Job Description

The Head of Founder’s Office is a senior, high-trust advisor who amplifies the Founder’s effectiveness through judgment, influence, relationship management, and strategic discernment—not operational execution.

This role exists to extend the Founder’s presence, protect their time and energy, shape how the Founder engages with people and ideas, and ensure that the Founder’s influence is applied intentionally and at the highest leverage points across the enterprise and external ecosystem.

The role does not own project management, meeting orchestration, operational follow-through, or functional execution. Instead, it operates through soft power, credibility, and signal-setting, enabling the Founder to lead with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Purpose

To serve as the Founder’s trusted strategic thought partner and influence multiplier, ensuring that:

• The Founder’s attention is directed toward the highest-value relationships and decisions
• Signals sent by the Founder (explicit and implicit) are intentional, consistent, and aligned to long-term priorities
• Sensitive conversations, power dynamics, and stakeholder relationships are navigated with nuance and foresight
• The Founder’s voice is leveraged where it matters most—and withheld where it does not

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Counsel & Judgment Support

• Act as a confidential advisor on complex, ambiguous, or sensitive matters
• Pressure-test thinking and surface second- and third-order implications
• Provide perspective on organizational dynamics, leadership behavior, and cultural signals
• Design and execute a strategy for the Founder’s personal influence and soft power
• Represent the Founder at select external engagements, domestically and internationally

Influence & Signal Management

• Advise on how and when the Founder engages to maximize influence
• Shape tone, timing, audience, and context of key messages
• Interpret Founder intent to senior leaders when appropriate
• Monitor perception and adjust guidance accordingly

Relationship Stewardship

• Support the Founder in managing high-stakes relationships (board, investors, family stakeholders, external partners)
• Provide insight into interpersonal dynamics, trust levels, and unspoken tensions
• Prepare the Founder for critical conversations requiring diplomacy and emotional intelligence
• Act as a discreet connector and steward of key relationships
• Develop and execute thoughtful gifting and engagement strategies

Founder Effectiveness & Capacity Protection

• Advise on time and attention allocation toward highest-impact activities
• Serve as an early warning system for distractions or misalignment
• Ensure the Founder’s office operates with discretion and intentionality

Sensitive Issues & Special Situations

• Support the Founder through delicate matters involving trust, reputation, legacy, and long-term stewardship

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years supporting senior executives in Founder-led or closely held environments
• High emotional intelligence, strategic judgment, and discretion
• Experience navigating family-owned or founder-centric business dynamics
• Ability to manage complex, sensitive information flows
• Proven relationship builder across senior leaders, advisors, and external stakeholders
• Comfort operating in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environments
• Willingness to travel internationally as needed

Duties and responsibilities may evolve based on business needs.

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