Operations & Special Projects Associate (Office of the CEO)

Progressive; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Progressive, based in Houston, TX, seeks an Operations & Special Projects Associate (Office of the CEO) to work closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams. You will drive strategic initiatives from planning through execution in a high-growth environment.

Ideal candidates include recent graduates or professionals with 2–6 years' experience. The role offers broad exposure to operations, strategy, and development with significant ownership and impact.

Qualifications

• Recent graduates encouraged to apply.
• Professionals with 2–6 years of experience encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Drive key projects from planning through execution.
• Own high-priority tasks for executive leadership.
• Coordinate commitments across customers, partners, investors, and internal teams.
• Manage competing priorities in a fast-growing organization.
• Turn ambiguous ideas into actionable plans, milestones, and deliverables.
• Research operations, growth initiatives, markets and opportunities.
• Improve workflows, reporting, communication processes, and organizational effectiveness.
• Support recruiting and onboarding growth initiatives.
• Build scalable systems and operating processes.
• Leverage automation, AI to improve efficiency and decision-making.
• Take on increasingly complex special projects.

Skills

Reliability

Strong communicator

Organized

Prioritization

Entrepreneurial

Resourceful

Influence stakeholders

Curious learner

Independent

Team player

Growth-minded

Education

Business

Finance

Economics

Engineering

Computer Science

Operations

Strategy

Consulting

Entrepreneurship

Job description

• Engineering

Operations & Special Projects Associate (Office of the CEO)

Houston, TX | Full-Time | Onsite

Compensation: $90,000 - $150,000 base + bonus + equity

Get in Early. Help Build What's Next.

A rapidly growing infrastructure and technology company is seeking an exceptional early-career operator to join the Office of the CEO during a pivotal stage of growth.

The company is scaling nationally, expanding its development pipeline, securing significant institutional backing, and executing on large-scale infrastructure projects. This is a unique opportunity to join early enough to help shape the systems, processes, and operating model that will support the next phase of growth.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys solving complex problems, and wants exposure to nearly every aspect of a high-growth business.

The Opportunity

This is a highly visible role working directly with executive leadership and cross-functional teams across the organization.

You’ll help drive critical initiatives, create structure around ambiguity, and ensure important projects move from discussion to execution. One day you may be evaluating a strategic growth initiative, and the next you could be streamlining an internal process or coordinating an important stakeholder engagement.

Success in this role requires the ability to operate at both the strategic and tactical levels.

What You’ll Do

• Drive key projects and cross-functional initiatives from planning through execution
• Take ownership of high-priority tasks and projects on behalf of executive leadership
• Track and coordinate critical commitments across customers, partners, investors, and internal teams
• Help manage competing priorities in a fast-growing organization
• Turn ambiguous ideas into actionable plans, milestones, and deliverables
• Conduct research and analysis related to operations, growth initiatives, new markets, and strategic opportunities
• Improve workflows, reporting, communication processes, and organizational effectiveness
• Support recruiting, onboarding, and organizational growth initiatives

• Build systems and operating processes that enable scale
• Utilize automation, AI, and technology tools to improve efficiency and decision-making
• Take on increasingly complex special projects as responsibilities expand

What We’re Looking For

We’re more interested in potential, judgment, and ownership mindset than a specific background.

The ideal candidate is:

• Highly reliable and accountable
• An exceptional communicator, both written and verbal
• Naturally organized and detail-oriented
• Comfortable juggling multiple priorities simultaneously
• Entrepreneurial and proactive
• Resourceful when facing unfamiliar challenges
• Able to influence stakeholders and drive action
• Curious and eager to learn new industries and subject matter
• Comfortable working independently with limited direction
• Low ego, high standards, and team-oriented
• Motivated by responsibility and career growth

Preferred Backgrounds

Candidates from a variety of disciplines will be considered, including:

• Business
• Finance
• Economics
• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Operations
• Strategy
• Consulting
• Entrepreneurship

Recent graduates with exceptional internship experience and professionals with 2-6 years of experience are encouraged to apply.

Career Growth

This is not intended to be a traditional administrative or support role.

High performers will have the opportunity to take on increasing levels of ownership and responsibility as the company grows. Over time, this position may evolve into leadership responsibility for:

• Operations
• Strategic initiatives
• Business units
• Geographic markets
• Major development projects
• General management functions

The philosophy is simple:

Demonstrate the ability to own more, and you’ll be given more to own.

Why This Opportunity?

• Direct exposure to executive leadership
• Significant visibility across the business
• Opportunity to help build a company during a transformative growth phase
• Exposure to infrastructure, technology, operations, finance, development, and strategy
• Fast-tracked professional development and mentorship
• Competitive compensation, bonus potential, equity participation, and comprehensive benefits

Location: Houston, TX

If you’re looking for substantially more ownership than a traditional early-career role and want to help build something meaningful from the inside, we’d love to hear from you.

EOE Statement: Specialist Staffing Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

In addition to base pay, direct-hire employees may be eligible for client offered benefits such as medical, dental, and vision coverage, and paid leave where required by applicable law. Eligibility may vary based on factors such as location and hire date and is subject to change.

To find out more about Progressive please visit www.progressiverecruitment.com