Executive Assistant to CEO (Stealth Startup)

We’re looking for an exceptional Executive Assistant (2%) to serve as a true right hand to the CEO. This is not a traditional admin role—this is a high-performance operator who brings structure, clarity, and execution discipline to a startup that's going from -1 > 1. The CEO moves quickly, thinks big, and can get pulled in many directions. Your role is to create focus, enforce priorities, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks. You protect execution by pushing back on unrealistic timelines or scope—early and directly.

What You’ll Do

• Own daily planning and prioritization: ensure clear goals are set and completed each day (first email is goals and tasks to be done)
• Translate extremely conversations (3 hours) into actionable next steps and priorities. Identify white noise vs actionable tasks
• Build and maintain systems using tools like Asana (or similar)
• Ensure core operational infrastructure is set up and functioning (payroll, banks, HR, etc)

Time & Calendar Management (Non-Negotiable)Maintain flawless scheduling—no missed meetings, no conflicts

• Proactively manage the calendar to align with top priorities
• Time-box meetings and keep discussions on track
• Step in when needed to redirect focus or keep things moving

Focus & Priority FilteringQuickly identify what actually matters vs. noise

• Distill long or complex conversations into key takeaways and actions
• Help the COO stay aligned with highest-impact work

Focus Enforcement (Critical to Success)You will be expected to say: “This is not the priority right now”

• You are comfortable redirecting, interrupting, and bringing focus back
• You help regulate pace, energy, and attention
• You act as a guardrail against distraction and misalignment

Accountability & Operating RhythmSend a daily end-of-day summary (5pm): What was completed, What’s pending, Key risks or blockers, Maintain strict follow-through on commitments

• Focus on doing the basics perfectly and consistently:
• No missed scheduling
• No dropped follow-ups
• No incomplete loops

Hiring & Team Support (Later)Assist in recruiting and interviewing candidates

• Ensure interview processes are organized and recorded
• Help build scalable systems as the team grows

Executive PartnershipAct as a true partner, not just support

• Be comfortable giving direct, respectful pushback
• Listen deeply and maintain strong context across priorities
• Clean office = clean mind. Clean office tidy
• What We’re Looking ForCore TraitsExtremely reliable—you do what you say, every time
• Naturally organized and systems-driven
• High emotional intelligence (kind, but firm)
• Not afraid to speak up or redirect when necessary
• Calm, focused, and highly disciplined
• Working StyleOperates off project management tools (Asana or similar) by default
• Sets clear daily goals and follows through
• Values precision over trying to do too much
• Disciplined with time, timelines, and boundaries

You’ll likely thrive in this role if:

• You have operated in highly chaotic, fast-moving environments (e.g., early-stage startups with <5 people) and consistently brought structure and clarity where none existed
• You have a track record of endurance and follow-through (e.g., marathon running, competitive athletics, or equivalent high-discipline pursuits)
• You are extremely disciplined with time—you live by your calendar, think in timelines, and are comfortable breaking work into precise increments (e.g., 15–30 minute blocks when needed)
• If something matters, you step in (even if that means texting a CEO at 9pm to course-correct or protect their energy)
• You genuinely enjoy turning chaos into systems—this is not stressful to you, it’s satisfying
• You are comfortable operating at high intensity and maintaining performance under pressure