Chief of Staff (Family Office)
A family office chief of staff is an operational leader who coordinates priorities, workflows, and communications across the office and the principal’s agenda.
Allocator relevance: Often controls access, scheduling, and routing—affecting whether opportunities reach true decision-makers.
Expanded Definition
In many family offices—especially lean SFOs—the chief of staff functions as a high-trust operator who manages internal execution and shields the principal’s time. Responsibilities can include triage of inbound requests, coordination across legal/finance/investments, and orchestration of investment committee logistics.
While not typically a capital decision-maker, this role can materially influence decision velocity and access outcomes.
How It Works in Practice
The chief of staff receives inbound opportunities, validates relevance, routes them to the appropriate internal owner (CIO, investment team, GC), and manages follow-up cadence. In some offices, they also coordinate reporting and external vendor relationships.
Decision Authority and Governance
Authority is usually procedural rather than investment-based: the role shapes how decisions are surfaced and how information flows. Role validation is essential to avoid misattribution of decision power.
Common Misconceptions
- Chief of staff equals decision-maker.
- The role is purely administrative.
- Gatekeepers are “blocking” rather than managing process.
Key Takeaways
- High influence on access and process.
- Often the operational hub in lean offices.
- Verify authority level and routing role explicitly.