Chief of Staff, Chief Digital & Innovation Officer (CDIO)

Company: Equinix
Location: Portola Valley
Posted on: March 23, 2026

Job Description:

Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company®, shortening the path to connectivity to enable the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet. A place where bold ideas are welcomed, human connection is valued, and everyone has the opportunity to shape their future. A career at Equinix means being at the center of shaping what comes next and amplifying customer value through innovation and impact. You’ll work across teams, influence key decisions, and help shape the path forward. You’ll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you—because when you feel valued, you’re empowered to do your best work. Job Summary The Chief of Staff (CoS) to the Chief Digital & Innovation Officer (CDIO) is a senior strategic leader who amplifies the CDIO’s impact and ensures the seamless execution of the global CDIO agenda. Acting as a trusted advisor, integrator, and force multiplier, the CoS operates across highly dynamic and ambiguous environments—routinely stepping into complex issues, driving clarity, and enabling high velocity executive decision making. This role requires exceptional judgment, strategic thinking, influential communication, and the ability to represent the CDIO with credibility across the enterprise. As a central orchestrator of CDIO operations, the CoS ensures organizational alignment, accelerates execution, and connects the broader ecosystem of leaders, partners, and cross functional teams. Reporting to the DCOO, the CoS leads the operating mechanisms that power CDIO strategy, ensuring the organization remains focused, informed, aligned, and equipped to deliver enterprise outcomes. Responsibilities Leadership Alignment & Organizational Effectiveness • Architect and run CDIO operating mechanisms, including board engagements, leadership forums, offsites, functional all hands, and cross functional interlocks • Create and facilitate the full DIO business rhythm, ensuring effective dialogue, decisions, accountability, and alignment to CDIO priorities • Act as a proxy for the CDIO when required—representing their perspective, maintaining momentum, and ensuring seamless follow through • Partner with Global Events to shape executive level engagements and long range planning • Identify opportunities for leadership collaboration and promote cross functional integration on high impact initiatives • Drive operational best practices that enhance decision making, time efficiency, and information flow • Anticipate organizational pressures and proactively surface issues to the CDIO and leadership for resolution • Diagnose areas of misalignment and construct plans to realign teams around shared priorities Org & Employee Engagement • Work with HRBP partners to address organizational issues, guide change management, and support talent strategy • Maintain a strong pulse on the business and provide the CDIO with timely insight on organizational needs • Champion employee engagement, recognition, Inclusion & Belonging, and Equinix Impact initiatives • Shape and refine CDIO’s internal and external communications strategy in partnership with Communications teams • Ensure cross organizational transparency, connection points, and information continuity • Develop compelling, audience ready content for CDIO participation in internal forums, customer conversations, and external events • Serve as a connective leader across Chiefs of Staff to ensure alignment across key teams and executives CDIO Time & Priority Management • Partner closely with the Senior Executive Assistant to maximize the strategic impact of the CDIO’s time • Continuously evaluate where the CDIO should focus—and confidently decline or redirect efforts that do not drive enterprise value • Provide foresight and high impact preparation for upcoming engagements, ensuring the CDIO’s time is leveraged effectively Program & Portfolio Management • Lead the development, tracking, and reporting of functional goals in partnership with CDIO and Business Operations leaders • Identify operational friction (“sand in the gears”) and drive solutions that enable speed and productivity • Shape and execute special projects that advance the CDIO agenda, using structured, disciplined project management • Integrate CDIO initiatives into enterprise operating mechanisms—including Executive Staff, Strategy, and leadership forums—to drive alignment and visibility • Lead prioritized initiatives directly as assigned by the CDIO General Executive Duties • Manage the Office of the CDIO budget in close partnership with Finance • Dive deeply into any part of the business to surface insight, recommend actions, and enable smart executive decisions • Operate as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the CDIO and the Executive Leadership Team • Anticipate risks, bring balanced perspective, and navigate sensitive issues with discretion and integrity • Ask the tough questions required to protect enterprise value and ensure investments deliver meaningful impact • Maintain a strong grasp of emerging technology, competitive landscapes, and market dynamics in order to inform CDIO priorities Qualifications • Extensive experience within IT, Digital, or Innovation functions, demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility • Strong preference for candidates with blended experience across technical domains and strategy consulting, customer success, or similar leadership oriented functions • Technology savvy and conversant in modern digital, data, and innovation concepts • Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred • Proven success leading large, complex, enterprise wide initiatives in dynamic environments • Strong budget oversight and operational management capability • Exceptional written, verbal, and visual communication skills—with meticulous attention to detail • Strategic thinker with the ability to translate information into actionable plans and drive execution • Highly collaborative team player with the ability to build trust and influence across executives, stakeholders, and global teams • High energy, bias for action, disciplined execution, and a proactive leadership mindset • Comfortable navigating ambiguity and leading in fast changing environments • 20 years experience preferred • Diploma to a Bachelors Degree preferred

Keywords: Equinix, Alameda , Chief of Staff, Chief Digital & Innovation Officer (CDIO), IT / Software / Systems , Portola Valley, California