Chief of Founder's Office

Company Description

We’re Checkout.com - where the world checks out

Our mission is to enable businesses and their communities to thrive in the digital economy. We’re the strategic payments partner for some of the best known fast-moving brands globally such as Wise, Hut Group, Sony Electronics, Homebase, Klarna and many others. Purpose-built with performance and scalability in mind, our flexible cloud-based payments platform helps global enterprises launch new products and create experiences customers love. And it's not just what we build that makes us different. It's how.

We empower passionate problem-solvers to collaborate, innovate and do their best work. That’s why we’re on the Forbes Cloud 100 list and a Great Place to Work accredited company. And we’re just getting started. We’re building diverse and inclusive teams around the world — because that’s how we create even better experiences for our merchants and our partners. 

Job Description

Role overview | Context

We are currently seeking to hire an experienced Chief of Staff appointment who will establish and lead a team directly supporting our Founder-CEO, Guillaume Pousaz. This role will focus on driving execution and fostering greater collaboration across multiple functions within the organization. The incoming Chief of Founder’s Office will be responsible for building a team of functionally-aligned Chief of Staff's, driving excellence across the organization. 

The Chief of Founder’s Office will manage, lead and coordinate this team to ensure maximum throughput, efficiency and communication between and within each pillar of the organization; they will then feedback to the Founder-CEO, taking an active role in guiding strategic decision making and delivery on topics such as organizational effectiveness, strategic expansion, corporate strategy, M&A activity, automation and efficiency, and strategic planning, resourcing and roadmapping. 

In addition, the Chief of Founder’s Office will serve as the Founder-CEO’s own Chief of Staff, acting as an ‘air traffic controller’, synthesizing information, offering guidance and providing focus on priorities. They will also support the wider eteam to improve delivery and efficiency at the heart of the business; helping shape key business management processes (e.g. budget allocation, headcount planning, strategic reviews, growth and performance cycles, regional expansions etc…) 

As well as strategic and operational excellence, the role will require high EQ and must be a significant match with our values and operating principles, as this person will not only be responsible for establishing the Founder’s Office and scaling their own team, but will also ensure maximum alignment and cut-through with other leaders across the organization.

Role overview | Remit and Responsibilities

The ideal candidate will bring a track record of operating successfully as a Chief of Staff, Head of Strategy, Head of Operations or similar, and will preferably have direct operational and strategic experience of supporting a Founder/CEO previously. Prior domain experience and knowledge of the payments ecosystem is advantageous, but an appetite and ability to understand Checkout.com’s product suite, competitive landscape and merchant needs is essential. 

Amongst other duties, the incoming Chief of Founder’s Office will be responsible for:

• Serving as a trusted advisor, providing insights and recommendations for strategic decisions. Challenging the status quo and committing to the correct course of action in any given scenario 

• Recruiting, developing, and managing a team of Associates to drive the company’s strategic vision and objectives. Oversee the preparation of key business updates, board materials, and investor presentations and ensuring maximum throughput across multiple functions 

• Aligning all strategic decisions with the company’s mission, operating principles, and long-term objectives. Facilitating robust, data-driven decision making at the e-team or Founder-level with insight, research and commercial acumen

• Facilitating key discussions with the CEO-Founder, eteam, and wider Checkout Leadership Team (eteam and their direct reports) to ensure effective decision-making and outcomes. Keeping meetings on track and pushing for timely decisions, actions and follow-ups

• Fostering strong relationships across the company. Connecting with employees from all departments and levels is critical whilst also applying high EQ to bring leaders together and ensure we move forward as one 

• Leading and managing select cross-functional special projects as requested by the Founder-CEO, including long-term strategy, product development, new investment opportunities, organizational changes, M&A activity, etc.

• Shaping the Founder-CEO’s communications and engagement with employees across various forums

• Monitoring the progress of key projects, escalating updates, milestones, and blockers as needed

• Ensuring smooth information flow across the Founder’s Office and between other functions, and draft communications from the Founder-CEO to the wider business

• Ensuring internal meetings are well-run and impactful with clear next steps

• Preparing the Founder-CEO for meetings, presentations, and external speaking engagements

• Managing the Founder-CEO’s internal communications and escalate relevant action points quickly and effectively

Qualifications

Role overview | Desired Background, Core Competencies

The ideal candidate for the role will bring: 

• Track record of successful leadership experience, ideally as a Chief of Staff, Head of Strategy, Head of Operations or similar

• Excellent project management skills with experience driving complex projects to completion

• Experience leading and implementing change, horizon scanning, and organizational design

• Highly organized, proactive, efficient, and able to solve complex problems

• Critical thinker with a demonstrated ability to leverage data for decision-making

• Driven, able to switch contexts without losing focus, and skilled at translating complex information into executive-level updates

• Accountable, responsive and capable of meeting demanding deadlines, timeframes and being available to the Founder-CEO as and when required 

• A strong grasp of the global payments industry, our competitive landscape and ability think strategically on how to drive and execute GTM, expansion or hiring strategies in a given region or vertical will be highly beneficial 

• This person will be a strong believer in, and advocate for, in-person collaboration, and will be comfortable working in the London office as required

• High-EQ, high-humility, low-ego and willingness to learn and develop. This person must lead by example and be a clear fit to our values and operating principles

Additional Information

What we stand for | Our Values & Operating Principles

At Checkout.com, everything starts with our values, including the experience we offer our people.

#Aspire

We supercharge your professional growth with career development programs and leadership training. You can learn your way, with tailored pathways and online platforms, and be inspired at relevant conferences.

#Excel

We don't stop at 'good' here. We strive for excellence amongst our teams every day and recognize colleagues who take it to the next level through our quarterly peer-nominated Hero awards.

#Unite

We're proud of our global connections and inclusive environment. So we champion this through our colleague-led community groups and celebrate many cultural events together.

Want to see us in action?

Take a peek inside here 

We believe in equal opportunities

Checkout.com is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, or belief. We make recruiting decisions based on your experience, skills and personality. We believe that employing a diverse workforce is the right thing to do and is central to our success.

Apply without meeting all requirements statement 

If you don't meet all the requirements but think you might still be right for the role, please apply anyway. We're always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.

We believe in equal opportunities

We work as one team. Wherever you come from. However you identify. And whichever payment method you use. 

Our clients come from all over the world — and so do we. Hiring hard-working people and giving them a community to thrive in is critical to our success.

When you join our team, we’ll empower you to unlock your potential so you can do your best work. We’d love to hear how you think you could make a difference here with us. 

We want to set you up for success and make our process as accessible as possible. So let us know in your application, or tell your recruiter directly, if you need anything to make your experience or working environment more comfortable. We’ll be happy to support you.

Take a peek inside life at Checkout.com via

• Our Culture video https://youtu.be/BEwnpHuadSw
• Our careers page https://www.checkout.com/careers
• Our LinkedIn Life pages bit.ly/3OaoN1U
• Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/checkout_com/