
I’m a founder building a company while undergoing chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, and I recently relocated to La Cañada Flintridge. While I’ve made progress getting settled, my home and work systems are still being organized, and my energy is more limited than it used to be.
Cancer is gnarly. There’s no pretending otherwise.
But if there is a will, there is a way and I fully believe I will beat cancer.
This role exists to help create stability and momentum: organization, follow-through, and calm. I move slower right now, but the work still needs to move forward. I’m looking for someone who can show up consistently, take direction, and help keep things running - - both at home and across my work as a founder.
This is not a task-by-task gig. I could hire help ad hoc, but I’m intentionally looking for someone who wants a steady, ongoing hourly role, is willing to roll up their sleeves, and understands that real support includes both visible and unglamorous work.
You will receive daily direction and priorities when you arrive. This role works best for someone who wants to grow personally and professionally, is comfortable being guided, and sees responsibility as a privilege—not a chore.
Respiris is a professional services company focused on supporting people and organizations through transitions, especially moments involving job loss, career change, and organizational disruption.
The company sits at the intersection of:
Respiris works with companies to support employees with empathy and rigor, and with individuals navigating uncertainty about what comes next. The core belief is simple: how people are treated during transitions matters.
You will not be doing client-facing work in this role, but you will see—up close—how a mission-driven company is built, how priorities are set, and how values translate into daily decisions.
Angel Cruzado is the Founder and CEO of Respiris and has spent his career in Human Resources, recruiting, and organizational leadership across startups, private-equity-backed companies, and large enterprises.
Angel is also a single parent and is currently undergoing active cancer treatment. He is transparent about this—not for sympathy, but because honesty matters and life doesn’t pause for work.
Working directly with Angel means exposure to:
This is a paid hourly job, not an internship.
Please send:
This need is immediate Reliability, effort, and mindset matter more than a polished résumé.
This role is for someone who believes that showing up, doing the work, and caring deeply still matters, even when things are hard.
If there’s a will, there’s a way.
Requirements
Location: La Cañada Flintridge / Montrose ( IN-PERSON)
Schedule: Flexible weekdays - Approximately 10-20 hours per week
Compensation: $18–25/hour
Duration: Through the end of the semester or June 2026 (potentially longer)
Start: Immediate
You Must:
You should be tech-savvy and willing to learn, with comfort using:
Technical capability will increase in importance over time.
This role is ideal for someone who:
Benefits

At Respiris, we believe no one should navigate a career transition alone. While layoffs may be operational decisions for companies, they are deeply personal turning points for people.
That is why we built Respiris. We exist to support both impacted employees and the HR, Legal, and Finance leaders who guide them through one of the most emotionally complex and legally sensitive moments in the employee experience.
Founded by Angel Cruzado, a veteran HR leader with experience in venture-backed, private equity-backed, and public companies, Respiris reduces employer risk while restoring employee confidence with empathy, technology, and speed.
For impacted employees, we offer
• Personalized job search coaching
• Resume and LinkedIn support
• Network activation and warm introductions
• An AI Companion Coach that brings scalable and empathetic guidance
For employers, we provide
• A referral-based pricing model where you only pay if an employee opts in
• Proven results with companies such as Temporal, Alation, dScout, and Empowerly
• Risk reduction that helps minimize legal exposure, brand harm, and unemployment costs
For the HR community, we host biweekly HR Learning Circles. These are trusted spaces where people leaders gather to support each other through change and growth.
Respiris is not just outplacement. It is a belief that the way people exit matters just as much as how they start.
Follow us to stay ahead of what is next in HR, legal, and AI-powered transitions.