Executive Assistant

Role Overview
Protege is hiring an Executive Assistant to serve as the primary partner to our Chief Scientific Officer, while providing additional support to two other executives as business needs evolve.

This role goes beyond calendar and travel management. The right person stays close enough to the work to understand priorities, retain context, read between the lines, and distinguish a true escalation from noise—anticipating what needs attention and taking action that protects executive focus while keeping the business moving.

We are specifically looking for someone who has operated in an early-stage, hypergrowth, or similarly high-intensity environment. We strongly prefer candidates who have worked at an AI, data, or tech company and supported scientific, research, data, or product leaders. They learn quickly, follow complex discussions, and use that context to make informed decisions. They are also AI-native in how they work, using AI to synthesize information, improve workflows, and create meaningful leverage.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as the primary Executive Assistant to the Chief Scientific Officer and provide additional support to two other executives as business needs evolve.

• Develop a strong understanding of executive priorities and ongoing work so you can connect context across meetings, Slack, email, and cross-functional discussions.

• Own complex, frequently changing calendars across multiple time zones, balancing business priorities, executive preferences, and competing demands.

• Triage inbound requests, distinguish true urgency from noise, and determine what should be scheduled, redirected, delegated, or escalated.

• Anticipate needs and act proactively—whether that means protecting focus time, involving the right stakeholders, or surfacing an issue before it becomes a blocker.

• Coordinate complex domestic and international travel, including flights, accommodations, ground transportation, visas, itineraries, and other travel requirements.

• Provide occasional personal-assistant support for the Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder with discretion and confidentiality.

• Partner closely with the EA & Chief of Staff to the CEO to coordinate leadership schedules, meetings, travel, and shared priorities.

• Support cross-functional projects, People initiatives, and company offsites as opportunities arise.

Who You Are

• Experienced in High-Growth Environments: You have 5+ years of experience supporting senior leaders in an early-stage, hypergrowth, or similarly fast-moving company. Experience within AI, data, or tech is strongly preferred.

• Technically Curious and Context-Driven: You are genuinely interested in how the business works. You learn complex subject matter quickly, retain context, connect information across conversations, and recognize patterns without needing repeated direction.

• AI-First: You naturally use AI to synthesize information, prepare executives, automate repetitive work, and improve how you operate. You actively experiment with new tools while understanding when human judgment is essential.

• Proactive and Decisive: You take ownership, make thoughtful recommendations, and act without waiting for detailed instructions. You know when to move independently and when something requires executive attention.

• Calm Under Pressure: You remain steady when communication is direct, timelines are compressed, and priorities change quickly.

• A Trusted Partner and Clear Communicator: You communicate directly and concisely, adapt to different working styles, and are comfortable tactfully redirecting stakeholders and reinforcing commitments.

• Organized and Adaptable: You create systems that keep details from falling through the cracks, manage competing priorities, and shift gears quickly as needs change.

• Discreet and Principled: You handle sensitive information with integrity and sound judgment. You understand what to escalate, what to resolve independently, and how much context each stakeholder needs.

Protege Values

Pass the Loved Ones’ Test

We act with integrity and do the right thing — especially when it’s hard and no one is watching.

Always Find a Way

We are resourceful, resilient builders who solve hard problems and push through obstacles.

Go Fast and Grow Fast

Velocity matters. We move with urgency, learn quickly, and continuously improve as individuals and as a company.

Practice Kindness and Candor

We communicate directly and respectfully, building trust through honest feedback and genuine care for one another.

Deliver Together

We win as one team. Collaboration, accountability, and shared ownership drive our success.

Own the Outcome. Hone the Craft.

We take pride in our work, sweat the details, and continuously raise the bar for excellence.