#1 Pick Best for VC-backed startups
Resonance Search is a recruiting firm built for venture-backed startups, covering Chief of Staff, engineering, product, operations, and GTM roles from seed through Series D. What sets them apart on this list is their origin story: the firm grew out of Right Hand Talent, one of the first recruiting practices built specifically around the Chief of Staff role. That deep CoS expertise is still their superpower, even as they've expanded.
The founder is a former Chief of Staff and investor who saw firsthand how poorly most recruiters understand the role. That background shapes everything from how they scope a search (they often help CEOs define what their CoS should actually do before recruiting starts) to how they evaluate candidates (screening for operational judgment and founder-compatibility, not just resume keywords).
Their candidate network skews heavily toward the startup ecosystem — former management consultants, operators from high-growth companies, and current/former Chiefs of Staff looking for their next role. They offer both contingency and retained search, making them accessible to earlier-stage startups that aren't ready for a $50K+ retained engagement. If you're a seed through Series D company backed by a top-tier VC, this is the firm we'd call first.
Pros
- + Deep CoS expertise — grew an entire practice around the role
- + Founder is a former CoS — genuine role understanding
- + Offers both contingency and retained (flexible for earlier-stage)
- + Consultative — helps define the role, not just fill it
- + Broad startup recruiting beyond CoS (tech, product, ops, GTM)
Cons
- - Smaller firm — limited bandwidth for many concurrent searches
- - Best suited for startups; less ideal for Fortune 500
Search Type
Contingency or Retained
Ideal Client
Seed–Series D
#2 Best for high-growth tech companies
Daversa Partners
Daversa Partners has established itself as one of the premier executive search firms for technology companies. Based in multiple offices across the US, they focus on placing senior leaders at venture-backed and growth-stage tech companies. While they're not CoS-specific, their deep bench of tech executive placements means they regularly fill Chief of Staff roles for top-tier startups.
Their strength lies in their network. Daversa has built relationships with thousands of senior operators across the tech landscape, and their research team is known for being thorough and proactive. They don't just wait for candidates to apply — they actively map the market and approach passive candidates.
The trade-off: Daversa is a generalist executive search firm, so their CoS expertise varies by partner. Make sure you're working with a partner who has done multiple CoS searches, not one who's treating it as "just another VP-level hire." They also tend to focus on higher-end engagements, so early-stage startups (pre-Series B) may find their pricing steep.
Pros
- + Excellent tech exec network
- + Proven track record at brand-name startups
- + Strong research capabilities
- + Multiple offices across the US
Cons
- - Generalist — CoS is one of many practice areas
- - Quality depends on which partner leads the search
- - Higher-end pricing, may not suit seed/Series A
Ideal Client
Series B+ Tech
#3 Best for PE/VC portfolio companies
True Search
True Search (part of the True platform) specializes in leadership hiring for private equity and venture capital portfolio companies. They have a well-earned reputation for speed and quality in the growth-stage company space, and their team includes partners with deep experience placing operational leaders in fast-moving environments.
For CoS searches specifically, True's advantage is their proximity to the PE/VC world. Many of their clients are portfolio companies that need a Chief of Staff to help a new CEO or founder manage rapid scaling. True understands the urgency and the specific type of candidate who thrives in these environments: someone who can operate independently, context-switch constantly, and manage up effectively.
The caveat is similar to Daversa: True is not a CoS-specialist firm. Their breadth is an asset (they can tap into a massive candidate pool), but you'll want to ensure your search partner has prior CoS search experience. They also tend to focus on companies that are at least Series B or have significant PE backing.
Pros
- + Deep PE/VC portfolio company relationships
- + Known for fast time-to-fill
- + Strong candidate assessment methodology
- + Part of a broader talent platform (True)
Cons
- - Not CoS-specific; it's one of many roles they fill
- - Focused on PE/VC-backed — less suited for bootstrapped or public companies
- - Premium pricing tier
Ideal Client
PE/VC Portfolio Cos
#4 Best for enterprise and Fortune 500
Heidrick & Struggles
Heidrick & Struggles is one of the world's largest executive search firms, with offices in over 50 countries and a history dating back to 1953. They're the gold standard for C-suite and senior leadership placements at Fortune 500 companies and large enterprises.
For Chief of Staff searches, Heidrick brings unmatched gravitas and reach. When a Fortune 500 CEO needs a CoS who can navigate complex corporate structures, manage board-level communications, and drive enterprise-wide strategic initiatives, Heidrick is uniquely positioned to deliver. Their candidate pool includes former management consultants from McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, as well as senior operators from the world's largest companies.
The downside: Heidrick is not built for startups. Their processes are thorough but can be slow relative to the pace of a venture-backed company. Their fees are at the top of the market. And because CoS is a relatively niche role for a firm of their size, you'll need to find the right partner who has relevant experience — otherwise you risk getting a search team that treats the CoS role like a glorified executive assistant.
Pros
- + Global reach and enterprise network
- + Unmatched brand credibility
- + Sophisticated assessment and benchmarking tools
- + Ideal for complex, high-stakes placements
Cons
- - Not suited for startups or smaller companies
- - Highest fee tier (30–33%+)
- - Slower processes — not built for startup speed
- - CoS is a small fraction of their work
Ideal Client
Enterprise / F500
#5 Best for mid-market companies
ON Partners
ON Partners is a pure-play retained executive search firm that operates on a distributed model — their partners are spread across the US rather than concentrated in a single office. This gives them broad geographic coverage and local market knowledge that many competitors lack.
Their sweet spot is mid-market companies: businesses that have outgrown the scrappy startup phase but aren't yet (or don't want to be) at the Fortune 500 level. This is actually a great fit for CoS searches, since many mid-market companies are hiring their first-ever Chief of Staff and need a partner who can help them think through the role.
ON Partners' distributed model means they can often provide more senior attention to each search than a large firm. You're typically working directly with a partner, not being handed off to a junior associate. The downside: they're not CoS specialists, so the depth of CoS-specific expertise will vary by partner.
Pros
- + Partner-led model — senior attention on every search
- + Broad geographic coverage across the US
- + Strong mid-market focus
- + Competitive pricing vs. big-firm alternatives
Cons
- - Not CoS-specific
- - Smaller firm may have capacity constraints
- - Less brand recognition than the big names
#6 Best for tech-focused executive roles
Riviera Partners
Riviera Partners is a technology-focused executive search firm headquartered in San Francisco. They're particularly strong in placing engineering leaders, product executives, and operational leaders at technology companies ranging from high-growth startups to public tech companies.
Their technology DNA is a meaningful advantage for CoS searches at tech companies. The Chief of Staff at a SaaS company or a fintech startup needs to speak the language of the business, understand product development cycles, and be comfortable in engineering-heavy cultures. Riviera's candidates tend to come from these backgrounds, which improves fit.
Riviera is also known for their data-driven approach to executive search. They leverage proprietary technology and market data to identify and evaluate candidates, which can improve both speed and quality. However, like other generalist firms on this list, their CoS experience is secondary to their core executive search practice.
Pros
- + Deep technology sector expertise
- + Data-driven search methodology
- + Strong SF Bay Area and tech hub networks
- + Good mix of startup and enterprise experience
Cons
- - Not CoS-specific — primarily known for engineering/product exec hires
- - Strongest on the West Coast; less national coverage
- - May be overly tech-focused if your CoS needs are more operational/strategic
Ideal Client
Tech Companies
#7 Best for established companies with flexible budgets
Bravanti
Bravanti (formerly Stanton Chase in the Americas) is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm. They bring a distinctive combination of executive search, leadership assessment, and organizational consulting — which can be particularly valuable for companies hiring a CoS for the first time.
Their integrated approach means they can help you not just find a Chief of Staff, but also assess whether the role is structured correctly and whether your expectations are realistic. This consultative layer is a differentiator, especially for companies that aren't entirely sure what their CoS should be doing.
Bravanti also offers more flexibility in engagement models. While most of the firms on this list are retained-only, Bravanti can work on a retained, contained, or contingency basis depending on the scope and urgency. This makes them more accessible for companies that aren't ready to commit $60K+ upfront for a retained search.
Pros
- + Flexible engagement models (retained + contingency)
- + Integrated leadership advisory and org design
- + Global presence for international searches
- + More accessible pricing for some engagements
Cons
- - Not CoS-specific; a generalist firm
- - Less brand recognition in the US startup ecosystem
- - Quality and expertise can vary by office/partner
Search Type
Retained / Contingency
Ideal Client
Established Cos