Chief of Staff & Head of Strategic Initiatives

ABOUT RIPPLE MEDICAL
Ripple Medical is a pioneering healthtech company on a mission to revolutionize hypertension management and chronic disease care with our innovative cuffless blood pressure monitoring wearable that is under development. Our device will enable patients to easily and accurately monitor their blood pressure, empowering them and their healthcare providers with actionable data to improve outcomes. We foster a collaborative, mission-driven culture of innovation and excellence as we work to bring our groundbreaking solution to the millions of patients who can benefit. Ripple Medical offers the opportunity to join a team at the forefront of digital health, directly impacting and improving patient's lives, with growth opportunities as we aim to become the leader in remote blood pressure monitoring.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Act as the CEO’s force‑multiplier—translating vision into decisive action and keeping the company’s most strategic initiatives on track to commercial launch.

The Chief of Staff & Head of Strategic Initiatives will serve as a critical thought partner and force multiplier to the CEO, enabling the executive team to operate efficiently and drive the company toward key strategic objectives. As a pre-revenue medical device company preparing for operations and commercialization within 18 months, this role is crucial for leading high-priority strategic initiatives and managing executional tasks essential for growth. This position requires a generalist with deep experience in the medical device sector, capable of establishing credibility with the engineering team and navigating the complexities of commercial launch planning.  This person will work closely with our CEO, the Leadership Team and the Board of Directors, providing direct influence on the company’s trajectory. It is an ideal steppingstone for a high-potential leader aspiring to a senior role in a small to medium-sized company, offering broad exposure to scaling a venture-backed medical device startup.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic & Operational Support
• Translate board‑level strategy into quarterly OKRs and operating cadences. 
• Be the CEO’s thinking partner on decision-making, resourcing, trade‑offs, and strategic planning.
• Run special projects—deep‑dive, decide, hand off—on thorny, cross‑disciplinary problems. 
• Help define and execute commercial, operational, and go-to-market strategies, particularly focusing on readiness for commercial launch in 18 months.    
• Helping the CEO in identifying opportunities for process improvements and efficiencies throughout the organization. 
• Lead and execute special research projects on relevant business topics, becoming a resident expert and presenting findings to leadership and the board.    
Commercialization & Market Development
• Help build out and validate the project plan for commercial strategy/launch, identifying gaps and verifying dependencies and timing across all functional areas (sales, marketing, branding, hiring, logistics, customer support, etc.).
• Support the CEO in managing outward-facing industry relationships, including conference preparation, competitive landscape analysis, and outreach to potential partners. 
• Support fundraising efforts by generating investor funnels, vetting investors, managing logistics, preparing presentations, and providing feedback on the process.   
Execution & Scaling
• Manage the process to select key vendors, such as contract manufacturers (including identification, RFQ process, due diligence, and internal feedback consolidation) and IT Managed Service Providers (MSPs).
• Act as the point person between Ripple Medical and its IT MSP, supporting IT initiatives.
• Stand up lightweight processes that scale—never bureaucracy for its own sake.
• Provide CEO-level oversight on major initiatives, ensuring progress against strategic objectives.  
Leadership & Culture
• Act as an extension of the CEO, representing them when needed.   
• Play a key role in defining company culture, leadership expectations, and accountability.   
KEY ATTRIBUTES
• Strategic Leader: Ability to connect high-level vision with execution.   
• Action-Oriented: A bias for getting things done efficiently and taking ownership.   
• Analytical Thinker: Strong problem-solving skills with a structured approach.   
• Influential Communicator: Ability to collaborate effectively and influence senior leaders.   
• High EQ & Adaptability: Strong interpersonal skills, capable of managing ambiguity.   
• Technical & Business Fluency: Solid understanding of medical device product development, commercialization, and the associated business landscape.   
• Operationally Minded: Proactive in identifying inefficiencies and driving scalable solutions.   
• Generalist: Ability to jump into diverse projects and quickly build expertise.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND EXPECTATIONS
• Must have 4‑8 yrs in med‑device or digital‑health, incl. at least one full product lifecycle or Class II/III regulatory filing.
• Experience in a technical role (e.g., engineering, R&D, product development) and/or a project management role is required; experience in both is ideal.   
• MBA or equivalent strategic toolkit (McKinsey/Bain/BCG, product strategy, or venture studio background).
• Demonstrated understanding of the medical device product development lifecycle, regulatory considerations, and commercialization pathways.   
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and drive results in a fast-paced environment.
• Ideally be based in California.  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
• Deep understanding of medical device product development, regulatory processes, and commercialization strategies.   
• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives.   
• Excellent analytical skills, with experience using data to inform decisions.   
• Ability to identify operational inefficiencies and implement scalable solutions.   
• High level of attention to detail, organization, and execution discipline.   
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.   
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion.   
• Experience with venture-backed companies, fundraising, or investor relations is a plus.  

COMPENSATION
• Base Salary: $182,104 – $249,200 USD, commensurate with experience, market data, and geographic location.
• Performance Bonus: tied to company milestones and personal OKRs; payouts can exceed target for exceptional performance.
• Meaningful Stock Options: an early‑stage option grant sized to provide ownership 
• 100 % Employer‑Paid Healthcare: Ripple Medical covers 100 % of premiums for medical, dental, and vision.
• Additional Benefits: 401(k) with company match and flexible PTO.

The salary range represents a general guideline; however, Ripple Medical considers several factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, geographic location and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Duties are performed in an office environment using standard office equipment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee must occasionally lift or move office products and supplies, up to 20 pounds. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers. May require occasional overnight travel (<25%).  

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT
Ripple Medical is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, racial expression, including protective hairstyles, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Ripple Medical is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know.