Chief of Staff in Sydney

About Sonder
At Sonder, we believe every person deserves to feel safe, supported, and empowered to be at their best, wherever they are. We're redefining workplace health, safety, and wellbeing through a seamless blend of technology and human expertise. Sonder's mobile platform provides 24/7, real-time support from a dedicated team of safety, medical, and mental health professionals, ensuring members receive immediate care when they need it most. In critical situations, we go beyond digital support, offering on-the-ground assistance to manage time-sensitive incidents.

We're also actively building toward an AI-native organisation, using real-time insights to help organisations take proactive steps toward a healthier, safer future with direct, measurable impact on the bottom line. Since our founding in 2017, we've grown rapidly across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Backed by Seek and Blackbird, we support over one million members and 200+ team members globally. We're well-capitalised, scaling fast, and the work we do genuinely matters.

About The Role
This is a rare hire. We're looking for a Chief of Staff who operates as a true strategic partner and force multiplier for our CEO, someone who brings the clinical credibility to understand our product at its core, the commercial rigour of top-tier consulting, and the operational instinct to move fast in a scaling health-tech company. This is not a Chief of Staff role for someone transitioning into strategy. You'll need deep foundations in all three areas: clinical training, MBB-calibre commercial experience, and a track record of post-clinical leadership to be effective in this seat.

What You'll Be Doing
Own Sonder's government affairs and regulatory strategy, positioning us as a leader in responsible AI, digital health, and clinical governance.
Partner directly with the CEO to identify and land growth opportunities, including new products, GTM motions, and international market entry.
Serve as the connective tissue between the CEO and the Executive Leadership Team, ensuring alignment on strategic priorities and trade-offs.
Act as a trusted extension of the CEO, preparing board and investor materials, accompanying them on domestic and international travel, and ensuring they're briefed for every critical engagement.
Lead vanguard projects that don't yet have a natural home in the business, including monitoring AI and emerging technology to keep Sonder at the cutting edge.
Transform complex strategy into clear frameworks and actionable decisions, solving the hardest scaling challenges the business faces.

What You'll Bring
These are non-negotiable. Applications without all three foundations will not be progressed.
Clinical training: a background as a qualified medical or allied health practitioner. You understand our product, our members, and our clinical governance obligations from the inside.
MBB-level consulting experience: you've worked at McKinsey, BCG, or Bain (or equivalent top-tier strategy firm), and you know what rigorous commercial thinking actually looks like.
5+ years of post-clinical commercial experience: you've made the transition from clinical practice into strategy, consulting, or commercial leadership and built a meaningful track record there.
Deep grasp of business strategy and finance; you understand the 'why' behind every commercial decision and its downstream impact.
Experience engaging with health regulators, government stakeholders, or policy, with the ability to translate evolving AI and digital health policy into competitive advantage.
Exceptional executive communication and stakeholder management; you synthesise complexity into clarity and stay composed under pressure.
Genuine obsession with the member experience and the real-world impact of clinical and technological innovation.

Bonus Points For
Master's degree in Business, Strategy, or Executive Leadership.
Prior experience in a venture-backed SaaS or health-tech startup.
Active network within government or digital health policy circles.

Why Join Sonder?
At Sonder, we thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance environment with a strong commitment to our people. Our team is a collaborative, vibrant group of passionate professionals, dedicated to making a real impact on people's lives every day.
Hybrid and flexible working environment with the perfect balance of in-office collaboration and work from home flexibility.
Free Sonder app access for you and your family, with 24/7 support.
Paid parental leave: 12 weeks for Primary Carers and 4 weeks for Secondary Carers, with Primary Carers returning at 80% for the first 3 months at full pay.
2 days of study leave per year.
Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP) so you can share in Sonder's success.
Salary packaging and novated leasing.
$250 annual wellbeing fund.
Free coffee.
Dog-friendly office at Sydney HQ.
2 days of volunteer leave per year.

Sonder is for Everyone - At Sonder, we are committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. Our members come from all backgrounds, and we know that a diverse team helps us better understand and support their needs. We encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, cultural backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, and religious beliefs. We are proud to be an inclusive employer and strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply. We are an equal opportunity employer and all hiring decisions are based on merit, capability, and alignment with the role.

Due to the nature of our industry, all Sonder employees are required to complete a National Police Check and Working With Children Check.