Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff - Job Opportunity

About Outlier Projects

Outlier Projects is a climate philanthropy focused on accelerating frontier research to predict and prevent catastrophic climate risks. Most climate funding today focuses on two essential strategies: mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation (protecting communities from climate impacts). But scientists are increasingly warning that warming is beginning to destabilize critical Earth systems — from ice sheets to cloud dynamics to natural carbon feedbacks — in ways that could amplify climate risks beyond what emissions reductions alone may prevent. Outlier supports a complementary and rapidly emerging third pillar of climate strategy: stabilization.

We catalyze research to better understand how Earth-systems are being destabilized — and to explore whether new tools could safely stabilize them. Our work spans areas such as glacier instability, declining planetary reflectivity, methane and carbon feedbacks, and other frontier climate risks.

Rather than directly funding researchers ourselves, we primarily support organizations that fund and orchestrate scientific research and that act as foundational “field builders”, including advocating for greater governmental research leadership and promoting Global South engagement.

In addition to providing our partners with financial and in-kind support, our small and highly engaged team focused on educating other philanthropic funders about the climate stabilization field and the need for greater support.

The Opportunity

Outlier is seeking a Chief of Staff to work closely with Outlier’s Director Sasha Post to help the organization operate with clarity, discipline, and momentum. This role sits at the center of the organization. The Chief of Staff will help translate strategy into execution, coordinate major initiatives, strengthen internal systems, and ensure that important commitments and opportunities move forward.

In a small, fast-moving organization, this role functions as a force multiplier for leadership — increasing the team’s effectiveness by creating structure around priorities, tracking key initiatives, and improving the operating systems that support the work.

This is an ideal role for someone who thrives in complex environments, enjoys turning ambiguity into clear plans and systems, and wants to help build a high-impact organization working at the frontier of climate risk.

What You’ll Do

Increase leadership leverage

• Work closely with the Director to structure priorities, coordinate initiatives, and ensure key commitments move forward.
• Prepare materials, briefings, and follow-ups for important meetings with funders, researchers, and collaborators.
• Provide structured thinking that translates strategy into actionable plans.
• Help ensure the Director’s time is focused on the highest-impact opportunities.

Coordinate strategic initiatives

• Track key initiatives across grantmaking, funder engagement, research partnerships, and convenings.
• Ensure clear ownership, timelines, and follow-through across projects.
• Identify blockers, operational risks, or misalignments early and help resolve them.

Build and strengthen operating systems

• Design and maintain operational systems that allow a small team to operate with clarity and discipline, including our grantmaking workflows, CRM and funder engagement, and organizational planning.
• Help build the internal infrastructure that supports the organization as it grows.

Improve organizational clarity and operations

• Contribute to building an organization that operates with intellectual rigor and operational discipline.
• Oversee operational planning and financial tracking in coordination with external partners such as fiscal sponsors, accountants, and legal advisors.
• Manage contracts, vendors, and administrative infrastructure.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and contractor management as the team evolves.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first few months:

• The Director’s time and priorities are more structured and focused on high-impact opportunities.
• A clear operating dashboard exists for tracking major initiatives, timelines, funder engagement, and events.
• The organization’s workflows are mapped and key operations are working smoothly.
• Over time, this role helps ensure the organization operates with clarity, discipline, and strong follow-through.

Qualifications

Required

• 5-10 years of experience in operations, strategy, consulting, philanthropy, startups, or other high-performance environments.
• Experience supporting or partnering closely with a senior executive or founder.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong operational instincts and the ability to design and maintain systems.
• Ability to move fluidly between strategic thinking and tactical execution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High discretion, sound judgment, and strong follow-through.
• Strong intellectual curiosity and comfort engaging with complex ideas.

Helpful but not required

• Experience in climate, philanthropy, research, or mission-driven organizations.
• Financial operations or budgeting experience.
• Experience managing events, convenings, or multi-stakeholder initiatives.

Culture and Working Style

Outlier is a small and collaborative team. We value:

• Curiosity and intellectual openness.
• Direct communication and timely responses.
• Assuming good intent and addressing issues early.
• Sharing credit generously and supporting each other’s work.
• Keeping things thoughtful, constructive, and human.

Location

San Francisco Bay Area preferred, with hybrid in-person work expectations. We are open to other U.S. locations for the right candidate, with a preference for candidates in the Pacific Time Zone.

Outlier Projects offers a highly competitive benefits package, covering 95% of medical, dental, and vision premiums for both employees and their dependents. The organization also provides fully employer-paid life insurance, AD&D, short- and long-term disability, and an employee assistance program (EAP). Additional optional benefits include flexible spending and dependent care accounts, as well as commuter benefits.