Founder Associate

About the Role

This is a true 01 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