Operations Manager / Right Hand to Founder — Ex-Athena EAs Strongly Preferred

About the Role

I run a portfolio of 21+ short-term rental properties across the US (Airbnb/VRBO) and I'm looking for a true Right Hand — someone who can sit between me and the business and run the day-to-day so I don't have to.

This is NOT a VA role. I already have great line-level support (guest comms, cleaners, runners). What I need is someone who thinks like an owner, builds and improves the systems that keep this whole thing running, and becomes my force multiplier as we scale.

If you've been an Executive Partner at Athena (strongly preferred), or a Chief of Staff / Operations Lead / EA at Belay, Magic, Time, etc. supporting a founder directly — and you want more ownership than your current role gives you — keep reading.

What You'll Own

- Team coordination — Managing our guest support VAs, cleaners, and runners. You're the person they report to, not me.
- Vendor relationships — Maintenance, cleaning, supplies, repairs. You build the bench, you hold them accountable.
- Systems & SOPs — Hospitable, Breezeway, Slack, ClickUp. You don't just follow processes, you build and improve them.
- Airbnb operations — Claims, disputes, AirCover, review management, escalations.
- Financial oversight — Tracking expenses, vendor invoices, working with our bookkeeper. Eventually owning P&L visibility.
- Direct line to me — Daily/weekly check-ins, async-first. I want you proactively flagging things, not waiting to be asked.

Who You Are

- 2+ years supporting a CEO, founder, or executive directly as their right-hand person
- You've built or owned a process or system end-to-end (not just followed someone else's playbook)
- Comfortable with ambiguity, makes decisions without needing to be told what to do
- Strong written English — you'll be communicating with US-based stakeholders constantly
- You read books like The Founder and the Force Multiplier and think "yes, that's me"
- Reliable, accountable, low ego — when something breaks, you say "I'll fix it," not "that's not my job"

Strong Preference

- Background as an Executive Partner at Athena — this is the #1 thing I'm looking for. If you graduated from Athena's Candidate Training Program, please mention it in your message.

Other Bonuses (not required)

- EA / Chief of Staff background at Belay, Magic, Time, or similar premium VA companies
- STR / Airbnb / hospitality experience
- Experience handling Airbnb claims and AirCover disputes
- You've managed multiple direct reports before

How to Apply

Send a message with:

1. A brief summary of your most relevant role — specifically a time you supported a founder or executive as their Right Hand
2. A 2-3 minute Loom video answering this prompt (don't script it, just talk):
"Tell me about a time you owned a process or system end-to-end. What did you build or improve, what changed because of it, and what would you do differently today?"
3. Your available start date and what kind of role you're looking for

NO LOOM = NO INTERVIEW. I want to hear how you think, not read a polished cover letter.

What I Care About

- I don't care where you went to school
- I don't care how many certifications you have
- I care that you can think clearly, communicate clearly, and make good decisions when I'm not watching

If you're already happy in your current role, no need to apply. But if you've been waiting for a chance to actually run something — this is it.

— Bilal