About the Role
This is a true 0→1 operator seat sitting directly alongside the founding team of a fast-growing, pre-seed AI startup disrupting the global recruitment industry. The company uses AI to directly connect top talent with high-growth startups — bypassing traditional job boards and application processes entirely. Backed by prominent angels and funds across the AI and venture ecosystem, the team is small, ambitious, and moving fast.
As a Founder Associate, you won't be "helping" — you'll be driving outcomes. You'll work across product, growth, operations, and key partnerships, taking full ownership of high-impact, ambiguous problems that move the company forward. Think of it as building your own company with a head start.
What You'll Do
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Founder-priority projects: Lead new market initiatives, strategy development, and end-to-end execution
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Candidate experience & funnel: Improve conversion rates, quality of matches, and overall outcomes for candidates
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Ops & systems: Design and implement scalable processes that keep pace with rapid growth
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Go-to-market support: Refine messaging, run experiments, and develop partnerships
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Product feedback loops: Translate real-world candidate and company needs into actionable product priorities
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Cross-functional ownership: Operate fluidly across any function where you can create the most leverage
What We're Looking For
Required:
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2–6 years of experience in a high-performance environment (consulting, early-stage startups, operations, or similar)
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Demonstrated ability to own complex workflows end-to-end and drive measurable outcomes
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Comfortable with speed, ambiguity, and high standards — you raise the bar, not just meet it
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Motivated by working across product, growth, operations, and partnerships simultaneously
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Must be based in (or willing to relocate to) San Francisco and work fully in-person with the founding team
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Strong written and verbal communication; sharp, structured thinking
Nice to Have:
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Aspiration to become a founder, General Manager, or early-stage executive
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Prior experience at a high-growth startup or top-tier consulting / tech firm
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Familiarity with AI tools, recruitment tech, or marketplace businesses
Compensation & Benefits
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Salary: $90,000 – $120,000 USD annually
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Equity participation (early-stage, meaningful upside)
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Visa sponsorship available
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Direct mentorship from the founding team with a fast track to senior leadership
Location
This role is fully on-site in San Francisco, CA. The team works and builds together in person — zero commute, tight feedback loops, and a high-energy in-person culture are core to how this team operates. Remote work is not available for this position.
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