Chief of Staff (Parental Cover)

Who are we?

UpGuard’s mission is to protect the world’s data. We obsessively seek out elegant, robust ways to enable our customers to find, acknowledge, and remediate cyber risk. With UpGuard, organizations leverage our security expertise and software to automate what was once laborious, spreadsheet-driven processes–whether it's monitoring the attack surface of hundreds of vendors or assessing the security of their own infrastructure. UpGuard is used by some of the world’s largest, fastest-growing, and most innovative companies. 

Our Operations function consists of the IT, Legal, People, Finance and Analytics teams.  We are here to be a key enabler to our other teams at UpGuard. Efficiency, scale and rich insights are some of the key contributions that this team brings to the table. We look to the future and solve really interesting challenges that will unlock Upguard’s ability to grow sustainably and efficiently through optimized systems and processes.

Where does this role fit in?

This is not your typical Chief of Staff role.

We're looking for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy, communication, and culture; an exceptional operator who can connect the dots across the business, drive high-quality execution, and lead programs that bring our internal communication and company-wide events to life.

You’ll act as a trusted partner to the COO, CEO and executive team, while also taking full ownership of company-wide rhythms and cultural moments, from strategic offsites to internal updates to all-hands storytelling.

This role is ideal for someone who loves building experiences that bring people together, crafting clear and compelling communication, and keeping the whole company in sync and inspired.

• Strategic Execution:
• Act as a force multiplier for the CEO; prioritize initiatives, structure decisions, and follow through on key projects.
• Coordinate cross-functional priorities and ensure smooth execution across the leadership team.
• Maintain visibility into what’s happening across the company, surfacing risks, blockers, and wins.
• Drive company OKRs and key operating rhythms so we stay accountable and focused

• Internal Communication Leadership:
• Own the internal communication strategy; drive clarity, alignment, and transparency across the company.
• Write or edit critical company-wide updates, scripts for All Hands, and internal memos.
• Partner with team leads to ensure consistent messaging and effective information flow.

• Company Events & Cultural Moments:
• Plan and execute our most important internal events including offsites, virtual experiences, team kickoffs, and milestone celebrations.
• Ensure each event aligns with our company values and creates moments that strengthen connection and engagement.
• Manage vendors, budgets, timelines, and logistics with precision and creativity.

• Exec Partner & Trusted Operator:
• Attend executive meetings, drive follow-ups, and ensure accountability.
• Act as a sounding board to the COO, CEO and leadership team. Challenge assumptions, test ideas, and keep the broader company in mind.
• Lead special projects that don’t have a clear owner but matter to the business.

• 5+ years in roles such as Chief of Staff, Internal Communications Lead, Program Manager, or similar.
• Proven experience designing and executing high-impact events (virtual or in-person).
• Exceptional written communication skills; you can simplify complexity, bring clarity to chaos, and write with both precision and voice.
• A systems thinker who thrives on coordination, process, and cross-functional problem-solving.
• You are known for your exceptional use of project management and collaboration tools such as Asana, to drive delivery and accountability. Bonus if your workflows use AI to reduce manual effort. 
• Adept at using AI tools to accelerate research, enhance communication, and streamline execution. You know how to get leverage from technology to move faster and work smarter.
• Confident working with executives and comfortable handling sensitive information.
• Detail-oriented, action-biased, action-biased, and energized by making things happen.

• Experience in a high-growth or distributed tech company with 250+ people
• Executed company-wide AI strategies and enablement programs
• Built and implemented agentic workflows

• Monthly Lifestyle subsidy: use this for financial, physical and mental wellbeing 
• WFH set-up allowance: to ensure you have the right environment to work in, we will help you get set-up within your first 3 months at UpGuard 
• $1500 USD annual Learning & Development allowance: to support your career development all team members will be able to expense development opportunities against this allowance 
• Generous Annual Leave/PTO allowances: time to recharge your batteries 
• 18 weeks paid Parental Leave: irrespective of parenting role 
• Personal Leave allowance: this includes sick & carer’s leave 
• Fully remote working environment: whilst we have physical offices in Sydney & Hobart, we do not mandate compulsory attendance 
• Top spec hardware: all team members will be provided with top-spec laptops for their role 
• Generative AI subsidy: UpGuard provides paid subscriptions for all team members to access generative AI tools to support their work

#LI-BW1

UpGuard is a Certified Great Place to Work® in the US, Australia, UK and India, establishing its position as a leading global technology employer. 99% of team members agree that UpGuard is a great place to work, apply now to find out why!

As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

For applications to positions in the United States, please note, at this time we can only support hiring in the following US states: CA, MD, MA, IL, OR, WA, CO, TX, FL, PA, LA, MO, or DC. 

Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check and reference checks. Also please note that at this time, we cannot support candidates requiring visa sponsorship or relocation.