Special Assistant / Marketing

About Harpoon Ventures

Harpoon Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund investing in founders building critical technologies at the frontier. We're securing American technological leadership for future generations across AI, aerospace, defense, biology, manufacturing, critical minerals / materials, and other advanced sectors.

Founded in 2018 by two-time Olympic medalist and former Navy SEAL Larsen Jensen, Harpoon is backed by the nation's top pensions and endowments (with earliest investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed). We've invested in breakout companies like Solugen, Astranis, n8n, Kodiak and emerging leaders like Aalo, MatX, Genesis Molecular AI, Firestorm, and Ursa Major.

We're a small but mighty team that treats ourselves like a startup. We're deeply entrepreneurial in everything we do, and we're dedicated to supporting our founders beyond investment. Our go-to-market team has helped portfolio companies secure over $1B in government funding. We also run Black Flag, our earliest-stage investment program that provides capital and resources to help founders get off the ground.

For anyone curious about venture capital and early-stage startups, there's probably no better place to learn and grow.

The Role

We're looking for a highly capable, high-agency Special Assistant. This is a hybrid role that combines traditional EA responsibilities with meaningful marketing and communications work: think 50% operational excellence, 50% creative execution. This role requires you to wear multiple hats and thrive in ambiguity.

You'll be a critical member of our team, working directly with leadership and across the entire organization. This isn't a role where you'll be handed detailed instructions for every task. Instead, you'll be empowered to take ownership, propose improvements, and execute with minimal guidance.

Let's be direct: this role is challenging. The breadth of responsibilities is real, and the pace is fast. You'll be context-switching between scheduling calls, booking travel, managing swag orders, writing social posts, and coordinating events, sometimes all in the same day. For the wrong person, this could feel overwhelming. For the right person (someone who thrives on variety, moves quickly, and gets energized by making things happen), this will be an incredible opportunity to build a diverse skill set while working at the center of frontier technology investing.

About our team structure: Half our team is based in San Diego, and half works remotely across the country. This role can be based in San Diego working alongside the core team, or fully remote. Both setups work well for us, and we're optimized for collaboration regardless of location.

What You'll Do

Operations & Executive Support

• Coordinate and manage scheduling for the leadership team across multiple time zones
• Support calendar organization and coordination across the broader team
• Manage travel logistics for the entire team: flights, hotels, ground transportation, and itineraries
• Assist in planning and coordinating team events, founder gatherings, and investor meetings
• Order and maintain swag inventory for events, portfolio support, and team needs
• Handle ad-hoc operational tasks that keep our small team running smoothly
• Anticipate needs before they're articulated and solve problems proactively

Marketing & Communications

• Support ongoing marketing efforts across multiple channels
• Create and manage social media content that reflects our brand and mission
• Assist with event marketing, founder spotlights, and portfolio updates
• Collaborate on broader marketing initiatives and campaigns

Entrepreneurial Contributions

• Identify inefficiencies and propose process improvements
• Bring fresh ideas to how we operate, communicate, and show up
• Take projects from concept to completion with minimal supervision
• Help us punch above our weight as a lean, high-performing team

What We're Looking For

Required

• Exceptional writing skills: this is non-negotiable. You can craft clear, compelling, and professional communications
• Proven experience in executive assistant, operations, or similar roles
• Track record of managing complex logistics and competing priorities
• Self-starter mentality with strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to figure things out independently

Highly Valued

• Marketing experience: social media, content creation, brand building, or communications
• Proficiency with AI tools: ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, or other productivity-enhancing AI platforms
• Genuine curiosity about venture capital, startups, and emerging technologies
• Experience working in fast-paced, high-growth, or startup environments
• Scrappiness and resourcefulness: you know how to get things done with limited resources

Bonus Points

• Interest in deep tech, frontier technologies, and national security
• Experience supporting founders or working at early-stage companies
• Familiarity with tools like Airtable, Slack, Google Suite and / or other project management platforms
• Design skills or experience with Canva, Figma, or similar tools

Why Join Harpoon

• Front-row seat to the future: Work alongside founders building technologies that will define the next generation
• Entrepreneurial environment: We operate like a startup, which means your ideas matter and your impact is visible
• Learning & growth: Gain exposure to venture capital, early-stage companies, and cutting-edge technologies across multiple sectors
• Tight-knit team: You'll work closely with our entire team and have direct access to leadership

Mission-driven work: Help secure American technological leadership and support founders solving critical problems