Chief of Staff to the CEO (Inaugural Role)

Job description

ABOUT NORY NORY is NYC’s largest STEM education company for early childhood learners (ages 3–12). We are a fast-growing organization delivering hands-on, maker-driven STEM education at scale, with a mission to nurture the next generation of purposeful changemakers. THE OPPORTUNITY We are hiring our Inaugural Chief of Staff—the first person to hold this vital role at NORY. This position exists so the CEO can scale beyond physical presence. As a true extension of the CEO’s judgment, priorities, and execution, you will ensure that critical work moves forward at the highest standard, even when the CEO is not in the room. This is a role for a proven Operator. By operator, we mean someone who takes ambiguous goals, turns them into concrete plans, and drives them to completion without waiting for permission. Impact matters more than title, and ownership matters more than comfort. Because our work involves complex, high-touch operations and real-time decision-making, this role is intentionally on-site and in-person. Position Details: - Compensation: $80,000 – $120,000 per year (depending on experience) - Location: New York, NY (In-Person) - Target Start: Immediate WHAT YOU’LL OWN - CEO Proxy & Execution Authority: Act as a direct extension of the CEO. You will represent the CEO in internal meetings, communicate decisions with clarity and authority, translate leadership direction into clear action plans, and hold leaders accountable to commitments and timelines. You are the driver of execution, not an assistant. - End-to-End Follow-Through: Ensure meetings turn into concrete outcomes, not just notes. You will track decisions, assign ownership, close loops relentlessly, identify risks early, and resolve them before escalation is needed. - Operational Leverage: Protect the CEO's focus on high-impact priorities. You will actively manage the CEO’s calendar, information flow, and preparation. This includes triaging requests, handling scheduling, managing travel logistics, and filtering communication so execution moves quickly and cleanly. This remains a core responsibility as the role grows. - Cross-Functional Operations: Drive execution across the organization. You will lead or support initiatives related to organizational execution, leadership alignment, hiring pipelines, onboarding systems, customer experience escalation, and internal operating rhythms (SOPs, reporting, and planning cadences). - Decision Rights: With context and trust, you will be empowered to make priority and scheduling tradeoffs on behalf of the CEO without requiring constant approval, escalating only what truly requires CEO involvement. This role is designed for high-agency ownership. WHO YOU ARE - Outcome-Oriented & High-Agency: You care more about results than how work is labeled. You move seamlessly between strategic discussions and hands-on execution, pushing projects forward without waiting for permission. You have a strong drive to learn, take on new challenges, and help others get things done. - Systematic & Judgment-Driven: You remain calm and logical when things go wrong. You prevent future problems by building scalable systems rather than applying quick fixes. You make decisions based on data and logic, even when it feels uncomfortable. - Reliable, Disciplined & Empathetic: You lead with genuine kindness and empathy while confidently holding your team to clear standards and deadlines. You create positive interactions with staff and families at all levels, keeping a pulse on organization-wide morale and raising concerns proactively. - Resilient & Adaptable: You thrive in a rapidly expanding, fast-paced environment. You demonstrate flexibility, adapt quickly to shifting priorities, and handle high-pressure requests or frequent interruptions diplomatically and constructively. HOW WE OPERATE (OUR CULTURAL VALUES) At NORY, our "Ways of Being" guide every decision we make. As Chief of Staff, you will embody these core principles: - We are purposeful in our actions, always asking "why" to cultivate inner motivation. - We ask "how to make it work" before wondering "if" it is possible. - Our decisions are strictly grounded in data, logic, and clear reasoning. - We take ownership and follow through. No dropped balls. - We build systems that scale, not quick fixes. Learn more about our complete 'Ways of Being' DNA at www.nory.co/value http://www.nory.co/value. HOW TO APPLY Please send your resume along with a letter or a short video describing a time you had incomplete information, made a decision that affected others, and were held fully accountable for the outcome. Email your application to: peter@nory.co Subject Line: Chief of Staff Application – [Your Name] Equal Opportunity Employer NORY, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We consider all applicants for positions without regard to veteran status, uniformed service member status, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.