Chief of Staff

Chief of StaffLocation: Woodside, CAWork Model: Onsite 5 days per week at HQCompany: CurioEmployment Type: Full-timeVisa Sponsorship: We sponsor visas and green cards, though some operations roles are harder to supportAbout CurioCurio is built from the ground up with privacy and security at its core — a place where toys and interactive experiences come to life through safe, imaginative play. Our mission is to increase imagination through products that enrich, educate, and entertain kids. We are a small, high-performing team, and every hire has a major impact on the product and company culture. We are currently under 5 full-time employees and work with more than 25 consultants for various creative projects and sprints.Role OverviewWe are looking for a Chief of Staff to partner closely with our cofounders in driving company-wide priorities, operational execution, and organizational effectiveness. This role goes beyond a traditional Chief of Staff position. You will help shape how families, educators, media, and policymakers understand AI-powered toys and the future of childhood technology while helping build the operational infrastructure needed to scale the company responsibly and effectively.This person will build the project management systems, workflows, and team habits that allow Curio to operate with clarity, focus, and speed during a critical stage of growth.This is a highly hands-on role for a self-starter who does not wait for marching orders. The ideal candidate brings strong business acumen, operational rigor, and sound judgment. Someone who is capable of independently assessing the company's priorities and leading our weekly planning meetings to ensure accountability and alignment.They should be able to absorb a high volume of ideas, identify priorities, provide strategic focus, and support leadership in making thoughtful decisions around execution, resourcing, and time management. The right person is exceptionally organized, proactive, adaptable, and capable of managing multiple complex workstreams simultaneously.We are looking for an experienced operator who has helped build the internal foundation of a startup before and understands how to bring structure, accountability, communication, and momentum to growing organizations.Scope of WorkHelp establish and reinforce a company culture rooted in trust, collaboration, creativity, accountability, and high performancePartner closely with founders on company priorities, strategic planning, annual goals, quarterly roadmaps, and product initiativesServe as a central operational leader across all workstreams, driving clarity, alignment, prioritization, accountability, and execution across the organizationBring structure, operational discipline, and momentum to a fast-moving startup environment while maintaining flexibility, adaptability, and strong team moraleDesign and implement operational systems, communication structures, and workflows that improve organizational efficiency and team effectivenessLead company planning cadences including quarterly offsites, goal-setting, retrospectives, and cross-functional operational reviewsIdentify operational bottlenecks and proactively remove roadblocks to help teams execute effectively against company goals and deliverablesEvaluate and improve core people operations systems including onboarding, performance management, compliance, benefits, and employee lifecycle operationsQualifications3 –10+ years of experience in startup operations, business operations, people operations, or consultingExceptional project management skills with proven track record of maintaining daily organizational hygiene across dozens of work streamsAbility to assess the strategic risk, potential upside, and operational feasibility of new projects before implementation, balancing creativity, business impact, brand trust, timing, and execution realitiesAbility to whiteboard ideas and problem-solve in real time with the CEO, then translate high-level discussions into clear action plans, priorities, documentation, stakeholder communication, and execution workflows in a fast-paced startup environmentStrong business acumen with the ability to articulate previous learnings and implement systems and habits across our teamExperience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing across teamsAbility to operate independently with strong ownership and sound judgmentNice to HaveExperience as a first or early operations hire at a startupExperience supporting technical or product-driven teamsFamiliarity with employment law and multi-state or international operationsExperience building performance management and career development frameworksExperience planning and running company offsites or retreatsInterest in AI, hardware, or consumer product companiesExperience building tools or workflows that improve internal efficiencyCompensationSalary: $150k-$220k per year- Compensation will be determined based on experienceBenefits- 401k matching - Life insurance- Health, vision and dental insurance- Quarterly offsites- In-office meals and snacks- F&B stipend- Phone stipend- Commuter stipend- Unlimited PTOWhat We Look ForStrong operator with excellent judgment and attention to detailAbility to build systems from scratch and scale them over timeHigh ownership and reliability — someone the team can depend onStrong people instincts and a commitment to building a healthy cultureAbility to balance structure with speed in a fast-moving environmentWhy CurioSmall team with high ownershipOpportunity to shape the future of AI-powered interactive toysWork at the intersection of AI, hardware, and storytelling