A highly successful entrepreneurial family in San Francisco is seeking an exceptional Chief of Staff, Private Operations to take ownership of complex projects and operational priorities across their private world.
This is not a traditional Estate Manager, Personal Assistant, or household management position.
The family operates at a high level and has a complex portfolio of properties, projects, vendors, advisors, and personal interests. They are looking for an exceptionally sharp, commercially minded operator who can bring the rigor, judgment, and execution standards of a high-performing business environment into their private operations.
The successful candidate will work closely with the Principals, taking ownership of significant projects from initial concept and analysis through negotiation, execution, and completion.
The Role
This is a broad and highly autonomous position encompassing strategic projects, real estate and construction, financial oversight, vendor management, private operations, and special projects.
Responsibilities will include:
Own complex, high-value projects across the family’s properties and broader private operations
Lead multi-month and multi-year initiatives from initial scoping through execution and completion
Oversee significant residential construction, renovation, infrastructure, and capital improvement projects
Negotiate and manage high-value and multi-million-dollar construction and vendor contracts
Analyze bids, proposals, budgets, contracts, and change orders, challenging costs and assumptions where appropriate
Act as an informed owner’s representative when working with general contractors, architects, designers, consultants, attorneys, and other professional advisors
Develop project strategies, budgets, timelines, milestones, and reporting
Manage multiple sophisticated stakeholders and hold external partners accountable for cost, quality, and delivery
Identify risks and potential problems early and develop practical solutions
Drive cost-conscious decision-making while maintaining exceptional standards
Build and improve systems, processes, controls, and reporting across private operations
Evaluate vendors, negotiate commercial terms, and ensure the family is receiving appropriate value
Research complex issues and present the Principals with concise analysis and well-considered recommendations
Take ownership of special projects that may fall outside a traditional job description
Support broader property and private operational requirements when needed
The Person
We are deliberately open-minded about background.
You may currently be working within a founder’s office, family office, investment firm, high-growth business, real estate/development environment, consulting firm, or sophisticated private office .
Relevant backgrounds could include:
Chief of Staff
Founder’s Associate / Founder’s Office
Strategy & Operations
Business Operations
Special Projects
Real Estate Development
Owner’s Representation
Construction / Capital Projects
Family Office / Private Office
You do not need to have spent your career working within private households.
In fact, candidates who have developed their skills within demanding commercial or entrepreneurial environments and can translate that experience into the private world are particularly interesting.
What Matters
We are looking for someone who is:
Exceptionally sharp, analytical, and commercially astute
Intellectually curious and able to get up to speed quickly on unfamiliar subjects
Experienced operating in a demanding, high-intensity environment
Comfortable managing projects involving significant budgets and multiple sophisticated stakeholders
Financially literate and confident interrogating costs, contracts, budgets, and proposals
A strong negotiator who is comfortable challenging contractors, vendors, and professional advisors
Able to move seamlessly between strategic thinking and hands-on execution
Highly organized without becoming overly…