At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive key projects from start to finish, collaborating with the CEO and cross-functional teams.
- Company: Join Civic Marketplace, an innovative AI-driven procurement platform for local government.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, remote work, and opportunities for travel and professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with a clear path to leadership roles as the company grows.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of transforming public procurement with cutting-edge AI technology.
- Qualifications: 3-5 years of experience in cross-functional roles, strong analytical and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Civic Marketplace is an AI native cooperative procurement platform for US local government. Public procurement is one of the largest, least modernised workflows in the public sector. Our agentic workflows help agencies discover, evaluate and engage suppliers faster, and open public sector opportunities to more businesses.
We are looking for a Founders Associate to work directly with the CEO: taking the company's most important cross functional problems, putting structure around them, and running them to completion with a team eight hours away.
This is a seat at the centre of a company building category defining infrastructure for how government buys. The market is large, under contested and moving fast toward AI. You will see every part of the business, work directly with the founders, investors and our government partners, and own outcomes rather than support someone else who does.
About the Role
This is an owner's role, not a chief of staff in the scheduling sense. You will take two or three company priorities a quarter off the CEO's desk and run them end to end. Al is based in the UK and most of the team and our partners are in US Central, so you will open workstreams with Al in the UK morning and run them with the US team through their day.
- Own flagship programmes end to end: for example our solicitation sourcing programme with a cooperative partner, designing the process and the AI tooling around it and running it to the outcome.
- Bring structure to ambiguous questions: turn a half formed question from the CEO, the board or a partner into a framed problem with options and a recommendation, usually within a day.
- Run the operating rhythm: leadership syncs, board and investor updates, OKR reviews and the all hands, so decisions get made and then get done.
- Represent the CEO with partners: hold your own with procurement directors, cooperative executives and investors, and take the meetings that do not need Al.
- Build with AI: use Claude, our MCP server and internal agents as a default part of how you work, and help the team do the same.
About You
You are three to five years post MBB, or an operator at a Series A to C company who has run a cross functional programme. You have owned something from brief to result without a handover, and you want more of that, not a stepping stone toward it.
- Strategic frameworks you bring into the room unprompted: given an ambiguous problem you structure it, form hypotheses and propose how to test them without being led there.
- Executive presence: concise, confident, direct, and able to hold a room with senior public sector or investor audiences.
- A track record of ownership: a programme, launch or deal you ran where you set the plan, made the calls and carried the outcome.
- Experience working with senior stakeholders across time zones, and a clear method for keeping work moving while you are asleep.
- Analytical fluency: comfortable building the number yourself in spreadsheets, dashboards and SQL adjacent tools.
- Hands on use of AI tooling in your own work: agents, MCP, prompt driven workflows.
- Low ego and high standards: direct, curious, and comfortable being challenged.
- Public sector curiosity. No prior government experience required; exposure to procurement, cooperative purchasing or regulated B2B markets is a plus.
What's in it for You
- Real ownership from week one, working directly with the CEO and founders.
- Exposure to every part of a Series A company heading into Series B: product, commercial, partnerships, fundraising and board.
- A clear path to a Head of Operations or GM style role as the company scales.
- A small, committed team of thoughtful operators and engineers across the US and UK.
- Competitive salary and meaningful equity.
- Remote first with regular time together, and travel to the US given how central relationships are.
Founders Associate employer: Civic Marketplace
Civic Marketplace is an exceptional employer for a Remote Data Engineer, offering a unique opportunity to shape the future of public procurement through innovative data solutions. With a strong commitment to employee growth, a collaborative work culture, and the chance to work directly with founders, you'll be part of a mission-driven team that values your contributions and provides substantial responsibility from day one. Enjoy competitive compensation, equity options, and the flexibility of remote work while making a meaningful impact on how public money is spent.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founders Associate
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Founders Associate at Civic Marketplace!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Civic Marketplace or be willing to refer you for that Founders Associate position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Civic Marketplace who’s on the lookout for their next Founders Associate star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Founders Associate role at Civic Marketplace!
We think you need these skills to ace Founders Associate
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Civic Marketplace. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Civic Marketplace
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Civic Marketplace. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
