Chief of Staff (New York)

About WaffleLabs

WaffleLabs is building the world’s most advanced large data model for understanding personas and human intuition. Grounded in peer-reviewed MIT research published in top academic journals, our model aims to fundamentally change how AI systems are trained and how they understand people.

Backed by Barclays, Techstars, Sony Innovation Fund, and highly influential angel investors and entrepreneurs, we’re developing a model that’s non-invasive and scalable: one that systematically codifies human intuition so that AI systems and enterprises alike can understand human behavior in a deterministic and private way.

The Role

You'll be our first business hire, joining a small team on the ground floor, reporting to the CEO and working closely with the founders. You’ll build and own the company’s operating backbone (finance, compliance, corporate administration and people operations) and partner with the CEO on strategic planning, company materials and execution across the business.

You'll have real ownership from day one: you'll lead these functions end to end and decide how we operate as we scale. As the company grows, this role is designed to evolve into leading a core function, such as operations or finance, and building a team around it.

At our stage, no task is too small. You might be filing paperwork in the morning and shaping GTM strategy with the CEO and CTO in the afternoon.

What You'll Own

• Finance operations: bookkeeping and month-end close with outside accountants, payables and receivables, payroll, budgeting, runway and forecasting models, and tax filings
• Compliance and corporate admin: state registrations, insurance, contracts and vendors, banking relationships, office and facilities, corporate records, board materials, the cap table and equity administration (Carta, 409A valuations), and audit and security readiness
• People operations: hiring logistics, onboarding and offboarding, benefits, policies and the employee handbook
• Strategic materials: building clear, compelling decks for customers, investors and partners, along with investor updates and data-room preparation
• CEO partnership: turning priorities into plans and making sure they get done, plus occasional scheduling and travel logistics as needed

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of experience in finance or accounting/audit (Big 4 or equivalent), or as a Chief of Staff or operator at a high-growth startup
• Hands-on: you're as comfortable filing a state registration as building a forecast
• A clear writer and communicator who can turn complex information into a crisp deck or memo
• Sound judgment and complete discretion with sensitive information
• Fluent with modern AI tools

Nice to Have

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, master’s in accounting, or JD/LLM)
• Practical accounting, audit, or legal experience
• SOC 2 experience
• Experience supporting a fundraise or a board
• Go-to-market experience, such as supporting enterprise sales, managing a pipeline, or building sales materials

Logistics

• In person at our NYC office
• Must be authorized to work in the US. There is no visa sponsorship available for this position

Compensation & Benefits

• $120,000–$150,000 base salary. Where an offer falls in this range depends on experience, qualifications, and scope
• Equity
• Medical and dental insurance

WaffleLabs is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know.