AI Data Program Manager

Overview Tiki AI builds the infrastructure that teaches frontier AGI systems how to think, not just predict. We turn top-tier human expertise in STEM, code, and other domains into high-signal training data through cognitive extraction, going far beyond basic labeling. With eight years of profitable operations and embedded partnerships with leading frontier labs, we help stabilize complex reasoning and fix long-horizon agent failures in production-scale systems. We are expanding our US presence and hiring the team that will define how the world's most advanced AI models are trained and evaluated. If you want to work at the infrastructure layer of AGI, not the periphery, this is where that happens. What You Will Do In Q2 2026, Tiki AI generated more than $10 million in revenue through multiple concurrent programs running across RLHF, coding datasets, and agentic workflow evaluation. The operational infrastructure supporting that delivery lives primarily in the institutional knowledge of a geographically distributed team. As we expand our US client base and take on new accounts, that knowledge needs to be formalized, documented, and made operable by someone who can own US delivery end-to-end. This is not a steady-state operations management role. The deliverable is a system: an operating model you will build and then run, in a state that is documented, repeatable, and scalable. You will work directly with our overseas project managers to extract and formalize how Tiki operates, adapt that model for US delivery, and build the infrastructure needed to support multiple concurrent customer programs at scale. This is a customer-facing role. Our COO currently owns the primary relationships with active accounts and will transition those relationships to you as trust is established. You will come in with direct exposure to how those accounts operate, what they expect, and how Tiki delivers, and you will take over as the primary point of contact as that transition progresses. You will also be the person on the ground when a sales conversation turns into a delivery question, assessing feasibility before commitments are made, translating customer requirements into executable scopes, and ensuring that what we promise is actually deliverable. This is high-ownership work that sits at the intersection of operations, delivery, and commercial. Serve as the primary customer contact on active US accounts once the transition from COO-led relationship management is complete: own ongoing communication, status updates, escalations, and delivery expectations directly with client stakeholders Own end-to-end program delivery for US customer accounts: translate loosely defined customer objectives into structured scopes, milestones, and delivery plans; monitor execution and flag risks before they become client-facing issues Extract and formalize Tiki's operating model: through structured engagement with our overseas PMs, document the end-to-end workflow, including task definition templates, quality rubrics, annotator calibration protocols, cross-border handoff processes, and delivery SLA frameworks Adapt the operating model for US delivery: identify what needs to change for US client standards, SOC 2 compliance requirements, California labor law, and frontier lab data handling expectations Build annotator sourcing and onboarding infrastructure: define how Tiki identifies, screens, and onboards US-based annotators for project-specific needs, with compliant engagement structures for California and federal requirements Configure shared project visibility infrastructure: stand up tracking in ClickUp or equivalent that gives US leadership and overseas PMs real-time status on delivery, timelines, and risk flags across concurrent programs Partner directly with the sales team on deal feasibility: assess incoming project requirements before commitments are made; surface delivery risks early and help ensure scopes are achievable Produce playbooks: document the operating system at a level of detail that scales beyond any single person, eliminating reliance on tribal knowledge as the team and program volume grow What Success Looks Like In The First 90 Days Active customer programs have clear delivery visibility: milestones, quality gates, and risk flags are tracked in a shared system and visible to US leadership Core operating model documentation exists in a usable state: workflow maps, quality rubrics, and handoff protocols have been extracted from institutional knowledge and formalized US annotator onboarding framework is defined and documented, with compliant engagement structures identified The sales team has a reliable operational partner for deal feasibility questions; no commitment has been made to a customer that delivery cannot support A clear foundation exists for the next phase of US delivery growth: the operating model is documented, the team has visibility, and the path to scaling is defined What We Are Looking For Hands-on experience working with top AI labs and familiarity with their internal decision-making processes, stakeholder dynamics, and cross-functional collaboration workflows Ability to translate ambiguous ML requirements into structured, human-executable programs with defined quality metrics and delivery milestones Systems orientation: a documented track record of building playbooks, SOPs, and frameworks that others can run independently, not just managing tasks in the moment Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable making high-judgment calls with incomplete information and moving fast without perfect data Experience working with geographically distributed teams across time zones, particularly in cross-border handoff environments Proficiency with project management tooling such as ClickUp, Jira, Asana, or equivalent across complex, multi-stakeholder programs Familiarity with US labor law considerations for annotation workforces, including worker classification and California-specific compliance Comfortable operating in an environment where the playbook is still being written; thrives with ambiguity and high ownership from day one Compensation And Benefits Annualized base of $140,000–$185,000, prorated to actual hours worked during the engagement. Placement within the range reflects seniority and depth of annotation operations experience. Full benefits including medical, dental, vision, and 401k are available. This Role Has Strong Fit If You Have Spent time as a program manager, delivery lead, or operations lead at a AI data vendor Held a research operations, annotation operations, or RLHF program management role inside a frontier lab and understand delivery expectations from the buying side Built operational infrastructure from scratch in an early-stage or scaling environment, not just inherited and maintained an existing system A genuine interest in being part of a founding operations team: shaping how delivery works, how programs scale, and how the operating model develops as the company grows This Role Is Not A Good Fit If You are looking for a fully defined role with established processes and clear organizational structure on day one Your experience is primarily in project coordination rather than building systems and operational frameworks from the ground up You are not comfortable operating across time zones with a geographically distributed team Who Should Apply — Search Keywords This role is relevant to candidates currently holding or recently holding titles including: AI Data Program Manager, Strategic Projects Lead, Research Operations Manager, Technical Program Manager (AI/ML), Annotation Operations Lead, Data Delivery Manager, RLHF Operations Lead, Human Data Operations Manager, Model Evaluation Operations Lead, Labeling Program Manager, Expert Sourcing Lead, AI Talent Operations Manager, Delivery Lead (AI Data), Engagement Manager (AI Services), Frontier AI Program Manager, Data Quality Program Manager, Strategic Projects Associate, Human Data Manager, Growth Operations Lead (AI Data). To ensure a fair and consistent hiring process, Tiki AI does not accept hard-copy resumes, in-person applications, unsolicited drop-ins, or telephone inquiries regarding open positions. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact Human Resources at View email address on click.appcast.io. Tiki AI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age (40+), marital status, pregnancy, medical condition, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, California, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Tiki AI will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, consistent with applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr