Chief of Staff, Engineering

One team. Global challenges. Infinite opportunities. At Viasat, we're on a mission to deliver connections with the capacity to change the world. For more than 35 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the globe communicate. We're looking for people who think big, act fearlessly, and create an inclusive environment that drives positive impact to join our team.

Viasat is seeking a highly capable, independent, and collaborative individual to serve as Chief of Staff to Viasat's President, Engineering. In this role you'll work closely with the President and the Engineering leadership team on both strategic activities and the execution of the priorities of Engineering. The role will ensure the focus and execution of key initiatives and support alignment activities within Engineering.

• Independently prioritizing, filtering, and troubleshooting work/emergent issues to enable the President and the Leadership Team to enhance their effectiveness;
• Leading critical initiatives across Engineering as required by the President;
• Orchestrating activities requiring coordination across Engineering teams to their resolution, including Group-level issues;
• Providing decision support through data gathering, analysis, and briefing relevant partners;
• Ensuring the flow of information and reporting to enable the tracking of strategic priorities;
• Communicating and working across wider Group to ensure strong alignment and interlocks with Engineering leadership;
• Orchestrating and facilitating group events (off-sites & all-hands), meeting agendas, logistics;
• Working with other Executive Leadership Team (ELT) Chiefs of Staff to ensure consistency across projects and objectives;
• Establishing agenda priorities and scheduling the President's staff meetings;
• Must have a strong, independent perspective, able to interact and communicate effectively with senior leaders across Engineering and the wider business.
• This role would allow the individual to broaden their experience of strategic business issues and provide a broader, top-level perspective of Viasat priorities and functions. The role holder will be highly visible within the team, and work on a mix of short-term and long-term activities as required.

Support the President of Engineering by handling the logistics management of the leadership team's agenda, working closely with the team to ensure that its substance reflects the needs of the business.

• Provide appropriate and timely understanding and briefings of key engineering issues, anticipating needs, and working in collaboration with the rest of the senior team to collate, filter, and package information to speed decision-making and ensure progress tracking.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with the leadership teams and key functions of Viasat, building a network to enable effective communication and cross-business alignment.
• Researches and collates information and crafts presentations and materials on behalf of the President, supporting efficiency in internal and external partner engagement.
• Provide leadership on activities to engage, align, and empower the engineering teams through various communications or other activities, including Town Halls or All Hands, and maintain a finger on the pulse of the team dynamic.
• Work with Executive-level colleagues of the President as an additional access point, or to facilitate access to appropriate leaders to improve the efficiency and speed of interactions.
• Undertake business-critical projects as advised by the President and be prepared to do so at short notice
• Support engineering teams in creating alignment and tracking metrics using tools such as OKRs.
• Collaborate with engineering and contracts teams to vet suppliers and handle supply chains
• Work with engineering and finance teams to help build an operating plan; work with project delivery teams to ensure work remains on plan
• Work with finance teams on various financial metrics for engineering and help teams to deliver on targets
• Help create a culture of customer-centric and product-focused thinking in Engineering

• 10+ years of proven experience and leadership responsibilities required.
• Applicants must possess a bachelor's degree in Engineering or the Sciences, or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge and understanding of engineering and engineering methodologies.
• Sound understanding of internal communications, finance, and business operations processes.
• Proven track record of optimally interacting and communicating effectively with senior management.
• Credible and able to build positive relationships at all levels, and across organizational boundaries.
• An ability to navigate ambiguity and complexity, but able to bring structure and routine to deliver results.
• Knowledge and experience in leading programs and delivering to schedule.
• Capable and confident communicator, comfortable initiating ideas and influencing others.
• Ability to analyze data and present concise briefings and recommendations.
• High degree of situational awareness and understanding of business direction, to be able to anticipate the needs of the President and the Leadership Team.
• The individual must be able to demonstrate an understanding of how to work optimally with a leadership team operating across multiple time zones and locations

• Master's degree in Engineering or similar field preferred
• The role will be based in the US, preferably in Carlsbad

Viasat is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, genetics, age, or veteran status or any other applicable legally protected status or characteristic. If you would like to request an accommodation on the basis of disability for completing this on-line application, please click here.