Chief of Staff to the CEO

The Mozilla Foundation is seeking a strategic partner to act as a Chief of Staff to their CEO. This is a high-impact, remote-based position for a seasoned professional who thrives on operational excellence and high-level organisational management. Rather than a traditional administrative assistant role, this position is designed for someone who can function as a right hand to executive leadership, helping to bridge the gap between long-term vision and daily execution.

About the role

As the Chief of Staff, your primary mandate is to amplify the CEO’s effectiveness. You will be responsible for managing the flow of information to the office of the CEO and ensuring that strategic initiatives are properly tracked and prioritised. The Foundation operates at the intersection of public interest and technological innovation, and this role requires an individual who is comfortable navigating complex, mission-driven environments.

You will be a central point of contact for the executive leadership team. Success in this role depends on your ability to maintain discretion while handling highly confidential data and high-stakes projects. You will be expected to act as a proxy for the CEO in certain instances, requiring the ability to influence stakeholders across the organisation without necessarily holding direct line management authority over them.

What you’ll do

Your daily focus will centre on operational alignment and strategic preparation. You will spend significant time ensuring that the CEO’s time is protected and that the issues landing on their desk are the most critical ones requiring their specific attention.

Key responsibilities include:

• Forming a close, trusted partnership with the CEO to translate their vision into tangible, measurable outcomes.
• Serving as a key interface for the executive leadership team to facilitate efficient communication and problem-solving.
• Preparing briefings, reports, and strategic presentations for high-stakes meetings and board interactions.
• Supporting the Investment Committee by ensuring that deliberations are focused on the most pertinent strategic questions.
• Managing cross-functional alignment to ensure that various departments are moving in tandem with the foundation's broader technological and advocacy goals.

What they’re looking for

Mozilla is looking for a candidate who brings significant experience at the executive or CEO-support level. This is not a role for those early in their careers; the Foundation requires someone who has already proven they can lead complex projects in demanding environments.

The ideal candidate possesses:

• Demonstrable experience leading high-stakes projects and working at an executive level.
• Exceptional judgment, particularly when managing sensitive information and executive communications.
• The ability to exercise influence and negotiate consensus across diverse teams.
• Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly and concisely.
• A strong, demonstrated commitment to the Mozilla Foundation’s mission of keeping the internet open and accessible.

For a South African professional, this role offers a unique opportunity to participate in global tech policy and non-profit governance from a remote setting. While the role is global, the skills required—strategic foresight, stakeholder management, and high-level corporate governance—are highly transferable across the South African private and NGO sectors. Roles of this calibre in the local market often sit at the senior management or executive level, typically commanding significant packages that reflect the seniority of working directly with a CEO. Candidates who succeed here often transition into high-level operational leadership (COO) or strategic consulting paths within the technology and advocacy landscapes.

• Significant experience at the CEO or executive team level.
• Proven track record of leading high-stakes work.
• Exceptional judgment and discretion with confidential information.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to influence without formal authority.
• Commitment to Mozilla Foundation’s mission.