Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff - Detroit/Ann Arbor

• Newly created start up Family Office
• Song Family Office https://www.song.us
• Harper Associates is exclusively retained for this search

Our client is seeking an extremely intelligent, tech savvy hands-on Chief of Staff (COS) with a stellar career history for this truly exceptional opportunity. Bachelor’s degree (at minimum) is required, along with 10+ years relevant professional and executive administration required. Must have expertise in SaaS applications and services, including office applications, collaboration, business services, etc. (e.g. Google Apps, Slack, etc.) See additional requirements listed below.

*This is a hybrid position: must live within a reasonable commuting distance to Ann Arbor and downtown Detroit; some days can be done virtually at your own home. Flexibility to meet the needs of the employer and 24/7 mentality are essential for success in this role.

Song United is the family office of Dug and Linh Song. Reporting to the Principals, the COS will be the frontline in supporting the Song family and family office (Song United) in all personal and professional pursuits. The Song United’s mission is to create community wealth-social, economic, cultural and environmental, for a just and inclusive future for all.

This position will require strong organizational, communication, and execution skills. The COS will be the glue, right hand, air traffic controller - the person that keeps the chaos organized in the multitude of priorities across the Song family and Song United.

The COS will also work closely with the Director of Strategic Initiatives and the Song Foundation team to operationalize specific requests and projects.

This is a “start-up” family office environment – this person must be ready and comfortable with diving in to build and create alongside the rest of the team.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the calendars and priorities of Principals and help them establish the most effective way to accomplish what they need to get done with others, minimizing the number of meetings
• Respond to inbound requests in order of importance
• Arrange scheduling and logistics for Principals
• Strategize and be proactive in regard to supporting Principals to manage relationships with outside parties
• Handle appropriate action items leading up to meetings, ensure that Principals are appropriately prepared
• Prioritize, assign, and/or respond to all incoming communications and escalate and/or distribute to appropriate persons
• Ensure the right meetings are scheduled and prioritized accordingly, scheduling prep time for leadership if appropriate
• Coordinate travel arrangements, including hotels, flights, car services, restaurants, and more
• Liaise with appropriate parties to manage executive events and speaking engagements
• Daily collaboration with internal team to prioritize and deliver on projects and initiatives
• Establish process to support and communicate with principals through 1:1s and other meetings

Minimum Qualifications:

● 10+ years relevant professional and executive administration required

● Excellent communication skills in person, on the phone, and through correspondence

● Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships across a racially and ethnically diverse team

● Capable of thriving in a high-trust, low-formality culture and environment, and be authentic with all internal and external stakeholders

● Competent and comfortable with SaaS applications and services

● Amazing organizational skills: You should have the ability to take chaos and turn it into real results

● Ability to handle sensitive correspondence and situations with the utmost discretion

● Familiarity working in a fast-paced, demanding, and deadline-driven environment

● Some availability outside of normal office hours for events and travel

The ideal candidate has supported multiple family principals and is comfortable navigating each of their independent concerns and schedules while still assisting them in finding time to spend together.

Dug Song is co-founder of the Song Foundation and former co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Duo Security, Michigan’s first tech unicorn and multibillion-dollar venture-backed acquisition. As a founder and funder, Song champions growing community wealth—economic, social, cultural, and environmental—to build a more just and inclusive future for all. Song is heavily involved in the global startup community and fostering entrepreneurship in Michigan as an active investor, advisor, and board member. He is co-founder of the Michigan Founders Fund, helping entrepreneurs turn business success into positive community impact, and serves on the boards of the Detroit Regional Chamber and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, with a focus on racial justice and economic equity. In 2020, Song and his wife started the Song Foundation to invest in the innovative people and organizations improving the quality of life for all in Southeast Michigan. Song also serves on the executive board of Wallace House, home of the Knight-Wallace Fellowships for journalists, and on the advisory board of Venture for America in Detroit.

Local candidates or those with ties to Michigan preferred.

All inquiries will remain confidential.

Send resume to: Ben Schwartz, President, Harper Associates ben@harperjobs.com

Ben Schwartz | President | Harper Associates

Direct: (248) 737-0431 | Fax (888) 737-8525

ben@harperjobs.com | www.harperjobs.com