Hiring Part-Time Administrative Assistant for Small Social Network Platform CEO

What is BobaBoard?

BobaBoard is a “social networking” software (currently in the alpha stage), trying to bridge the gap between older forums and more modern social networks. While the open-source software it’s based on can be used by anyone, BobaBoard is specifically being built to suit the needs of transformative fandom.

Example of Tasks

- Sorting and archiving information: Bugs to file, notes on planned features, general tidbits of information on topics related to social networks and community management, list of documents/social posts to write, receipts/expenses.
- Help with maintaining a list of upcoming TODOs: Make sure that “stuff that needs to get done” is filed where it can be found again, and that it’s marked as such once it’s been done. Keep a calendar with important deadlines/things to do up to date.
- Proofreading/drafting emails or other documents: Introductory emails to other founders/stakeholders, surveys, social/community posts, job postings, art commission requests... From time to time, updating BobaBoard’s documentation (requires markdown/github knowledge, the latter of which I can help with). As I’m not a native English speaker, you might have to proofread important documents for me.
- Research: Potential software to use for [task], “how does [other website] handle [policy/feature]”, “how do I get [merch] produced”, “how do I hire [professional] for [task]”, “which type of professional do I need for [thing to do]”...
- Volunteers management: Keeping track of tasks assigned, periodically pinging people for status updates, reaching out to candidates.
- Help improving processes/prioritizing tasks: There are more things to do than I can reasonably handle, and there are processes that need to be created that I lack expertise on.
- Be a sounding board: I highly value external input. Once the general priorities are understood, I’d love an ally able to give both constructive criticism and suggest improvements.
- Occasional personal assistant tasks: Schedule appointments, sending personal emails.
There’s no need for customer service tasks.

Time Commitment

This is a part time position. I expect to need a greater amount of time commitment in the beginning (~10/15hrs a week for the first 1-2 months), while we work together to figure out our working relationship, set up processes, and tackle the accumulated backlog. Afterwards, I estimate around 5-7 hours a ---------- aracteristics of the Ideal Candidate

- The Basics: Organized and detail-oriented, able to handle large amounts of data/information and archive/file them appropriately, familiarity with building/maintaining filing systems, strong research skills, efficient time management.
- Ability to work independently and reliably: I need to trust that you’ll be able to complete tasks with the least possible amount of oversight. If you’re blocked on something, or unsure about the usefulness of a task, I need to trust you’ll bring this (or any other issue) up to me in a timely manner.
- Previous experience as personal/administrative assistant (> 1 year): Since I’ve never worked with an assistant before, I’ll need you to guide me into setting up an efficient and productive work relationship.
- Ability to handle occasional exposure to NSFW or other graphic content: While I don’t expect your regular duties to involve anything directly related to such content, BobaBoard does have spaces that deal with unsafe or potentially upsetting material, and you might occasionally be exposed to them.
- Familiarity with ---------- , Google Docs/Sheets, Gmail
- (preferred) Familiarity with fandom: BobaBoard is built first and foremost for transformative fandom (i.e. producers/consumers of fanfiction, fanart, meta...). Being familiar with this environment will greatly flatten your BobaBoard learning curve.
- (preferred) Familiarity with Internet lingo, spaces and humor: BobaBoard’s target audience (and I) spend a lot of time online. This does reflect in the way we communicate and conduct business. The more familiar you are with the internet, the less time you’ll spend on knowyourmeme.
- (preferred) Experience working for small businesses: This is my first time going down the entrepreneurial path. While I’m a quick learner, being shadowed by someone with experience will greatly ease my own mental load.
- (preferred) Familiarity with social networks: BobaBoard maintains accounts on Tumblr, Twitter and Mastodon, which you might need to update from time to time. More generally, BobaBoard is being built as an alternative to classic social networks, and the input of those with experience navigating them is invaluable.

Who Am I/My Working Style

I’ve worked in big tech for almost 10 years as a Software Engineer, and recently quit on a mission to build a different type of internet space, one that can replicate the spirit of psychological safety and fun that the 00s internet offered to me growing up. I’m dissatisfied with the profit-driven, indiscriminate-growth-oriented nature of modern tech companies, and I aim to build a sustainable business that can serve the users I truly care about. For this purpose, I’ve spent the past year learning more about entrepreneurship and business. I highly value diversity, and have organized well-received initiatives centered around mental health awareness in the past.
Currently, I’m a one-person team, though I do have volunteers that sometimes chip in with help. While I’m able to execute on many things at once, I can be a bit scatterbrained (I have ADHD), and I need help managing and organizing my data and tasks, as well as taking care of the ones that needlessly sap my energy (e.g., writing the first draft of certain documents, organizing a list of thoughts in a easily-digestible format, making sure the tasks assigned to volunteers are being worked on). That’s where you would come in: you’d assist me while I continue to dedicate most of my time to building and improving the site as well as the business.
My usual working hours are from 11AM PST to 8PM PST. I often have a lot on my mind, and will dump random thoughts/ideas/tidbits of information even outside these hours. This will most likely be in a shared ---------- server. You won’t ever be required to reply outside of your own working hours, which should partly overlap with (but don’t have to be the same as) mine. Occasionally, we might schedule a voice call so I can dump my brain without the need to write.
While I’m constantly pulled in many directions, and this might reflect in the type of tasks assigned, I strive to make it clear what my current priorities are. I don’t expect you to blindly do everything you’re asked to. Instead, I’d appreciate your help in deciding what the most important and valuable work is at any given moment. I’m generally bad at estimating the amount of time required for tasks, and I’d be relying on you to make sure we aren’t biting off more than we can chew.
I’m generally an approachable and open person, and I’m always striving to improve my ability to work well with my collaborators. I’m very open to criticism, and I try to carefully consider any feedback I receive. I sometimes struggle with deadlines or with timely producing work others might need, and I appreciate a firm but understanding approach should this or other problems arise. I can also be long-winded, and you might need to ask clarifying questions when the point I’m making isn’t clear.