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.