Chief of Staff, R&D at Sprout Social

About the Role

Sprout Social is seeking a Chief of Staff to partner with our R&D leaders (Product, Engineering, and Design) to transform strategy into execution. Reporting directly to the CPO and supporting both the CPO and CTO, you will hold a high-visibility, high-leverage position at the intersection of strategy and execution. You will shape how a category-leading Social Intelligence company builds and scales for the world's most forward-thinking social media practitioners.

Why Join Sprout's R&D Team?

R&D is Sprout’s largest investment area and the engine of our growth. As Chief of Staff, you will help senior leaders manage this complex organization with the speed and clarity expected by our shareholders. We value transparency and ownership, offering the autonomy to build scalable, AI-forward operating systems. This role provides a rare seat with direct exposure to executive leadership and the opportunity to influence the decisions shaping our roadmap.

What You'll Do

• Strategic Advising: Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the CPO and CTO, shaping the R&D leadership agenda and preparing them for board and executive interactions.
• Operational Cadence: Lead the operational teams managing the R&D operating cadence (meetings, reviews, quarterly planning) and drive the tracking, reporting, and alignment of R&D OKRs with company strategy.
• Triage & Judgment: Act as the first line of judgment on escalations and meeting requests, triaging what requires direct leadership attention versus what can be resolved asynchronously.
• Data & Insights: Build and maintain the R&D operational dashboard, translating data on delivery velocity, capacity, and headcount into clear narratives that drive decisions.
• Strategic Initiatives: Lead high-priority, ambiguous initiatives (e.g., org design, AI-operating-model buildouts) across the R&D portfolio.
• Financial Partnership: Serve as the primary POC and partner for FP&A, leading overall budget governance across Engineering, Product, and Design.
• Trade-off Analysis: Surface trade-offs by presenting options, costs, and recommendations to the CPO and CTO for clear prioritization calls.
• Talent Planning: Partner with People and Finance on the joint R&D hiring plan, capacity model, and senior onboarding.
• Communications: Draft and own key R&D communications, ensuring a consistent voice across executive memos and board content.

What You'll Bring

You are a strategic operator who thrives at the seam of product and engineering. You possess a rare combination of analytical rigor, executive presence, and operational discipline. You know what "good" looks like because you've built and worked within high-performing R&D organizations. You can earn the trust of two principals simultaneously, influence without formal authority, and fluidly move between detailed analysis and the strategic picture. You build processes where none exist and simplify to increase efficiency. You also have high emotional intelligence and discretion, with the judgment to navigate sensitive issues and competing priorities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 12+ years of experience spanning strategy, operations, management consulting, product management, or a prior Chief of Staff role, ideally within a high-growth or public B2B SaaS company.
• 5+ years of direct people management experience.
• Deep fluency in R&D organization operations, including the product development lifecycle, product/design/engineering org structures, capacity planning, and the relationship between roadmap, resourcing, and business outcomes. You should be able to confidently interpret architecture diagrams, capacity models, and P&Ls.
• Proven track record of influencing VP-, SVP-, and C-level leaders without direct reporting lines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of drafting board materials and presenting to senior leaders.
• Strong operational and analytical rigor: ability to build repeatable processes and maintain a high standard of accuracy and accountability.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting a combined Product and Engineering (or R&D) organization, or reporting into a CPO, CTO, or CPTO.
• Background in high-growth SaaS or technology companies, with exposure to multiple planning cycles and periods of organizational change.
• Familiarity with modern R&D operations tooling (e.g., OKR and planning systems, roadmapping tools, delivery/velocity analytics).

What This Role Is Not

To set clear expectations: this is not a senior Technical Program Manager or Engineering Manager role, nor is it an Executive Business Partner role.

How You'll Grow

Within 1 month:

• Build trust and working rhythms with the CPO and CTO, and establish relationships across the R&D leadership team and key cross-functional partners.
• Develop a deep understanding of Sprout’s business model, product strategy, and R&D operating model.
• Diagnose the current state of the R&D operating cadence, OKRs, and reporting, identifying high-leverage improvement opportunities.

Within 3 months:

• Establish a single, unified R&D operating cadence and OKR ledger jointly owned by the CPO and CTO.
• Document a clear decision-rights framework to ensure clarity on ownership for different decision types.
• Become a trusted thought partner to both principals and a reliable connection point for cross-functional leaders.

Within 6 months:

• Deliver multiple cross-cutting strategic initiatives end-to-end.
• Run a crisp quarterly business review and a maturing R&D operating review that leadership relies on.
• Demonstrably recover time and focus for the CPO and CTO, and surface trade-offs early to maintain priority alignment.

Within 12 months:

• Operate as an indispensable partner to the R&D leadership team through full annual and quarterly planning cycles.
• Own the R&D operating system end-to-end with rigor, agility, and a strong point of view.
• Build a track record that positions you for your next leadership step at Sprout.

Note: The timeline is ideal and may shift based on business needs.

Our Benefits Program

Sprout Social offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits program:

• Health & Wellness: Premium BCBSIL medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Mental Health Support: Full, free access to Modern Health (coaching, therapy, digital wellness).
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a 50% company match on the first 6% of contributions.
• Financial Security: 100% employer-paid Life and Disability insurance.
• Flexible Paid Time Off: Generous PTO policy supplemented with company-wide Rest & Recharge days.
• Paid Parental Leave: Up to 16 weeks of paid leave for new parents.
• Annual Lifestyle Stipend: $1,000 USD for physical, mental, and financial well-being.
• Work From Home Support: One-time $550 USD stipend for home office setup, plus a $50 USD monthly internet stipend.
• Giving Back: 16 hours of paid volunteer time annually, plus a $100 annual match for charitable donations.
• Additional Perks: Pre-tax commuter benefits, subsidized child/eldercare, discounted pet insurance, and no-cost financial wellness support.

Location & Compensation

Sprout Social maintains a remote workforce in many US states. Please check the application for state availability.

Hiring Range: $216,000.00 – $300,000.00 annually. Offers are made within this range, with potential for growth based on performance and impact.

Geographic Pay Zones:

• Zone 1 (NY, CA, WA): $237,000.00 – $356,000.00
• Zone 2 (All other US states): $216,000.00 – $324,000.00

Note: Compensation is based on geographic zone, relevant experience, and skills. Base pay is one component of total compensation, which also includes opportunities for RSUs (Restricted Stock Units).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Sprout Social is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and affirmatively recruit individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Learn more in our DEI Report. If you need reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact accommodations@sproutsocial.com.