Executive Assistant & AI Project Operator for Founder (Remote, $15–35/hr, Europe timezone)

I'm looking for a sharp assistant who can help me keep projects moving and think with me, not just keep a calendar. **The essentials:** $15–35/hr depending on fit · 10–15 hrs/week to start, can grow toward near-full-time · reliable daily overlap with 10:00–18:00 CET · start within 1–2 weeks · long-term for the right person. One important thing upfront: I already use AI heavily (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.). If your work isn't better than what I can get from AI directly, this role won't work. I'm looking for someone who uses AI as their floor, not their ceiling — someone whose judgment, follow-through, and systems make you + AI far more valuable than AI alone. I move quickly and think out loud. I need someone who can track context fast, stay on top of multiple threads, and take initiative without waiting to be told every step. **Your first month:** build my inbox-triage and follow-up systems, take over meeting prep and task tracking, and help run a hiring process I have underway. Real work from day one. **What you'd be doing:** - Inbox and calendar coordination - Project tracking and structured follow-up (task boards, closing loops, making sure nothing slips) - Working inside GitHub and Markdown-based systems - AI-assisted workflow design and automation - Preparing, polishing, and scheduling content (social posts, newsletters, web pages) - Meeting prep and structured research summaries You don't need to be a developer, but you should be comfortable in technical environments (GitHub, Markdown) or able to get comfortable fast using AI to help you. **You're likely a fit if:** - You think in systems and enjoy improving processes - You use AI daily and build workflows with it, not just chat with it - You can manage 5+ concurrent projects without losing clarity - You write clear, structured English - You close loops reliably — when you say you'll do something, it happens, and if it can't, you say so early - You self-manage without micromanagement **Who you'd be working with:** I'm Rufus Pollock — economist, founder of Open Knowledge Foundation (a global open-data NGO), author of *The Open Revolution*, and co-founder of Life Itself, a small, ambitious organisation working on the deepest issues of our time — from the climate crisis to AI governance — at the level of their common root: the foundations of how our civilisation thinks, values, and organises. We call this the Second Renaissance. I've built organisations, movements, and products for twenty years, and I work at the front edge of AI-native ways of working — you'll learn a lot fast. **Why this beats other VA roles:** you'll be close to the actual work, not buried in bureaucracy. The role is varied, high-trust, and real, with direct access to the founder and room to grow into much more. A note on working style: I'm direct and I think out loud (I'm on the spectrum, so clarity beats social polish with me). I work best with someone who values straight communication and doesn't need everything spelled out twice. **Process:** short paid trial (5–10 hrs at your rate) for the top few applicants, then ongoing work. I reply to everyone who completes the application below. **To apply**, start your message with the word REMOTE and include: 1. A 2–3 minute intro video (Loom or similar) 2. One example of an AI workflow you have built or use regularly 3. A short answer (max 200 words): how do you stay organised when handling multiple parallel projects? 4. Your hourly rate We value clarity, calm execution, and meaningful work done well.