Manager, Strategic Projects - Handshake AI
Fast Facts
Join Handshake AI as a Manager of Strategic Projects to lead a team focused on high-impact AI data projects, ensuring operational excellence and collaboration with key partners.
Responsibilities: Lead a team of Strategic Project Leads, drive delivery across AI data projects, collaborate with researchers, and oversee performance metrics.
Skills: 5+ years in operations, experience in AI data operations preferred, strong leadership and metrics-driven skills.
Qualifications: STEM background or technical fluency is a plus, experience in high-paced environments is crucial.
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Compensation: $160000 - $200000 / Annually
About Handshake AI
Handshake is building the career network for the AI economy. Our three-sided marketplace connects 18 million students and alumni, 1,500+ academic institutions across the U.S. and Europe, and 1 million employers to power how the next generation explores careers, builds skills, and gets hired.
Handshake AI is a human data labeling business that leverages the scale of the largest early career network.We work directly with the world’s leading AI research labs to build a new generation of human data products. From PhDs in physics to undergrads fluent in LLMs, Handshake AI is the trusted partner for domain-specific data and evaluation at scale.
This is a unique opportunity to join a fast-growing team shaping the future of AI through better data, better tools, and better systems—for experts, by experts.
Now’s a great time to join Handshake. Here’s why:
- Leading the AI Career Revolution: Be part of the team redefining work in the AI economy for millions worldwide.
- Proven Market Demand: Deep employer partnerships across Fortune 500s and the world’s leading AI research labs.
- World-Class Team: Leadership from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir, just to name a few.
- Capitalized & Scaling: $3.5B valuation from top investors including Kleiner Perkins, True Ventures, Notable Capital, and more.
About the Role
We’re looking for a gritty, detail-oriented operator who can lead a team of Strategic Project Leads (SPLs) and deliver on complex, high-velocity data projects. You’ll be responsible for ensuring operational excellence, aligning with researchers and procurement teams, and driving systems-level improvements to scale quality and throughput. This is a high-impact leadership role at the heart of our AI operations.
This position is located in either our San Francisco or New York locations.
- Lead and manage a team of SPLs across multiple high-stakes AI data projects
- Drive delivery across custom data pipelines and expert labeling workflows
- Collaborate with researchers and procurement partners to define and execute on their data strategies
- Ensure a top-tier experience for Handshake Fellows and enable them to generate high-quality, scalable data
- Partner with Product and Engineering to evolve our internal tooling and operational systems
- Own performance metrics and delivery outcomes across a dynamic set of project scopes and timelines
Desired Capabilities
- 5+ years of professional experience inoperationally intensive settings, ideally within marketplace or data operations
- 1+ year of experience in AI data operations is a strong plus
- Demonstrated success leading high-performing teams in fast-paced, execution-focused environments
- Metrics-driven leader with a strong ability to raise performance through data and accountability
- Systems thinker who excels in ambiguity and brings structure and clarity to complex problems
- Hands-on operator who’s willing to dive deep and do what it takes to deliver outcomes
- STEM background or technical fluency is a strong plus
Benefits & Perks
Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported—and thrive at work and in life.
The below benefits are for full-time US employees.
🎯 Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company
💰 Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching
🍼 Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching
💝 Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipend
📚 Growth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing development
💻 Remote & Office: Stipends for home office setup, internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office
🏝 Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days, winter #ShakeBreak where our whole office closes for a week!
🤝 Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses
Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.
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Our mission at Handshake is to give all students the chance to build the career they want, no matter where they’re from or what school they attend.
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