Y Combinator 
Techstars Chief of Staff
Description
Help lead Lance as it continues to scale.
About Lance
Lance (YC W26) builds autonomous AI agents that run hotel operations end to end. They answer guest calls and messages and coordinate the front desk, housekeeping and maintenance across hotel systems. We work with leading hotel groups across brands like Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt. We've gone from $0 to $2M+ ARR and are live at 50+ properties in the U.S. Our agents don't just assist. They execute. We work in person in San Francisco.
Total Compensation
$140K–$200K total compensation (cash, equity, bonus)
Role Overview
We're hiring a Chief of Staff to work directly with our CEO and help scale Lance. This is a high-ownership, execution-driven role across admin, legal, operations, compliance and finance. You'll take on the CEO's hardest problems and see them through.
What You'll Do
Be the CEO's right hand. Run the operating rhythm, prep for high-stakes meetings, and own special projects from investor updates to new initiatives.
Own operations and admin. Build the systems, policies and events that keep a fast-growing company running.
Run legal and compliance. Manage contracts and agreements, and keep SOC 2, ISO, HIPAA and PCI on track through enterprise security reviews.
Own finance and vendors. Run billing, payables, bookkeeping and insurance, and be the point of contact for vendors and partners.
Automate with AI. Turn one-off work into repeatable, automated processes wherever it saves time.
Drive cross-functional work. Lead projects across product, ops and go-to-market, and fill the gaps nobody else owns.
What We're Looking For
A degree from a strong school
A strong operator who takes initiative and loves owning things end to end
Management experience, and you want to manage and grow people
A builder of strong processes who thrives in ambiguity
Exceptional communication and sound judgment
Uses AI tools to work more efficiently and automates processes or workflows
Preferred
A background in banking, a high-growth startup, management consulting or law
Why This Role
Work directly with the CEO and founders on core decisions
High ownership from day one, with room to build and lead a team
Exposure across the entire company at a company with real traction
Build real systems, not just decks
Benefits
Lunch provided
Health insurance: medical, dental and vision
Skills
As published by ashby · 10 questions · 1 written answer
Basics
Name, Email, Resume
Short answers (4)
- Phone Number
- Where are you currently located?
- When can you start?
Pick from a list (5)
- Are you willing to work 996?
- Are you willing to work in the San Francisco office?
- Are you authorized to work in the country where the job is located?
- Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status in this country?
- I hereby certify that I have not knowingly withheld any information that might adversely affect my chances for employment and that the answers given by me are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I further certify that I, the undersigned applicant, have personally completed this application. I understand that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any omission or misstatement of material fact on this application or on any document used to secure employment shall be grounds for rejection of this application or for immediate discharge if I am employed, regardless of the time elapsed before discovery. Lance is not seeking, nor should you disclose, any information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations to third parties, including but not limited to, your current employer.
Written answers (1)
- At Lance, our mission is to automate hotel operations. We believe this starts with our own work. Describe a manual, broken, or low-value process from a previous role that you found frustrating. Then, briefly outline the system or tool you would build to eliminate it entirely.