This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Founders Associate based in South Africa.
As a Founders Associate, you will work directly with the CEO to drive the company's most important strategic and operational priorities from concept to execution. You will take ownership of high-impact, cross-functional initiatives, bringing structure to complex challenges and ensuring projects deliver measurable results. Working closely with founders, investors, government partners and distributed teams, you will gain exposure to every aspect of a fast-growing technology business. You will play a key role in strengthening operational processes, supporting strategic decision-making and accelerating business growth. The position offers significant autonomy, direct leadership exposure and the opportunity to shape how an innovative AI-powered platform transforms public sector procurement. It is an ideal opportunity for an ambitious operator who thrives in fast-paced environments and enjoys turning ideas into tangible outcomes.
Accountabilities:
- Lead strategic initiatives: Take ownership of two to three high-priority company projects each quarter, managing them from initial planning through execution and delivery.
- Drive cross-functional programmes: Design, coordinate and deliver major initiatives, including supplier sourcing programmes, operational improvements and AI-enabled workflows.
- Structure complex challenges: Translate ambiguous questions and strategic priorities from leadership, board members and partners into clearly defined problems, actionable recommendations and execution plans.
- Manage business operations: Oversee the company's operating rhythm, including leadership meetings, board and investor updates, OKR reviews and all-hands meetings, ensuring decisions translate into measurable progress.
- Support executive relationships: Represent the CEO in meetings with procurement leaders, strategic partners, cooperative executives and investors, maintaining strong professional relationships and ensuring effective communication.
- Leverage AI-driven tools: Integrate AI tools, agents and automated workflows into everyday operations to improve productivity, streamline processes and support better decision-making.
- Coordinate distributed teams: Work closely with colleagues and external stakeholders across the UK and US, ensuring priorities remain aligned and projects progress effectively across time zones.
Requirements:
- Professional experience: 3–5 years of experience following a career in management consulting, ideally at a top-tier consulting firm, or equivalent experience in an operational role at a Series A to C startup.
- Proven ownership: Demonstrated experience independently managing complex cross-functional projects, business launches or strategic initiatives from initial brief to successful completion.
- Strategic and analytical thinking: Strong problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to structure ambiguous challenges, develop hypotheses, evaluate options and formulate clear recommendations.
- Executive communication: Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the confidence to engage senior executives, investors, government stakeholders and external partners.
- Operational expertise: Experience managing multiple priorities, coordinating stakeholders and maintaining execution momentum within fast-paced, distributed environments.
- Analytical capabilities: Strong numerical and analytical skills, including practical experience with spreadsheets, dashboards and SQL-related tools.
- AI proficiency: Hands-on experience using AI-powered tools, agents, MCP servers or prompt-based workflows to improve personal productivity and business operations.
- International collaboration: Ability to work effectively across different time zones, with strong organisational skills and a structured approach to asynchronous communication.
- Personal attributes: A proactive, curious and low-ego mindset, combined with high standards, adaptability, sound judgement and the ability to receive and act on feedback.
- Industry interest: Genuine curiosity about public sector innovation, government procurement and technology-driven transformation. Previous experience in government, cooperative purchasing or regulated B2B markets is an advantage but not essential.
Benefits:
- Competitive compensation: Attractive salary package based on experience and qualifications.
- Equity participation: Meaningful equity offering, providing an opportunity to share in the company's long-term growth.
- Direct leadership exposure: Work closely with the CEO and founders, with significant responsibility and ownership from your first week.
- Career development: Broad exposure to product, commercial strategy, partnerships, fundraising and board-level activities, with a clear potential progression towards a Head of Operations or General Manager position.
- Collaborative environment: Join a small, committed team of talented operators and engineers working across international locations.
- Remote flexibility: Benefit from a remote-first working environment, with regular opportunities for in-person collaboration.
- International exposure: Opportunities for regular travel to the United States to strengthen relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders.
- Professional growth: Take on meaningful challenges, influence strategic decisions and contribute directly to the development of a growing AI-driven business.
How Jobgether works:
We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.
We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!
Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.
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