Founder Associate

### About the Role Join a fast-growing, pre-seed AI startup that is reimagining how top talent connects with leading VC-backed companies. Operating at the intersection of AI and talent acquisition, this company automates and optimizes workflows within the global headhunting industry — creating dramatically better outcomes for both candidates and employers. This is a true 0→1 operator seat, working directly alongside the founding team. You'll span product, growth, operations, and key partnerships — owning whatever drives the company forward fastest. If you want a role that feels like building your own company with a head start, this is it. ### What You'll Do - **Founder-priority projects:** Lead new market initiatives from strategy through execution - **Candidate experience & funnel:** Improve conversion, quality, and outcomes for the hundreds of exceptional candidates engaging with the platform daily - **Ops & systems:** Design scalable processes that keep pace with rapid growth - **Go-to-market support:** Refine messaging, run experiments, and develop partnerships - **Product feedback loops:** Translate real-world candidate and company needs into actionable product priorities - Drive high-leverage projects end-to-end, learning how a high-performance early-stage team makes decisions ### What We're Looking For **Required:** - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across founders, engineers, and recruiting stakeholders - Experience with one or more components of the tech stack (TypeScript/JavaScript, Python, React, Node.js, PostgreSQL) — or a demonstrated ability to learn new technologies quickly - On-site presence in San Francisco (or willingness to relocate) - Prior experience in a startup environment, or in roles with high ownership and accountability - 2–6 years of overall professional experience **Nice to Have:** - Interest in AI-driven recruiting or a talent-first approach to hiring - Comfort navigating ambiguity and moving at speed - Ambition toward becoming a founder, GM, or early-stage executive ### You'll Thrive Here If You Want - Real ownership — not "helping," but driving outcomes - A team that values speed, sharp thinking, and high standards - A fast track toward a founder, GM, or early exec trajectory - The energy of building in-person alongside a small, ambitious core team ### Compensation & Benefits - **Salary:** $90,000 – $120,000 USD annually - Visa sponsorship available ### Location - **On-site only** — San Francisco, CA, United States - In-person, co-located environment with zero commute and tight feedback loops