Forward Deployed Entrepreneur

tz; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

The Zeal Company (TZCO) seeks a hands-on operator who will be embedded inside TZCO portfolio companies. You’ll understand the business, identify high‑leverage opportunities and build solutions on the ground.

This is not consulting. You act as owner, make decisions, ship products and drive outcomes. The compensation includes equity and medical benefits, with a base salary range of $140,000 to $260,000 USD.

Qualifications

• You have started or run something yourself.
• You are technical enough to build and resourceful enough to figure out everything else.
• You are comfortable being dropped into unfamiliar environments.
• You earn trust quickly.
• You bias toward action.
• You are comfortable with pressure.
• You think like an owner because you have been one.

Responsibilities

• Embed inside TZCO portfolio companies to understand the business, identify high‑leverage opportunities and build solutions on the ground.
• Operate as if it were your own company: make decisions, ship products, close gaps and drive outcomes.
• Stay engaged until the job is done, adapting to varying problems across industries and teams.

Job description

The Zeal Company (TZCO) is a technology holdings company that creates, acquires, operates and invests in businesses built for the long term. We provide capital, technology and operational support. Our approach is hands on, highly technical, geared towards building with outlier talent with "forever timeline". TZCO is built by founders and quality shareholders.

Our team is small, highly motivated and focused on operational excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity in unstructured environments. We operate with a flat organizational structure. All team members are expected to be hands on and to contribute directly to the company's mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important. All team members are expected to have strong communication skills.

All team members become owners and are expected to behave as such and share the upside created. Incentive design is important.

About the Role

You will be embedded inside companies that TZCO works with. You go where the problem is. You show up, understand the business, find the highest leverage opportunities and build solutions on the ground.

This is not a consulting role. You operate as if it were your own company. You make decisions, ship products, close gaps and drive outcomes. You stay until the job is done.

The problems will vary. One month you might be standing up an AI workflow inside a portfolio company. The next you might be rebuilding a sales process or launching a new product line. What stays constant is that you are the person in the room making things happen.

Who You Are

You have started or run something yourself. A company, a product, a team. You know what it feels like to be fully responsible for an outcome.

You are technical enough to build and resourceful enough to figure out everything else.

You are comfortable being dropped into unfamiliar environments. New industries, new teams, new problems. You orient fast.

You earn trust quickly. People want to work with you after spending ten minutes in a room with you.

You bias toward action. You ship today instead of planning for next quarter.

You are comfortable with pressure. When something needs to work by Friday you find a way to make it work by Friday.

You think like an owner because you have been one.

Compensation

Annual Salary Range

$140,000 to $260,000 USD

Base salary is just one part of our total rewards package at TZCO, which also includes equity and comprehensive medical.