Founding Operations Lead - Startup Generalist

Zealot Labs; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Zealot Labs is assembling a founding-team seat in Washington, DC to deploy AI systems central to cyber operations. This on-site role requires owning initiatives end-to-end across multiple functions in a fast-growing startup currently backed by tier-1 investors.

The compensation package includes 65K-80K plus skin-in-the-game equity, with a small, driven team and a high-ownership culture. This is not a traditional ops role, but a founding-team opportunity.

Qualifications

• Experience in high-growth startup environments.
• Background in operations, chief of staff, or executive assistant roles.
• Comfort navigating ambiguous, fast-changing priorities across multiple workstreams.
• Experience coordinating international logistics, office setup, or travel.
• Familiarity with government or defense-adjacent environments.

Responsibilities

• + Help build Zealot's organizational operating system from the ground up as Zealot rapidly grows to serve 20+ countries.
• + Execute high-priority initiatives end-to-end with minimal direction, from first research to final delivery.
• + Take on ad-hoc objectives across every function, whether it's standing up a new office abroad or tracking down a needle-in-a-haystack security researcher.
• + Relentless resourcefulness, you find a way or make one, every time.
• + Excellent attention to detail across every medium: docs, emails, spreadsheets, spaces.
• + Love of speed, you default to now and course-correct later.
• + Median or greater sense of humor.

Skills

High-growth startup experience

Ambiguity navigation

Generalist with ownership

Job description

Zealot Labs is assembling a founding-team seat in Washington, DC to deploy AI systems central to cyber operations. This on-site role requires owning initiatives end-to-end across multiple functions in a fast-growing startup currently backed by tier-1 investors.

The compensation package includes 65K-80K plus skin-in-the-game equity, with a small, driven team and a high-ownership culture. This is not a traditional ops role, but a founding-team opportunity.