Founder Associate

About the Role

This is a true 0→1 operator seat sitting directly next to the founding team of a fast-growing AI startup that is rethinking how top talent finds their next opportunity. Operating in the global headhunting industry — estimated at $600B — the company uses AI to automate and optimize recruiting workflows, creating a talent-first experience that connects candidates directly with leading venture-backed startups.

With hundreds of exceptional candidates approaching the platform daily, this role is pivotal in ensuring outstanding experiences and career-defining connections. If you want a seat that feels like building your own company with a head start, this is it.

What You'll Do

• Founder-priority projects: Drive new market initiatives, strategy, and end-to-end execution on the highest-leverage problems
• Candidate experience & funnel: Improve conversion rates, quality of matches, and overall candidate outcomes
• Ops & systems: Design scalable processes that keep pace with rapid growth
• Go-to-market support: Help refine messaging, run experiments, and develop key partnerships
• Product feedback loops: Translate real-world candidate and company needs into actionable product priorities
• Work across product, growth, operations, and partnerships — whatever moves the company forward fastest

What We're Looking For

Required:

• 2–6 years of experience in a startup environment or in roles with high ownership and accountability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to collaborate across founders, engineers, and recruiting stakeholders
• Familiarity with one or more components of a modern 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)
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and a bias for speed and high standards

Nice to Have:

• Interest in AI-driven recruiting or talent-first hiring models
• Prior experience as an early employee at a seed or pre-seed startup

You'll Thrive Here If You Want

• A fast track toward becoming a founder, GM, or early-stage executive
• Real ownership — driving outcomes, not just supporting them
• A team that values speed, sharp thinking, and high standards
• 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 — San Francisco, CA, United States
• The team works and builds together in person; this is an intensely collaborative, in-person environment with zero commute and fast feedback loops
• Remote work is not available for this role