Founder Associate

About the role

You will own end-to-end execution on high-stakes initiatives where the scope is undefined and the impact is material to the business. You will operate at the intersection of product, operations, and strategy, switching contexts weekly between quantitative modeling and qualitative problem-solving. One week you are stress-testing the economics of a new AI-driven deployment, and the next you are architecting a core process that does not yet exist. You will act as a direct extension of the executive team, translating board-level intent into operational reality while maintaining rigorous attention to detail. This role demands comfort with significant ambiguity and the ability to deliver concrete outputs without precedent or playbooks. You will synthesize inputs from clients, engineers, and operators to ensure alignment and timely execution. Ultimately, you will build the playbook for how this company solves its hardest problems at scale.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead underexplored initiatives from initial hypothesis through shipped solution, defining scope, success metrics, and ownership across teams.
• Synthesize inputs from multiple stakeholders into executive-grade memos, dashboards, and decision frameworks that clarify trade-offs and accelerate action.
• De-risk new capabilities by designing minimum viable processes and validating assumptions before large-scale implementation.
• Leverage agentic AI tools to prototype workflows, analyze complex data sets, and automate repetitive tasks that would otherwise consume human bandwidth.
• Translate ambiguous business needs into clear operating instructions and guardrails for teams that are building without existing templates.
• Act as the primary thought partner to the COO, identifying systemic bottlenecks and proposing interventions that compound in value over time.
• Represent the company in critical discussions with enterprise clients, aligning internal positioning with external commitments.
• Build cross-functional coordination mechanisms where none exist, ensuring that product, operations, and engineering move in the same direction.
• Challenge prevailing assumptions by constructing alternative models for pricing, performance, and capability roadmaps.
• Maintain a bias for action, shipping interim solutions that generate learning while working toward more durable outcomes.
• Partner closely with client teams to ensure deployment milestones are met and that contractual value is realized on schedule.
• Own the narrative behind our strategic bets, preparing materials that connect day-to-day work to long-term vision.
• Identify edge cases and failure modes in new processes, then codify fixes before issues escalate.
• Continuously update your own playbook by studying what works, documenting patterns, and sharing insights with peers.

Requirements

• 0-8 years of full-time professional experience with a track record of delivering results above job descriptions.
• Experience coming from top consulting firms (MBB), high-growth startups, early-stage CoS roles, or rotational programs is common but not required.
• Demonstrated generalist capability, including the ability to rapidly master new domains such as mortgage servicing economics and AI deployment strategy.
• Evidence of high agency, including a history of volunteering for unglamorous work and shipping results without perfect conditions.
• Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to craft crisp one-pagers, persuasive Slack messages, and detailed process documents.
• Comfort working in hybrid environments with a requirement for in-person presence in New York.
• A strong bias for using AI-native tools to amplify personal productivity and to rethink how work is done.
• The capacity to navigate frequent context-switching while maintaining rigor and follow-through.
• A commitment to acting with integrity and maintaining confidentiality in all interactions with clients and internal stakeholders.
• Willingness to adhere to company policies and processes even when they are still evolving.
• An understanding that roles in regulated industries require precision, documentation, and alignment with compliance expectations.
• Readiness to report progress transparently and escalate risks early rather than hiding problems.
• A collaborative mindset that prioritizes team outcomes over individual recognition.

Nice to have

• Prior experience working in or around mortgage servicing, financial operations, or regulated industries.
• Hands-on experience building or deploying AI tools to automate workflows or analysis.
• Background in building new functions or processes from the ground up in a growth-stage environment.
• Familiarity with board-level communication and executive-level storytelling.

Practical notes

This role is hybrid and requires in-person presence in New York.