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Founding Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Embedding VC

Founding Recruiter

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The founding team brings deep expertise across medicine, product, operations, and engineering ... Conduct initial screens, run structured processes, and manage candidates through every stage from ...

David Joseph & Company

Founding Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$250K - $400K/yr

Operates independently without being managed * 1+ years using AI to solve complex, unstructured ... Founding-level ownership: real influence over system design, architecture, and product direction ...

Xpertalent

Founding Data Engineer

San Francisco, CA

$150K - $300K/yr

Design and scale robust ETL/ELT pipelines across multiple enterprise data sources (HRIS, ERP, CRM, ... True founding-level ownership over the data platform * Work on a high-impact product already in ...

Clera

Founding Operator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$125K - $175K/yr

As Founding Operator , you'll work directly with the CEO to build and scale every non-engineering ... Source candidates, manage hiring pipelines, coordinate interviews, and help close new hires across ...

Clera

Founding Account Executive

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$130K - $180K/yr

As the Founding Account Executive, you will own the full sales cycle -- from discovery through ... Experience managing expansion revenue or upsell opportunities within existing accounts * Experience ...

Patronus AI, Inc.

Founding Marketer

San Francisco, CA · Hybrid

$150K - $225K/yr

Responsibilities As a Founding Marketer at Patronus AI, you will own and build our brand from the ... Build and manage Patronus AI's presence on Twitter/X and LinkedIn, shaping our voice and engaging ...

Clera

Founding Operator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$125K - $175K/yr

As Founding Operator , you'll work directly with the CEO to build and scale every non-engineering ... Source candidates, manage hiring pipelines, coordinate interviews, and help close new hires across ...

Clera

Founding Account Executive

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$130K - $180K/yr

As the Founding Account Executive, you will own the full sales cycle - from discovery through ... Experience managing expansion revenue or upsell opportunities within existing accounts * Experience ...

Pear

Founding Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $200K/yr

Build the core product surfaces: employee-facing guidance UX and manager dashboard * Work across ... Founding team member. Shape culture, product, and technology from the ground up. * Real ownership.

LTV.ai

Founding Head of Product

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$274K - $287K/yr

Working shoulder-to-shoulder with the founders and the founding engineering team every single day ... managed mature ones * A hands-on builder, not a delegator - you write specs, prototype, dig into ...

Clera

Founding GTM Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $190K/yr

This role is purpose-built for an AI-native marketer who ships systems , not just manages campaigns ... Founding-team equity opportunity at an early-stage, venture-backed company. * High-ownership, high ...

LTV

Founding Head of Product

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

Working shoulder-to-shoulder with the founders and the founding engineering team every single day ... managed mature ones * A hands‑on builder, not a delegator - you write specs, prototype, dig into ...

Gumloop

Founding Customer Success Manager

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$185K - $225K/yr

We're bringing on a Founding Customer Success Manager to own our largest enterprise relationships, drive adoption and consumption across the book, and help build the Success function from the ground ...

AIUC

Founding Talent Partner

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $250K/yr

You'll be a strategic partner to the founding team shaping how we think about where to find talent ... Designing and managing candidate pipelines with a focus on transparency and high-touch experience ...

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Founding Manager information

What is a founding manager?

A Founding Manager is one of the earliest leaders or executives in a startup or new company. They are responsible for helping to establish the organization’s vision, culture, and operational foundation. Their duties typically include overseeing daily operations, strategic planning, hiring initial team members, and driving early growth. Founding Managers often work closely with other founders to make critical decisions and set the direction for the company's future. Their role tends to be very hands-on and multifaceted, especially during the company's formative stages.

What is the difference between Founding Manager vs Project Manager?

AspectFounding ManagerProject Manager
CredentialsExperience in startup leadership, business developmentProject management certifications (PMP, CAPM), relevant industry experience
Work EnvironmentStartup or new business environment, high uncertaintyCorporate or organizational settings, structured projects
Employer & Industry UsageFounders, startups, new business venturesCompanies across industries managing specific projects
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding leadership roles in startupsManaging projects, timelines, and deliverables

The Founding Manager typically leads new business initiatives, focusing on startup growth and strategic direction, often with entrepreneurial experience. In contrast, a Project Manager oversees specific projects within established organizations, ensuring timely delivery and resource management. While both roles require leadership and organizational skills, the Founding Manager operates in a more dynamic, uncertain environment, whereas the Project Manager works within structured project frameworks.

What are some unique challenges a founding manager might face when building an early-stage team?

As a Founding Manager, you’ll often be tasked with assembling a team from the ground up, which can be both exciting and challenging. One common hurdle is recruiting and retaining top talent with limited resources and minimal brand recognition. You’ll also need to wear multiple hats, balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution, while fostering a collaborative culture in a fast-paced, uncertain environment. Flexibility, resilience, and strong communication skills are crucial for navigating these challenges and setting the foundation for long-term success.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a founding manager?

To thrive as a Founding Manager, you need strong leadership, strategic planning, and business development skills, often backed by entrepreneurial experience or a degree in business management. Familiarity with startup tools such as project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello), CRM platforms, and basic financial systems is highly beneficial. Exceptional communication, resilience, and adaptability are crucial soft skills for navigating uncertainty and motivating early teams. These qualities enable a Founding Manager to drive growth, build a cohesive team, and successfully launch and scale new ventures.
What are the most commonly searched types of Founding jobs in California? The most popular types of Founding jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Founding Manager jobs in California? For Founding Manager jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Founding Manager jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Founding Manager jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Founding Manager jobs? Cities in California with the most Founding Manager job openings:
Founding Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Founding Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Founding Recruiter

Embedding VC

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

We are a stealth mode Healthcare AI startup, and currently looking for a first hire in recruiting!
Who Are We
We are a small team obsessed with deep thinking, speed, craftsmanship, and a customer-first approach. Our mission is to build the best care experience in healthcare with a 30-year horizon. The founding team brings deep expertise across medicine, product, operations, and engineering. Collectively, we have built multiple 0-to-1 products and scaled companies from inception to over $1B in valuation, $60M+ ARR, and 100M+ MAU.
We help physicians achieve independence by making it easier to start, operate, and grow their practices. We believe the future of healthcare will not be driven by large, bureaucratic systems, but by empowered individual physicians. By lowering barriers to practice ownership, we enable doctors to deliver better care for everyone.
We are builders, physicians, and operators with decades of combined experience in healthcare and technology-including more than 30 years of hands-on experience running successful independent practices across urgent care centers, surgical centers, and beyond.
Our team has also started and helped shape products used by billions at companies such as Meta, Dropbox, Instagram, Coda, and Nomad.
Traction
  • We have strong product-market fit ($10+MM ARR in under 14 months).
  • We are profitable and funded by top-tier VCs in the healthcare vertical.
  • We are looking for a founding recruiter to work together to scale to hundreds of customers. You'll fit in if you want to take ownership of a product, process, or company from 1 to 100.

About The Role
We're hiring a Founding Recruiter to build our entire talent acquisition function. You'll work closely with the founders as a true partner, owning all hiring across operations, GTM, product, and engineering.
You'll create and drive our recruiting strategy, source exceptional talent, and design processes that bring in the best people out there. As one of our earliest hires, you'll have a direct impact on our culture, people, and company growth.
This role is ideal for someone who is looking for a fast-paced, early-stage environment and loves building from 0 to 1.
What You'll Do
  • Building our talent acquisition engine from scratch - strategy, process, tools, metrics, and brand
  • Source directly through LinkedIn, talent networks, and other creative channels
  • Conduct initial screens, run structured processes, and manage candidates through every stage from first touch to offer close
  • Partner with functional teams to define role requirements, design interview plans, and set a high hiring bar
  • Define and improve recruiting analytics and dashboards to track funnel health, conversion rates, and time-to-hire metrics
  • Establish scalable processes that support rapid growth while maintaining a talent-dense culture
  • Deliver an exceptional candidate experience and ensure every touchpoint reflects our values and mission

About You
  • 3+ years of full-cycle recruiting experience, with deep expertise sourcing, assessing and closing top talent across ops, engineering, GTM and product
  • Proven success hiring different types of roles at startups with a high talent bar
  • Strong command of outbound sourcing strategies, talent mapping, and passive candidate engagement

Attributes
  • Talent Bar: have a strong instinct for exceptional talent and the judgment to protect the bar, even under pressure
  • Clear Communicator: can clearly and convincingly articulate our mission, opportunity, and culture to attract top candidates
  • Builder Mentality: thrive in ambiguity, move quickly, and enjoy creating scalable systems from scratch - not just operating existing ones
  • Strategic & Hands-On: can design a thoughtful hiring strategy and personally source and close critical roles when it matters
  • Data-Driven: use funnel metrics, conversion rates, and feedback loops to continuously improve hiring outcomes
  • High Ownership: operate with autonomy, anticipate what's needed, and take responsibility for results, not just tasks
  • Collaborative: partner closely with founders and hiring managers across the company to make great hiring decisions

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