Job Details

Ruckus is a boutique search firm for some of the world's most exciting startups (think: Bombas, Change.org, and Rent the Runway). We don't do "high volume" spam. We do high-impact, high-quality connections.

We are looking for a Growth & Partnerships Associate who lives for the "hustle" of the San Francisco startup scene. If your idea of a perfect Tuesday involves a demo day, a founder mixer, and three new intros, we want to talk.

The Role: Be the Face of Ruckus

This isn't a "sit behind a desk" job. You will be our boots on the ground in the Bay Area.

• Be in the Room: Attend startup events, mixers, and tech talks 3+ nights a week.
• Build the Pipeline: Identify and connect with CEOs and Co-Founders who need world-class talent.
• Master the Landscape: Stay ahead of who is raising, who is scaling, and who is the next "big thing."
• Advise Founders: Act as a trusted partner, helping leaders navigate the complex hiring market.
• At its core, this is a new-new Prospecting and Business Development role. Building connections without being overly transactional is important. But so is driving deal flow.

Is this you?

• The Connector: You are energized by people. You walk into a room of strangers and leave with five new opportunities.
• Startup Obsessed: You read Term Sheet, follow VCs on X, and know which companies just landed their Series A.
• Early Career & Hungry: You might have 1–5 years of experience in sales, marketing, or tech—but your drive and social IQ are your biggest assets.
• Bay Area Local: You want to spend time diving deep in the San Francisco and greater Bay Area startup scene and ready to hit the ground running.

Will This Work?

• We've closed deals with 100s of popular startups, that mostly came from interpersonal relationships. These came from networking and being in the room. And almost never from cold emails.
• A lot of our current relationships came from rubbing shoulders with startup decision makers at events. If you're friendly and offer to help others, it will be paid forward.
• We already have relationships to start piggybacking off, and for you to deepen. We have a brand and a track record with people in the know.

Why Join Us?

• Access: You'll be rubbing shoulders with the elite of the tech world.
• Impact: Join a small, collaborative team where your wins are celebrated daily.
• Growth: Learn the inner workings of how the best companies in the world are built.
• Comp: Competitive base + performance-based upside.