Founder's Associate – Operations

The Role

SalesAPE.ai is looking for a sharp, early-career Founder's Associate to sit at the operational core of the business. You'll own the systems, processes, and relationships that keep the company running - from people ops and onboarding to investor relations, equity schemes, and everyday firefighting. You'll be the person people come to when they don't know who else to ask, and you'll be expected to find the answer, not just point elsewhere.

This role sits within Operations, reporting to the General Manager/Chief of Staff, with regular direct exposure to the founder & CEO. This is a hybrid role, and we'd generally expect around three days a week in our London office, with flexibility on the rest. You'll be handed real ownership from day one across HR, finance-adjacent admin, legal coordination, and investor relations. This is a role for someone who wants breadth, responsibility, and a front-row seat to how a startup is actually built.

Key Responsibilities & Scope

• Own People Ops & HR end-to-end: onboarding/offboarding, contracts, payroll coordination with finance, systems access, equipment, and all things Rippling

• Administer core company workspaces and platforms, including Google Suite, Slack, etc.

• Support investor relations and cap table management (SeedLegals, Carta), working with the Finance team, investors, and HMRC on related matters

• Manage UK EMI and US ISO equity schemes, including issuance and ongoing cap table administration

• Work with Finance team on expense control and spend management (Brex), including SaaS spend increases and vendor admin

• Own DocuSign for all official documents: routing, chasing signatures, and securely handling sensitive information

• Partner with our infosec advisor on platform security, access management, and GDPR compliance

• Liaise with our fractional General Counsel on legal matters as they arise

• Be the first responder when things break, such as systems access issues, platform outages (e.g. HubSpot down), or urgent people matters, while staying calm and solving problems under pressure

• Act as the go-to person ("oracle of truth") for managers and staff navigating people, process, or systems questions

• Help plan company events and logistics: all-hands, team dinners, office space bookings, and department visits

What We're Looking For

We want someone early in their career who is highly organised, discreet, endlessly resourceful, and genuinely enjoys being the person who gets things sorted; someone with a strong work ethic who's willing to jump in when something urgent comes up, even outside standard hours.

Essential:

• 1-2 years of experience in operations, people ops, HR, or a related generalist function (internships count)

• Strong working knowledge of Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, Drive, Forms)

• Excellent written communication and close attention to detail

• Highly self-managing with a genuine self-starter mentality

• Comfortable handling sensitive, confidential information with discretion

• A calm, positive problem-solver who thrives when putting out fires

• Strong people skills; able to navigate sensitive conversations (e.g. compensation, access, performance) with tact

Nice to Have:

• Experience with HR/ops or fintech platforms such as Rippling, Carta, SeedLegals, Brex, DocuSign, or 1Password

• Familiarity with UK employment/equity concepts (EMI schemes) or US equity structures (ISOs)

• Experience in a fast-growing startup or AI company

• Exposure to investor relations, cap table management, or working alongside legal/finance functions

What We Offer:

• A pivotal role in a fast-growing AI startup with a unique product offering

• Competitive compensation

• Direct mentorship and exposure to founders and senior leadership

• A collaborative, innovative, and supportive work culture

• Opportunities for professional growth in the emerging field of AI solutions

• Freedom and autonomy are our principal values