I know I shouldn’t have a favourite type of role to recruit as it’s a bit like asking me who my favourite child is, but in this instance, I am so energised I will tell you.
EA/PA to Founder.
Working for a Founder is different from anything else; the business does not employ them at MD/Partner or even CEO level, they were there in the beginning, around the kitchen table with a dream.
And with this Founder, he’s seen many dreams become reality.
His business now employs approximately 60 people and is experiencing unbelievable growth. It successfully closed the second round of funding to fuel further and more rapid growth.
The founder has, until now, been on his own. No Assistant to help him with the small or the big things, on a daily basis, but he’s now realised that asking for help isn’t a weakness when you’re a founder – it is in fact your greatest strength.
Because by hiring the right Assistant, he’ll find someone who can help him navigate the next chapter in his business, private, and family life.
This is an open book, there’s no job description but a willing Founder who wants you to help him be a better leader, and better CEO. Each day will be a step into new territory, and a future that will take shape as the partnership is created and the relationship is formed.
Instead of making a list and writing a job description, the founder and I have chatted a lot and we’ve come up with an idea of what a day could look like, so here goes…
He walks in in the morning and has had an idea overnight about a possible new brand within the business; he needs to check out possible competitors, companies doing the same type of thing in a different geographical location, or with a different product type.
How big is the market? What’s the share of the leading business?
BUT he doesn’t have time because he has an investor meeting so it would be great if you could help with the research.
He's moved into a new house, and he needs to have security cameras, and other equipment fitted but doesn’t have the time to do the research, what is viable and how complicated it would be to install.
He wants to take his wife to New York, and he hasn’t had time to research new hotels/restaurant openings.
He wants to find a specialist website supplier or tech supplier to review the website because one area is currently underperforming against expectations, and the in-house team can’t figure out why.
He wants to host a dinner at his house for some industry thought leaders but one of the guests is vegan and he’d like to find a chef that can do an incredible vegan menu.
He's going to San Francisco next month, and there are two people he’d love to meet. He’s never met or spoken to them before, and he’d love to get some face time with them when he’s there.
You’re going to be the type of person who thrives with uncertainty, the kind of Assistant who walks in with no idea of what the day has in store, and you’re going to be unbelievably agile and adaptable to whatever the day throws at you.
You’re also going to have to have worked for a Founder before, you’re going to be his first Assistant, so you’re going to need the experience, knowledge and skills to help him navigate the next stage and to be empathetic to the challenges as and when they arrive. You will need to be someone who recognises your own entrepreneurial spirit and creativity, but also someone who can combine that with the process and procedure, plus the “get stuff done” mentality.
A Founder knowing they must have an Assistant and a Founder actually being able to fully utilise one AND give you the access and information you need to deliver what you’re capable of, are two very different things….. but having spoken with him personally, we are confident that you will both get there.
The role has flexibility around working location with possibility of hybrid/remote working after a settling in period, however, the person must have quick access to central London in case a situation arises where you’d ideally need to be there.
* Salary bracket is £60,000 - £100,000 + Equity + Benefits + Flexible working.