Associate Chief of Staff

Cocoon is unlocking a new, scalable supply of low-cost, low-carbon cement replacement, driving the circular economy between steel and concrete. Concrete is the most widely used material on earth after water. However, supply of cementitious materials, vital to concrete, are shrinking in the US and Europe just as infrastructure demand booms. Our low-capex, modular technology retrofits into existing electric arc furnace steelmaking to produce a high-performance replacement for cement that cuts the embodied CO₂ of concrete by up to 40%. We're building an entirely new domestic supply stream of a critical building material. We recently closed a $15M Series A co-led by 2150 and Brick & Mortar Ventures, with participation from TVC and continued support from Wireframe Ventures, Celsius Industries, Gigascale Capital, and SOSV. In under two years we've gone from concept to piloting our technology at one of the largest steel producers in the US, with third-party validation of our material in concrete applications. We're now deploying our first commercial demonstration facility in South Carolina, the first step towards a rollout across 50+ steel plants in the US and Europe, and doubling the team in 2026 across the UK and US. The Role We're looking for an Associate Chief of Staff to work directly with our CEO as Cocoon establishes its US presence. You'll be the CEO's operational right hand: owning our people and talent function, running the business operations that keep a fast-scaling company sharp, and leading the setup of our US facilities. You'll input on strategic projects across the business and collaborate in person with the CEO across critical business functions. This is a role for someone who wants breadth, proximity to decision-making, and real ownership, with a clear growth path as our US operations scale. This role is based in the US, ideally in New Orleans, LA or Charleston, SC, working in person with our CEO as we build our US presence around our first commercial demonstration facility in South Carolina. You should expect to travel 1-2 weeks per month, whether to our London headquarters or between our US locations, so comfort with a travel-heavy rhythm is essential. Responsibilities Act as a day-to-day thought partner to the CEO: pressure-testing ideas, developing solutions for implementation, driving follow-through on their priorities, and partnering with the broader commercial team on key strategic projects Bring structure, rhythm and automation to OKR management and company reporting: helping the organization to achieve their goals and drive high performance. Own the people & talent function, establishing and improving processes across hiring and performance management to ensure we make Cocoon the best place to work. Work collaboratively with our team in the UK to drive us towards becoming an AI native company, and streamline processes, systems and operations. Lead the establishment of Cocoon's first US facilities, including a concrete testing lab and customer showroom in South Carolina: site selection, leases, permitting, contractors, equipment procurement, fit-out, and logistics set up for goods in & out Establish Cocoon's US business operations: office and facilities management, US legal & finance matters, R&D grant applications, insurance, and US-side material and equipment logistics. You'll Succeed In This Role If You… Have 4-6 years in high-performance environments such as consulting, banking, or an operations or chief-of-staff role at a fast-growing startup. Are a structured thinker and relentless executor: you can take a half-formed idea from a whiteboard session and turn it into a delivered outcome. Can run multiple workstreams end-to-end with minimal oversight, and know when to build a process and when to just get it done. Are energised by people and talent work; from hiring and performance to building the systems that help a team excel. Are highly proficient with AI tools, and have good working knowledge of typical SaaS solutions across finance, HR, sales, and operations. Communicate clearly, manage stakeholders well across time zones, and thrive with a UK-based team and a travel-heavy rhythm (1-2 weeks per month). Have relevant experience taking organizations and facilities from zero to one that enables them to predict and prevent hiccups and scaling challenges. Bonus Qualities An engineering background or degree, helping you engage credibly with our technical teams. Exposure to hardware, industrial, climate tech, or construction sectors. What We Offer Competitive salary and stock options. Healthcare, dental & vision: an $800/month tax-free allowance (ICHRA via TakeCommand) towards your own plan, plus $500 for a first dependent and $250 for a second. 401(k) through Guideline with a 4% company match. $1,000 annual development budget, with more available on request. A front-row seat at a first-of-a-kind climate technology company at the moment it lands in the US, working directly with the CEO as we deploy our first commercial facility. Relocation support if required. #J-18808-Ljbffr Cocoon