Fit the Mandate on Two Pages

Use this structure. Put supporting detail in the dossier, not in the core mandate.

1. Why the role exists. One paragraph connecting business change, evidence-backed constraint, and executive-sized work.
2. First 12–24 month outcomes. Three to five outcomes. For each: business result, capability created, evidence, and guardrail.
3. Scope and exclusions. Functions, products, systems, geography, budget, team, and external obligations. Name what is outside the role.
4. Decision rights. The five to ten most consequential decisions with the CTO’s right and final escalation.
5. Essential relationships. CEO, product, engineering, CIO, CISO, finance, sales, operations, business units, board, customers, regulators, or partners as relevant. Name predictable conflict.
6. Inherited conditions. Team, commitments, risk, vendors, architecture, financial limits, founder role, and work that cannot be stopped.
7. Evolution and review. How the role may change and the dates for 30-, 90-, 180-, and 365-day review.