ForgeApply · Job listing
Founder Associate
Clera
See all 111 open roles at Clera →
Tailor your resume for this Clera job in about a minute.
ForgeApply rewrites your resume for this exact posting, then autofills the application on Clera's site with it. You review everything before it's sent. Free trial, no card required.
About this role
ABOUT THE ROLE
This is a true 0→1 operator seat sitting directly alongside the founding team of a fast-growing, pre-seed AI startup disrupting the global recruitment industry. The company uses AI to directly connect top talent with high-growth startups — bypassing traditional job boards and application processes entirely. Backed by prominent angels and funds across the AI and venture ecosystem, the team is small, ambitious, and moving fast.
As a Founder Associate, you won't be "helping" — you'll be driving outcomes. You'll work across product, growth, operations, and key partnerships, taking full ownership of high-impact, ambiguous problems that move the company forward. Think of it as building your own company with a head start.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Founder-priority projects: Lead new market initiatives, strategy development, and end-to-end execution
- Candidate experience & funnel: Improve conversion rates, quality of matches, and overall outcomes for candidates
- Ops & systems: Design and implement 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
- Cross-functional ownership: Operate fluidly across any function where you can create the most leverage
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Required:
- 2–6 years of experience in a high-performance environment (consulting, early-stage startups, operations, or similar)
- Demonstrated ability to own complex workflows end-to-end and drive measurable outcomes
- Comfortable with speed, ambiguity, and high standards — you raise the bar, not just meet it
- Motivated by working across product, growth, operations, and partnerships simultaneously
- Must be based in (or willing to relocate to) San Francisco and work fully in-person with the founding team
- Strong written and verbal communication; sharp, structured thinking
Nice to Have:
- Aspiration to become a founder, General Manager, or early-stage executive
- Prior experience at a high-growth startup or top-tier consulting / tech firm
- Familiarity with AI tools, recruitment tech, or marketplace businesses
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
- Salary: $90,000 – $120,000 USD annually
- Equity participation (early-stage, meaningful upside)
- Visa sponsorship available
- Direct mentorship from the founding team with a fast track to senior leadership
LOCATION
This role is fully on-site in San Francisco, CA. The team works and builds together in person — zero commute, tight feedback loops, and a high-energy in-person culture are core to how this team operates. Remote work is not available for this position.
Salary insight
The midpoint of this range ($105k) is about 48% below the median disclosed salary for San Francisco roles listed on ForgeApply ($200k across 8,651 jobs).
Based on live postings with disclosed pay on ForgeApply; refreshed daily. Not an estimate of this employer's offer.
Tailor your resume for this Clera role before you apply.
Tailor my resume for this jobSimilar jobs
- Founder Associate — Mirelo · Hybrid
- Founder's Associate — Gigs · New York
- Founder's Associate — Nango · San Francisco
- Founder Associate (NYC) — Prior Labs · New York
- Founders Associate — Rillet · San Francisco
- Founders Associate — Blacksmith · San Francisco
- Former Founder — Method · Austin, TX
- Founder's Office, Founder Associate — Decagon · San Francisco
Free ATS checker · How to Tailor Your Resume to a Job Description (Step by Step)