Operator:** You can think at 30,000 feet about market positioning, but you have the grit to dive into a spreadsheet or a legal contract to get a deal over the line. - **Financial Fluency:** You have a deep understanding of P&L management, financial modeling, and SaaS metrics. - **Exceptional Communicator:** You can distill complex AI concepts and financial data into clear, persuasive narratives for investors and the team. - **High Agency:** You don’t wait for a playbook; you write it. You are comfortable with the ambiguity of a "zero-to-one" environment. - **Language:** Native or professional fluency in both **English and German (C1+)** is essential for this Berlin-based role. ## **How we work** - **Founder mindset:** Everyone acts like a founder. You’re encouraged to take on any topic you believe is worth improving, with team and founder support. - **Thoughtful decision-making:** Collaborative problem solving, concise written thinking, and deep in-person discussions to reach the best result. - **Speed over perfection:** We value progress and learning, preferring strong 80/20 solutions over perfection. - **Feedback & learning:** We give and ask for feedback weekly. Not monthly. ## What success looks like - **In 3 months:** You have worked through our ops, deployed workflow automations across the company, and offloaded 20% of the founders' highest-priority tasks. - **In 6 months:** You have led at least one major cross-functional launch (e.g., a new country or a major pricing pivot) and are the go-to person for our lead investors. - **In 12 months:** You have helped institutionalize the "Cortea Way," creating a scalable operational foundation that supports our next major funding milestone. ## What we offer - **Impact:** A seat at the table during the most critical growth phase of a well-funded AI startup. - **Growth:** Mentorship from experienced founders and close collaboration across the company - **Compensation:** Competitive salary + meaningful equity. - **Perks:** Learning budget, team lunches, off-sites, flexible vacation, and a supportive in-office setup in central Berlin ## **Interview process** - **Intro call** with Liza (Founders Associate) - **Strategy & finance interview, real-world scenario** with Valentin (Co-Founder) - **Culture interview, Values and Collaboration Fit** with Philipp (Co-Founder) - **On-site day (Berlin):** meet the team and work through a real, current problem We’re an equal‑opportunity team and strongly encourage women and underrepresented candidates to apply.