Strategic Projects Lead

Job-ID: c5753428-968f-4142-9dbc-49d419f0a020Location: San Francisco, California, United States; New York City, New York, United StatesSalary: USD 160000 yearEmployment type: FULL TIMEPosted: 2026-11-05About HandshakeHandshake was founded on a simple belief that everyone deserves a path to a great career, regardless of where they went to school or who they know. Today, we power 25 million job seekers, 1 million+ employers, and 1,600 educational institutions.In 2025, we started Handshake AI and built the fastest-growing AI data business in history. We work directly with frontier AI lab researchers to create evaluations, publish benchmarks, and push the boundary of data. We’ve grown from $0 to ~$1B run rate and pay ~$60M to over 30K individuals every month.Why join Handshake now:Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feelPartner hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world’s top educational institutionsWork together with engineers, scientists, operators, and more from Palantir, Meta, Scale AI, and former YC foundersBuild a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenueAbout Handshake AIHuman data is the core infrastructure to AI advancement. Frontier AI labs currently improve model capabilities with various data-intensive post-training techniques. We believe that data spend for AI training will increase by 3-5x in the next few years and continue for much longer as models take on new domains. Handshake AI supports all of the frontier AI labs, working on their most complex data at the largest scale.The RoleAs a Strategic Projects Lead (SPL), you will own the execution of large-scale human data programs that directly power frontier AI model training and evaluation. Working hands-on with leading AI labs and technology companies, you will make real-time decisions that affect revenue, margins, delivery quality, and long-term customer relationships.This is a high-ownership, outcomes-driven role for operators who thrive in ambiguity, move fast with incomplete information, and are accountable for results at scale. What you'll do:Own end-to-end execution of multi-week to multi-month AI data programs to deliver double-digit millions in ARR-equivalent impactLead and coordinate hundreds to thousands of expert Fellows to meet aggressive delivery timelines while maintaining quality and cost targetsDesign and adapt staffing models, incentives, and workflows to improve throughput, margins, and delivery reliability under changing requirementsPartner directly with frontier AI labs and senior stakeholders to shape scope, resolve issues, and expand programs through executionYou Have2+ years of experience in management consulting, investment banking, product or operationsStrong analytical and first-principles problem-solving skills applied to scaling operationsExceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, including with senior customersHigh ownership mindset with pride in end-to-end accountabilityCuriosity and ability to quickly learn technical AI concepts and industry trendsBonus PointsExperience managing large, distributed workforces or marketplacesExposure to AI data, model evaluation, or technical services deliveryWe OfferHandshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported—and thrive at work and in life.The below benefits are for full-time US employees.ð Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing companyð Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coachingð¼ Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coachingð Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipendð Growth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing developmentð» Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF officeð Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex daysð Connection: Team outings & referral bonusesExplore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.