Chief of Staff (Junior) to the COO

Location

Paris, France

About the Role

We are seeking an exceptional Executive Business Partner to support the Global Chief Operating Officer of a leading international construction and project delivery group.

This is a highly visible role providing direct support to a member of the Group Management Committee. The successful candidate will act as a trusted partner, ensuring the COO can operate at maximum effectiveness while managing an extensive international travel schedule, multiple projects, and a demanding executive agenda.

This position combines elements of executive assistance, business operations, project coordination, travel management, and AI-enabled productivity support.

The role is based in our Paris office and may occasionally require international travel.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Support

• Manage and optimize the COO's complex international calendar.
• Anticipate scheduling conflicts and proactively propose solutions.
• Coordinate meetings with internal and external stakeholders across multiple time zones.
• Prepare agendas, briefing documents, presentations, and supporting materials.
• Attend selected meetings and produce concise, action-oriented meeting minutes.
• Follow up on key actions and ensure timely completion.

Global Travel Management

• Organize extensive international travel arrangements for the COO.
• Coordinate flights, hotels, visas, local transportation, and travel logistics.
• Optimize travel schedules to maximize productivity while maintaining personal wellbeing.
• Arrange travel and logistics for the COO's leadership team (approximately eight people).
• Handle travel disruptions and urgent changes efficiently and professionally.

Business Operations Support

• Create, maintain, and analyze spreadsheets, reports, and dashboards.
• Support the preparation of management presentations and executive communications.
• Conduct research and gather information required for decision-making.
• Coordinate activities between different offices, projects, and stakeholders.
• Assist with special projects and strategic initiatives.

AI and Productivity Enablement

• Leverage AI tools to improve efficiency and automate administrative processes.
• Create high-quality documents, reports, summaries, and presentations using modern AI platforms.
• Identify opportunities to increase executive productivity through automation and AI agents.

Meeting and Event Preparation

• Prepare meeting rooms, logistics, documentation, and stakeholder coordination.
• Occasionally travel ahead of the COO to prepare important meetings or events.
• Ensure all operational and logistical aspects are ready before executive engagements.

Executive Lifestyle Support

• Support travel and scheduling arrangements that enable the COO to maintain a high level of physical fitness and wellbeing while travelling extensively (very important).
• Identify hotels, facilities, and travel solutions that facilitate healthy routines and recovery.

Candidate Profile

Essential Qualifications

• Fluent spoken and written French and English.
• Legal authorization to work in France.
• Previous experience in supporting senior executives is not a pre-requisite as long as the candidate is open minded and ready to adapt quickly.
• Outstanding organizational and planning skills.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written communication and note-taking abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously under tight deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience coordinating international travel.
• Good knowledge of AI tools and workflow automation platforms.
• Exposure to project management methodologies and business operations.

Personal Characteristics

The successful candidate will be:

• Highly proactive and self-directed.
• Energetic and enthusiastic.
• Professional, polished, and confident in executive environments.
• Adaptable and comfortable with frequent changes in priorities.
• Curious and eager to learn.
• Assertive when required while remaining diplomatic and respectful.
• Solution-oriented and resourceful.
• Calm under pressure.
• Trustworthy and capable of handling highly confidential information.
• Service-minded, with a genuine desire to make others successful.
• Comfortable interacting with senior executives, clients, and stakeholders from diverse cultures.

Working Environment

This role offers a unique opportunity to work directly alongside a global executive leader and gain exposure to major international construction projects, strategic decision-making, and executive leadership.

While normal working hours apply, the nature of the position occasionally requires flexibility to address urgent travel, operational, or business matters outside standard office hours.

The successful candidate will become a trusted extension of the COO's office, playing a critical role in enabling executive effectiveness across a rapidly growing international organization.