# How to Write a VA Job Brief (Template + Examples)

> A clear brief gets better replies faster. You don't need a 10-page SOP — five sections are enough. ## VA job brief template ### 1. Company context (2–3 sentences) What you do, who your customers are, and your timezone. ### 2. Primary tasks (bulleted) List the **top 3–5 recurring…

Canonical URL: https://www.orcarw.com/blog/how-to-write-a-va-job-brief
Published: 2026-05-29
Category: Hiring
Author: Orca Team

A clear brief gets better replies faster. You don't need a 10-page SOP — five sections are enough.

## VA job brief template

### 1. Company context (2–3 sentences)
What you do, who your customers are, and your timezone.

### 2. Primary tasks (bulleted)
List the **top 3–5 recurring tasks** with estimated weekly hours.

Example:
- Inbox triage (Gmail) — 5 hrs/week
- Calendar scheduling — 2 hrs/week
- Weekly KPI spreadsheet — 1 hr/week

### 3. Tools & access
List software they'll use on day one: Notion, Slack, HubSpot, Zendesk, etc.

### 4. Hours, budget, and start date
- **Hours**: e.g. 15 hrs/week, Mon–Fri overlap with US Eastern
- **Budget**: e.g. $18–25/hr (profiles on Orca show rates upfront)
- **Start**: e.g. within 2 weeks

### 5. Success criteria for week one
One concrete deliverable: "Inbox at zero daily by 5pm ET" or "CRM deduped and documented."

## What to skip in the first message

Don't dump every process doc upfront. Send the brief, answer questions, then share Looms and SOPs after you pick a finalist.

## Where to send it on Orca

1. [Browse the directory](/virtual-assistants) or use [Scout Concierge](/scout-concierge).
2. Message 2–3 VAs with this brief.
3. Run a **$30 trial** on the best responder before a weekly retainer.

**Skill-specific guides**: [Executive assistant](/hire-executive-assistant) · [Customer support VA](/hire-customer-support-va) · [Bookkeeper](/hire-bookkeeper)