Chief of Staff Role Description & Support
Explore our dedicated Executive Assistant recruitment and Chief of Staff recruitment services to find the right structure for your organisation.
THE CHIEF OF STAFF ROLE
A Strategic Partner for Business Leaders
The Chief of Staff role has evolved significantly in recent years, transitioning from a predominantly US-based concept to a key strategic function within UK businesses. In major cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham, demand for this role is growing as organisations seek experienced, commercially minded individuals who can enable leadership teams to focus on long-term strategy while maintaining operational momentum.
At its core, a Chief of Staff acts as the right hand to the CEO or founder, translating vision into action, aligning departments, and overseeing the delivery of critical projects. Whether supporting a high-growth start-up in Manchester, navigating transformation in Birmingham, or managing scale within a London-based private office or multinational, this role is instrumental in enabling effective, agile leadership.
Our aim is to provide clarity around what this role entails, where it adds the most value, and how it differs from more traditional business support positions. At Lily Shippen, we combine deep sector knowledge with a national network of exceptional candidates to help businesses recruit Chiefs of Staff who deliver real impact from day one.
Why Chief of Staff Roles Are Rising in Demand Across the UK
Across the UK, businesses are becoming more complex, fast-moving, and strategically ambitious, particularly in major commercial centres like London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
As a result, the need for senior-level operational support has never been greater.
The Chief of Staff role is emerging as a critical hire for organisations navigating growth, transformation, or increased leadership demands. Industries such as technology, finance, professional services, and advanced manufacturing are especially seeing the value of this position, where success hinges on cross-functional alignment and agile execution.
By appointing a Chief of Staff, CEOs and executive teams gain a dedicated partner who ensures strategic priorities are actioned, teams are aligned, and leadership bandwidth is preserved. Rather than being reactive to change, businesses with a Chief of Staff are equipped to lead it.
At Lily Shippen, we work closely with clients across the UK to identify and recruit Chief of Staff candidates who bring clarity, momentum, and operational excellence to ambitious organisations.
Chief of Staff vs. Executive Assistant: Understanding the Distinction
While both the Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant (EA) play vital roles in supporting senior leadership, they operate at distinctly different levels within an organisation.
An Executive Assistant provides essential administrative and logistical support, managing schedules, coordinating meetings, and ensuring operational tasks are handled efficiently. At Lily Shippen, we know just how pivotal a high-performing EA can be to the success of a leadership team.
By contrast, a Chief of Staff is a strategic operator. This role typically works in close partnership with the CEO or founder, driving key initiatives, overseeing special projects, and aligning internal teams with the organisation’s strategic direction. Acting as a trusted advisor, the Chief of Staff enables leaders to focus on growth while ensuring decisions are executed across departments.
In high-growth environments like London, Manchester, and Birmingham, this distinction is crucial. Businesses with both an EA and a Chief of Staff benefit from a powerful leadership support structure, where the day-to-day is expertly managed, and the bigger picture is consistently progressed.
Explore our dedicated Executive Assistant recruitment and Chief of Staff recruitment services to find the right structure for your organisation.
How to Hire a Chief of Staff in London, Manchester & Birmingham
Hiring a Chief of Staff is a strategic decision that requires more than just finding a capable candidate; it demands alignment with your leadership style, business objectives, and growth plans. In key UK cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham, competition for exceptional talent is high, and the right approach can make all the difference. At Lily Shippen, we support businesses in building leadership teams that are both operationally strong and culturally aligned. Here are our best practices for hiring a Chief of Staff:
Define the Role with Precision
No two Chief of Staff positions are the same. A business in London may prioritise global project oversight or investor relations, while a company in Manchester or Birmingham might need someone who can streamline internal processes or lead operational transformation. Clarity on expectations and responsibilities is essential to attracting the right profile.
Prioritise Strategic Thinking
Your Chief of Staff should be able to see the bigger picture. Seek individuals who can translate high-level vision into actionable plans, manage competing priorities, and drive key initiatives forward, especially in environments with fast-paced growth or organisational change.
Partner with a Specialist Recruitment Agency
Recruiting a Chief of Staff requires more than a standard hiring process. At Lily Shippen, we have deep expertise in placing Chiefs of Staff in roles that span private offices, scale-ups, HNWI portfolios, and corporate leadership teams. Our tailored, consultative approach ensures each hire is aligned with your organisation’s goals, culture, and pace.
Ensure Cultural Compatibility
This is a role that works closely with your most senior leaders, sometimes acting as a proxy for the CEO. Whether you operate in the high-pressure environment of London, the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Manchester, or the operationally driven industries of Birmingham, cultural fit is just as important as capability.
Why Your UK Business Needs a Chief of Staff
Whether you’re a founder-led start-up, a growing SME, or part of a large corporate group, the Chief of Staff role offers a unique blend of strategic and operational value. Across the UK, from London to Manchester to Birmingham, organisations are turning to Chiefs of Staff to provide leadership bandwidth, clarity, and momentum.
This hire enables CEOs and executive teams to focus on long-term direction without being pulled into the day-to-day. Acting as a strategic partner and operational lead, the Chief of Staff drives alignment across functions, oversees critical projects, and ensures priorities are delivered on time and to standard.
For companies undergoing rapid growth, structural change, or strategic transformation, the Chief of Staff role can be the difference between staying reactive and leading proactively. It’s a highly adaptable position that adds measurable impact, no matter the size or sector of your business.
At Lily Shippen, we specialise in helping organisations identify and recruit Chiefs of Staff who are not only operationally capable but commercially and culturally aligned with your leadership team.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chief of Staff Roles in the UK
If your company is growing quickly, going through change, or your executive team is overstretched, a Chief of Staff can bring strategic oversight, operational clarity, and leadership support, allowing your senior team to focus on high-impact work.
A Chief Operating Officer (COO) typically owns company-wide operations and reports directly to the CEO. A Chief of Staff, on the other hand, is more embedded within the leadership team, driving strategic initiatives and acting as a trusted advisor, often behind the scenes. Many businesses engage a Chief of Staff before hiring a COO.
Absolutely. In cities like Manchester, London, and Birmingham, high-growth start-ups and SMEs are leveraging this role to scale more effectively. A Chief of Staff brings structure, prioritisation, and operational leadership, without the overhead of a full C-suite hire.
Why partner with Lily Shippen?
At Lily Shippen, we’ve been trusted by start-ups, high-net-worth individuals, and global businesses since 2016 to recruit exceptional business support talent across the UK and internationally.
From our offices in London and Manchester, we offer tailored, insight-driven recruitment solutions designed to elevate leadership capability and unlock growth.
With a highly-experienced team, we are recognised as the go-to specialist for Chief of Staff, Executive Assistant, and business support recruitment. We offer:
- Bespoke hiring solutions, including permanent, temporary and maternity cover contracts
- Access to top-tier, fully vetted talent across the UK
- Deep understanding of leadership team dynamics and cultural fit
- End-to-end recruitment, from briefing to post-placement support
Whether you’re looking for a strategic Chief of Staff in London, operational support in Birmingham, or hybrid talent in Manchester, we’re here to help you hire with confidence.
Looking to Recruit a Chief of Staff?
As the Chief of Staff role becomes increasingly essential across the UK, it’s vital to partner with recruiters who understand its complexity and potential.
At Lily Shippen, we specialise in placing Chiefs of Staff who enable leadership teams to scale with clarity and confidence.
Whether you’re navigating growth in Manchester, expanding operations in Birmingham, or managing global projects in London, we’ll help you find the right person to drive results.
