About Lydian

Lydian’s mission is to reduce emissions in some of the hardest-to-decarbonize sectors, including aviation, shipping, and heavy industry. We are pioneering a new reactor technology for the production of synthetic fuels and chemicals from carbon dioxide. Collectively, our target markets account for well over 10% of global emissions, trillions of annual economic value, and are fundamental to how we live, work, and travel. Lydian was founded in 2021 and is funded by top venture capitalists.

As the Chief of Staff, you will act as a strategic partner to the company’s founders, reporting directly to the CEO. You will be expected to maintain a high degree of autonomy, and will be directly responsible for managing critical projects, driving cross-functional initiatives, and facilitating internal and external communications. Your role will be pivotal in ensuring that the organization operates efficiently and effectively, while maintaining alignment with the company's vision, mission, and values. This role is a senior position within the team; it is expected that the Chief of Staff will eventually develop into a senior operating role commensurate with experience, up to and including Chief Operating Officer.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategic planning and execution:

  • Work closely with the CEO and CTO to identify, develop, refine, and execute strategic initiatives related to technology and go-to-market strategy.

  • Coordinate and drive cross-functional projects, ensuring deadlines are met, resources are allocated effectively, and objectives are achieved.

  • Assist in the development and management of company-wide key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress and inform decision-making.

  • Develop and maintain project documentation, including status reports, meeting agendas, and action items.

• Operational efficiency and process improvement:

  • Identify opportunities to streamline and optimize business processes, and lead efforts to implement improvements.

  • Develop and maintain systems for tracking and reporting on company performance and progress toward strategic objectives.

• Internal and external communications:

  • Assist with the preparation of board materials, investor presentations, and other executive communications.

  • Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and meetings, promoting the company's vision and mission.

• Team development and culture:

  • Support the executive team in hiring, onboarding, and managing top talent to build a high-performing team.

  • Contribute to a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the organization by organizing team events, acting as a liaison between functional teams as Lydian grows, and identifying opportunities for team members to continue developing their skills and advancing their careers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, with degree in a STEM field highly preferred (engineering, chemistry, physics, environmental science). MBA or other master’s degree preferred.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a strategic or operational role. Preference for experience at a top consulting firm; prior experience in an operational role at a startup is a plus; experience at an engineering firm is a plus.

• Exceptional organizational skills. Proven success in project management, coordination and reporting. Proven ability to track multiple projects or priorities simultaneously.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Able to communicate ideas articulately and persuasively and resolve conflicts diplomatically.

• Must demonstrate a high level of proactivity and independence; able to consistently identify areas of improvement for the team and act on them with limited or no instruction.

• Proven ability to rapidly absorb new concepts, systems, processes. Knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn, basic engineering concepts.

• Experience with data and financial analysis; strong quantitative and analytical skills, including an understanding of corporate finance, accounting, and statistics.

• Proven track record of effectively interacting with senior stakeholders, internal and external, on cross-functional projects.

• Adept user of MS Office applications as well as comfortable adopting additional productivity tools to support success in the role.

Company culture and benefits

• Challenging, collaborative, and meaningful work and an important voice in company development

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience

• Meaningful equity compensation

• Unlimited PTO and expectation that all employees take significant time off to rest, recharge, and enjoy life outside work

• Excellent health, vision, and dental insurance with 100% of premiums covered