If intel’s management has even been serious about savings cost and removing inefficiencies, they would have removed TAs (technical assistants) and chief of staff positions.
Anyone at VP and above level at intel qualifies to hire a TA. There are many VPs. In addition, in the recent years, bad leaders such as Raja created another useless layer called chief of staff. It is very common to see Chief of Staff, TAs and RAs reporting to SVP and higher positions. As many people know these jobs are no more than glorified admin jobs.
At intel, this job category is so pervasive and so protected that some employees make a career out of being a TA. There are people who stay in TA, chief of staff jobs 8,10 years or longer or move from one TA position to another.
For intel investors and outsiders, don’t buy intel management efficiency actions. These are ways for them to clean employees they don’t want. Most of the actions are unfair just read employment related lawsuits filed against Intel.
TAs, chief of staff - essentially glorified admins - at intel are paid extremely handsomely. They are paid just below Vp levels. Initially these positions were created to help groom next generation leaders but as I highlighted it is a secure career track with no real deliverables today. As an employee, I find them adding negative value to intel. As a political group, you need to involve them, educate them. Their personal preference towards you determines whether you get access to Vp+ or not. In some cases, TA positions are ways for corrupt leaders (i.e. Raja, Randhir) to hire and promote their favorites irrespective of merit, experience etc.