Upwork

Chief of Staff to the COO & GM of Marketplace

Palo Alto, California, United States · Exec · Contract

Sponsorship not specified$229k-$384kDetected 29 days ago

Machine LearningAccountingCustomer SupportLeadershipCommunicationMentoringPublic Speaking

About the role

Upwork Inc.'s (Nasdaq: UPWK) family of companies connects businesses with global, AI-enabled talent across every contingent work type including freelance, fractional, and payrolled.
Learn more about the Upwork Marketplace at Upwork.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X; and learn more about Lifted at Go-Lifted and follow on LinkedIn.
This role requires someone who has earned the confidence to walk into any room, speak with authority, and immediately earn credibility - with the COO's direct reports, with the executive team, and with external stakeholders.

Serve as a trusted thought partner - not as a gatekeeper, but as someone who makes every interaction with the COO more valuable.
Maintain a clear line of sight across key initiatives and ensure the COO has the information, context, and preparation needed to drive outcomes - not just attend meetings.
You will own the quality of materials that come to the COO, provide direct feedback to senior leaders preparing those materials, and ensure that executive time is protected for the work that only the COO can do.
Own the operating rhythm of the COO organization.
You'll work directly with finance and functional leads to ensure budget is managed with discipline and that trade-off decisions are made proactively, not reactively.

You have operated at the intersection of strategy and execution in a high-velocity environment - consulting, investment banking, a high-growth tech company, or some combination.
You are organized in a way that others notice.
Not in a process-for-process's-sake way, but in a way that instills confidence: things don't fall through the cracks around you, and the people you work with know it.
You have the discretion and judgement to be a confidant - discreet with sensitive information, frank in private, and diplomatically effective in every other setting.
You know when to be direct and when to be patient.
Please note that a criminal background check may be required once a conditional job offer is made.

10+ years of relevant experience
MBA or equivalent strongly preferred.
Prior Chief of Staff experience or a similar senior operating role is a plus, but the profile matters more than the title.

Monthly and quarterly business reviews, annual planning cycles, leadership forums - you will ensure these are substantive, efficient, and connected to strategic priorities rather than calendar obligations.

While we have a physical office in Palo Alto, we currently hire full-time employees in 34 U.S. states, making it easier than ever to join our mission from wherever you call home.
Our culture is built on trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence, all in service of our core mission: to create economic opportunities so people have better lives.
Visit our Life at Upwork page to learn more about our values, working principles, and the overall employee experience.

Upwork is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Candidates who prefer not to have their interview recorded through BrightHire can opt out when the interview is scheduled.

This listing is sourced directly from Upwork's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.