Associate Development Manager Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA

Overview

Whistler Partners is partnering with a premier emerging companies platform looking to add a corporate associate with 3–6 years of relevant experience. The group works at the center of the startup ecosystem, representing founders, emerging growth companies, and venture investors building the next generation of AI and other category-defining businesses.

The practice advises companies from formation through major growth inflection points, with work spanning venture financings, formations, M&A, and the full range of strategic transactions that define a company’s first decade.

Why this role?

This is a strong opportunity for a corporate associate who wants to move closer to founders, boards, venture investors, and high-growth technology companies.

Associates are expected to run deals, manage client relationships, mentor junior associates, and develop the judgment that comes from advising startups through everything from seed stage to pre-IPO and beyond. The client base ranges from stealth-mode companies to some of the most prominent late-stage private companies in the market.

Importantly, prior emerging companies experience is not required. The team is open to candidates with M&A or other transactional backgrounds who want to retool into ECVC within a collaborative platform that invests heavily in associate development and client-facing growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Represent founders, emerging growth companies, and venture investors on corporate and strategic matters.
• Handle venture financings, formations, M&A, and broader startup lifecycle transactions.
• Advise clients through key growth inflection points, from seed stage through pre-IPO and beyond.
• Run deals and manage client relationships with increasing independence.
• Work directly with founders, boards, investors, and senior attorneys.
• Mentor junior associates and help manage deal execution across active matters.

Top Requirements

• 3–6 years of relevant corporate transactional experience.
• Emerging companies experience welcome, but not required.
• M&A or other transactional backgrounds will be considered.
• Strong interest in startups, venture capital, AI, and emerging growth companies.
• Superior academic credentials.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage deals, build client relationships, and operate in a collaborative team environment.

Compensation

• $260,000–$390,000 base salary, based on class year.
• Discretionary merit bonuses may also be awarded.

Benefits & Perks

• Monthly wellness reimbursements.
• 24/7 emotional and behavioral health support and virtual counseling.
• Healthcare coverage for attorneys, spouses or domestic partners, and children up to age 26.
• Family-building benefits, including IVF, adoption, surrogacy, and egg-freezing.
• Paid parental leave and parenting support resources.
• Back-up childcare, tutoring, and college coaching support.
• Health Savings Account with firm contribution and flexible spending accounts.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Pretax commuter and parking benefits.
• Life, disability, long-term care, critical illness, hospitalization, accident, ID theft, and pet insurance options.
• Firm-paid CLE, bar review fees, and bar dues.

TL;DR

Premier startup platform hiring a 3rd–6th year corporate associate to work with founders, emerging growth companies, and venture investors. Strong fit for ECVC, M&A, or broader transactional associates who want venture financings, formations, M&A, client ownership, and a front-row seat to AI and category-defining company growth.

About Whistler Partners

Matchmakers, Not Headhunters

Whistler Partners is a boutique matchmaking firm focused on counseling the best and the brightest attorneys over the course of their careers. We believe that the right move comes from working closely with talent to curate their long-term career paths. When it comes to career advice, what matters is not the size of the agency but the strength of your individual recruiter.

We readily admit that we are elite and only work with the best – after all, a little elitism is okay when it comes to your career. Employers love us because we are picky about whom we represent, and attorneys love us because we get them their dream jobs.