Founder Associate

ABOUT THE ROLE This is a true 0-to-1 operator seat sitting directly alongside the founding team of a fast-growing AI startup in the talent and recruiting space. You will own high-leverage, ambiguous projects across product, growth, operations, and partnerships, with the goal of driving outcomes that move the company forward. The role is pivotal at a moment of rapid growth, and it offers a genuine fast track toward becoming a founder, GM, or early executive. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Lead founder-priority projects spanning new market initiatives, strategy, and hands-on execution. - Own and improve the candidate experience and conversion funnel end-to-end. - Design and implement scalable operational processes to keep pace with rapid growth. - Support go-to-market efforts including messaging experiments and partnership development. - Translate real-world candidate and company feedback into actionable product priorities. - Switch independently across operations, recruiting, strategy, and special projects as needed. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR - Approximately 1 to 3 years of relevant professional experience in a hands-on operator role. - Prior experience as a Founder Associate, Chief of Staff, or comparable early-stage startup operator. - Background that demonstrates substantial ownership of operations rather than primarily product or technical work. - Comfortable working across operations, growth, strategy, and recruiting without being directed. - Thrives in fast-moving, high-standards environments and enjoys owning complex workflows end-to-end. - Motivated by real outcomes, not just contributing to them. - Background from a high-performance environment such as consulting, a high-growth startup, or a demanding operational role is a strong plus. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS Salary range: $90,000 to $120,000 USD annually. Visa sponsorship is available. LOCATION On-site in San Francisco, California, United States. This role is fully in-person and non-remote; the team works and collaborates together daily in San Francisco.