Chief of Staff

Lydian is developing the lowest cost sustainable fuels from waste CO2 water and renewable electricity to decarbonize the aviation industry. Our breakthrough technology replaces oil and gas refining with fully electrified modular and flexible reactor systems that produce fuel with 95% lower emissions than traditional jet fuel.

Since our founding in 2021 Lydian has achieved key milestones in record time including the production of our first liquid fuel from our pilot system capable of producing 10000 gallons of fuel per year for a fraction of the capital and time of alternative approaches. Lydian is backed by top climate investors including Congruent Ventures Galvanize Climate Solutions Union Square Ventures Voyager Ventures Grok Ventures and Overture. We are building a motivated diverse and collaborative team that is passionate about addressing the growing climate crisis and is committed to excellence in their particular we look for tenacious people who are energized by solving the hardest highest impact problems that come their way.

Lydian is growing fast and sprinting towards the deployment of its first commercial project which will convert CO2 into jet fuel at a larger scale than any other project in the world. As we work towards this milestone and grow the team across multiple locations the potential cost of missed context misaligned decisions or decisions made with insufficient data is increasing. The Chief of Staff role makes sure that cost isnt realized.

Youll partner closely with the CEO and leaders across commercial engineering manufacturing project development and finance. Youll help turn complex ambiguous challenges into clear plans actionable decisions and measurable results. Your work will span commercial execution strategic analysis technical writing operational effectiveness and special projects. Over time youll identify and lead high-impact initiatives that help the company move faster and operate more effectively.

Were looking for someone who is analytical highly organized collaborative curious and comfortable working across technical and business topics. You enjoy learning quickly using AI thoughtfully and bringing structure to complex problems.

• Maintain visibility into company priorities risks and key decisions

• Keep the CEO informed through dashboards briefings and decision materials

• Support executive operating rhythms including agendas pre-reads decisions and follow-up

• Coordinate across teams to remove blockers improve communication and drive execution

• Build trust through sound judgment discretion and reliable follow-through

• Support strategic partnerships and commercial opportunities from outreach through execution

• Develop market research account strategies stakeholder maps proposals and meeting materials

• Track priority deals next steps risks and executive involvement

• Coordinate technical commercial legal finance and project teams throughout the deal process

• Step in wherever needed to keep priorities moving

• Analyze technical commercial and strategic questions and recommend next steps

• Build market competitive financial and scenario analyses

• Prepare executive briefs board materials proposals investor updates and technical documents

• Create concise evidence-based writing that clearly distinguishes facts assumptions and risks

• Document key decisions and rationale to improve organizational alignment

• Lead cross-functional initiatives that dont have a natural owner

• Evaluate and implement AI tools to improve research analysis writing and workflows

• Establish practical AI best practices that improve quality accuracy and efficiency

• 6 years in operations engineering product strategy or similar roles within a leading hardware deep tech industrial technology manufacturing or energy company. Startup experience strongly preferred

• Bachelors Degree or higher required STEM degree preferred

• Comfortable working with engineers and learning complex technical systems

• Strong analytical skills including financial modeling data analysis and working with Python and Excel

• Fast learner comfortable with diving deep into short projects and then moving on

• AI-fluent with experience using AI to improve productivity while maintaining accuracy and sound judgment

• Excellent written communication with the ability to simplify complex topics for decision-makers

• Self-directed adaptable and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment

• Strong judgment integrity and discretion when working with confidential information

• Collaborative dependable and able to build trust and influence across teams regardless of title

• 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 insurance with 100% of healthcare vision and dental premiums covered for the employee and 80% coverage for dependents

• 401(k) with company match

Required Experience:

Senior IC