Operations Associate

About 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 The RoleThe Operations Associate drives execution of operational programs across Central Operations' core functions — Contractor Operations, Marketplace & Allocations, Trust & Safety, and Pay. This is an individual contributor role with real ownership over the workstreams you touch: you'll dig into the data, spot what's not working, and drive improvements forward, working closely with Operations Program Managers and cross-functional partners to keep programs running smoothly.Own execution of operational workstreams across Central Operations functions, using judgment on how best to get the work donePull, organize, and analyze data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvementMonitor key metrics and operational queues, and drive resolution of issues within your scope — not just flagging them upwardIdentify and help implement process improvements, not just document existing onesOwn day-to-day escalations and requests, using judgment on when to resolve directly versus loop in othersPartner with cross-functional teams on ad hoc requests and initiativesYou Have1+ years of experience in operations, business support, or a similar analytical individual-contributor roleStrong analytical skills, with the ability to use data to inform decisions and drive actionComfort operating with ambiguity, using judgment to figure out the right approach rather than relying on a fixed playbookStrong organizational skills and attention to detailBasic proficiency in SQL or similar data tools, or strong willingness to learn quicklyClear written communication skills for documenting work and driving alignment with stakeholdersBonus points:Prior exposure to one of Central Operations' core functions — Contractor Operations, Marketplace & Allocations, Trust & Safety, or PayExperience using SQL or other data analysis toolsA track record of taking ownership and driving improvements without heavy oversightWe OfferHandshake 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 companyFinancial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coachingFamily Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coachingWellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipendGrowth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing developmentRemote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF officeTime Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex daysConnection: Team outings & referral bonusesExplore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.