Chief of Staff – CTO

Remote from
USA flag
USA
Salary, yearly, USD
155,420 - 235,600
Employment type
Full Time,
Job posted
Apply before
7 Jun 2026
Experience level
Senior
Views / Applies
2779 / 196

About Coursera

Build skills with courses, certificates, and degrees online from world-class universities and companies.

Verified job posting
This job post has been manually reviewed for authenticity and compliance.

AI Summary

Coursera is seeking a Chief of Staff to the CTO to act as a strategic integrator, connecting strategy and execution across the Tech organization. This role involves designing and improving operational frameworks, driving cross-functional alignment, and enabling high-quality decision-making. Key responsibilities include managing the CTO's operating rhythm, partnering with People, Finance, and Administration, and driving strategic planning. The ideal candidate will be a customer-first builder who thrives in a fast-paced, globally distributed environment. This position offers an opportunity to shape the future of education and make a global impact.

Role DNA

Job Complexity
Easy Hard
AI Insight This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, cross-functional leadership, and experience in scaling organizations, making it challenging. However, it is not the hardest level (5) as it does not require deep technical expertise.

Salary Analysis

Median Highly Competitive
USD195,510
US Market
USD155k – USD236k
0 USD259k
AI Insight The offered salary range of $155,420 to $235,600 is competitive for a Chief of Staff role in the US tech industry, aligning with market rates for senior strategic roles. The median of $195,510 is attractive and reflects the seniority and impact of the position.

Key Skills

Strategic Planning Cross-functional Leadership Operational Excellence Executive Support Performance Management Change Management Data-driven Decision Making Stakeholder Management Organizational Design Governance

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to express my strong interest in the Chief of Staff - CTO position at Coursera. With a proven track record of driving strategic initiatives and operational excellence in fast-paced technology environments, I am excited about the opportunity to support the CTO in scaling the Tech organization and translating company strategy into actionable plans.

In my previous role, I successfully led cross-functional teams to improve operational frameworks, resulting in increased alignment and accountability. My experience in partnering with executive teams and driving strategic planning aligns perfectly with the responsibilities outlined in this role.

I am particularly drawn to Coursera's mission of providing universal access to world-class learning and its innovative use of generative AI. I am confident that my skills in strategic integration, governance, and resource allocation can help drive Coursera's goals with clarity and discipline.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to Coursera's continued growth and impact.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Can you describe a time when you translated a high-level company strategy into a functional operating system for a technology organization?
In my previous role as a Chief of Staff, I worked with the CTO to break down the company's annual strategic goals into quarterly OKRs for each engineering team. I designed a planning process that included cross-functional input, resource allocation, and regular check-ins. This system improved alignment and helped us achieve 95% of our key results.
How would you approach improving the decision-making process within the Tech organization?
I would start by assessing current decision-making bottlenecks and gathering feedback from stakeholders. Then, I would implement a governance model that clarifies decision rights, uses data and narratives to frame tradeoffs, and establishes regular review cycles. For example, introducing a decision log and a structured escalation process can increase transparency and speed.
Describe a situation where you had to drive cross-functional alignment on a complex initiative. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
I led a project to implement a new resource allocation system across engineering, product, and finance. The main challenge was conflicting priorities. I facilitated workshops to align on shared goals, created a transparent scoring model for tradeoffs, and established a steering committee with representatives from each function. This resulted in a unified plan that was adopted successfully.
How do you ensure that strategic plans are effectively executed and tracked across multiple teams?
I believe in establishing a clear operating rhythm with defined milestones, KPIs, and accountability. I use tools like OKRs and project management software to track progress. Regular check-ins and dashboards provide visibility, and I encourage a culture of transparency where teams report on blockers and adjustments are made proactively.
What experience do you have in partnering with People, Finance, and Administration to drive organizational change?
In my last role, I collaborated with HR to redesign performance management for the tech org, aligning it with strategic goals. I worked with Finance to create a budget model that tied resource allocation to priorities. With Administration, I streamlined onboarding processes for new hires. These partnerships were key to successful change initiatives.

About Coursera

Coursera was launched in 2012 by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. Today, it is one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with 205 million registered learners as of March 31, 2026. Coursera partners with over 375 leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, and degrees.
Coursera’s platform innovations — including generative AI-powered features like Coach, Role Play, and Course Builder, and role-based solutions like Skills Tracks — enable instructors, partners, and companies to deliver scalable, personalized, and verified learning. Institutions worldwide rely on Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, students, and citizens in high-demand fields such as GenAI, data science, technology, and business, while learners globally turn to Coursera to master the skills they need to advance their careers. Coursera is a Delaware public benefit corporation and a B Corp.

Why Join Us

At Coursera, we’re looking for inventors, innovators, and lifelong learners ready to shape the future of education. You’ll help build global programs and tools that power online learning for millions turning bold ideas into real impact. People who thrive here are customer-first builders who move fast, simplify ruthlessly, and iterate relentlessly on the metrics that matter. 

We’re a globally distributed team and let you choose the best way you work, whether it’s from home, a Coursera hub, or a co-working space near you. Our virtual hiring and onboarding make it easy to join us and start making an impact from anywhere. If you’re ready to make a global impact, scale unique products exclusive to Coursera, and expand your career horizons, apply below.

Job Overview:

We are looking for a Chief of Staff to join our team and serve as a strategic integrator for the Chief Technology Officer, operating across a major function or business domain to connect strategy and execution. This role ensures that the Tech organization scales effectively, translating company strategy into a cohesive operating system that drives alignment, accountability, and results across multiple teams.

At Coursera, we’re evolving how we operate to enable sustained growth and agility. The Chief of Staff plays a central role in that evolution, designing and improving the frameworks that underpin performance, including planning, governance, decision-making, and resource allocation. Operating at the intersection of strategy and operations, this role enables the executive and leadership team to deliver Coursera’s goals with greater clarity, speed, and discipline.

Objectives of this role: 

  • Translate company strategy into functional operating systems that connect priorities, plans, and execution across teams
  • Drive cross-functional alignment within and adjacent to the Tech organization, ensuring shared accountability for results
  • Design and evolve frameworks that bring structure, discipline, and visibility to planning, goal-setting, and performance tracking
  • Enable high-quality decision-making through data, narratives, and governance models that clarify tradeoffs and resource allocation
  • Ensure organizational readiness and adaptability, balancing scale with speed as Coursera continues to evolve
  • Strengthen the leadership system within the Tech org, increasing focus, follow-through, and clarity across teams

Responsibilities: 

  • Manage and continuously improve the CTO Org operating rhythm, including timely review and action of key performance indicators (KPIs)
  • Partner with executive-enabling function – People, Finance, Administration – to drive CTO’s strategic change and improvement initiatives org-wide
  • Drive the strategic and operational planning system for the CTO organization, defining and continuously improving processes that enable the CTO to effectively and efficiently manage their large team with ongoing visibility into results and impact
  • Oversee a portfolio of strategic projects, structuring and driving to completion complex, ambiguous initiatives, steering large, cross-functional projects, and building consensus with senior leadership across the organization
  • Lead employee engagement strategy, in collaboration with People Business Partner, crafting initiatives that foster a positive, inclusive, and dynamic work environment. Plan and execute internal communications within the team, ensuring that all team members are informed, aligned, and motivated
  • Create cross-functional connections between the principal’s org and adjacent functions to accelerate decision-making and remove friction
  • Facilitate strategic meetings, ensuring alignment and clarity on objectives, and drive follow-through on action items. Represent the COO in certain cross-functional meetings and projects, advocating for their priorities and ensuring alignment with overall company strategy
  • Build and develop relationships with the CTO’s direct reports and other individuals in critical roles – providing an unbiased ear – to understand the need and opportunities in existing ways of working and helping define new strategies to address

Required Qualifications: 

  • 12-15 years in a business or executive management role
  • In-depth experience driving results in an Engineering organization
  • Extremely versatile, dedicated to efficient productivity
  • Experience defining, planning, and driving top-level strategic initiatives
  • Excellent communicator in written and verbal form
  • Demonstrated experience organizing and directing multiple teams and departments
  • Proven track record of data-driven approach to complex decision-making

Preferred Qualifications: 

  • Master’s degree in Business Administration or similar field
  • Experience with data analysis
  • Experience with budget management
  • Consulting experience with a focus on operations management
  • Proven success in a project management role
  • Nimble business mind with a focus on developing creative solutions
  • Strong project reporting skills, with a focus on interdepartmental communication

Compensation:

This role is available in the following US Pay Zones:

US Zone 1: $188,480 – $235,600
US Zone 2: $180,120 – $225,150 
US Zone 3: $167,200 – $209,000
US Zone 4: $155,420 – $194,275
At Coursera, we offer competitive, zone-based pay aligned to your location, experience, and role level across four U.S. pay zones. Our total rewards package goes beyond salary, with comprehensive health and wellness benefits, bonus and RSU equity programs, and global perks designed to help you grow and thrive wherever you are. US Pay Zones:

  • US-Z1: Bay Area
  • US-Z2: NYC and Seattle Metro
  • US-Z3: CA, WA, NY, NJ, CO, CT, DC, GA, IL, MA, MD, OR, RI, TX, VA
  • US-Z4: AK, AZ, DE, FL, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NV, NH, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, UT, VT, WI

#LI-NM1

Coursera is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a welcoming and inclusive workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request at [email protected]. Learn more in our CCPA Applicant Notice and GDPR Recruitment Notice.

To protect against recruitment fraud, please note that Coursera recruiters will only communicate with candidates using official coursera.org email addresses. We do not conduct interviews or negotiate offers via personal or non-coursera.org accounts.

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