Growth Operations Lead, Handshake AI

Handshake; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Handshake seeks a Growth Operations Lead to drive growth initiatives in the AI sector. This role emphasizes a hands-on approach to integrate product strategy and operational execution. Responsibilities include leading projects, optimizing growth strategies, and presenting to leadership, making it crucial for candidates to possess strong analytical skills and relevant market experience.

Benefits

Equity and ownership

16 weeks of paid parental leave

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies

Generous learning & development opportunities

$2,000 annual stipend for skill growth

Monthly internet stipend

Free lunch provided 3x a week

Free gym access

Referral bonus

Flexible time off policy

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in growth, product, or operations.
• Experience in strategy-heavy environments.
• Strong technical acumen with SQL or Python.

Responsibilities

• Lead growth projects with cross-functional partners.
• Oversee growth operations end-to-end for key AI initiatives.
• Present insights and recommendations to executive leadership.

Skills

Data analysis using SQL

Data analysis using Python

Analytical problem-solving

Entrepreneurial mindset

Education

2+ years of experience in product or operations

Background in strategy or operations

Job description

Join to apply for the Growth Operations Lead, Handshake AI role at Handshake

Join to apply for the Growth Operations Lead, Handshake AI role at Handshake

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Your impact

As

Your impact

As Handshake AI continues its rapid expansion in the Generative AI space, we are seeking a Growth Lead to spearhead high-impact initiatives that drive revenue, adoption, and overall business growth. This strategic and hands-on role blends elements of product strategy, operations, and data-driven experimentation to accelerate our trajectory in a dynamic and fast-evolving market.

This will be at our San Francisco location and this team is traditionally in the office five days a week.

Your role

• Lead critical growth projects, working closely with cross-functional partners across Engineering, Operations, and Go-to-Market. Design, optimize, and scale growth strategies, funnels, and pipelines tailored to the evolving needs of strategic customers and broader market demands.
• Oversee growth operations end-to-end, ensuring flawless execution and strong alignment with business goals. Own the full growth funnel—from acquisition through activation—for key generative AI initiatives.
• Regularly present progress, insights, and recommendations to Handshake AI’s executive leadership, helping shape the company’s growth strategy and long-term vision.
• Tackle high-priority growth challenges, setting new benchmarks for how we expand our presence in domain-specific AI applications
  
  

Your Experience

• 2+ years of experience in growth, product, or operations.
• A background in strategy- and operations-heavy environments such as marketplaces, logistics, or on-demand services.
• Experience in Business Operations, Strategy, or Growth teams at a tech company.
• Strong technical acumen, including the ability to perform data analysis using SQL or Python.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-first approach to testing and decision-making.
• An entrepreneurial mindset—comfortable with ambiguity, fast execution, and building from zero to one.
  
  

Compensation Range

$125,000 - $200,000

For cash compensation, we set standard ranges for all U.S.-based roles based on function, level, and geographic location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. In order to be compliant with local legislation, as well as to provide greater transparency to candidates, we share salary ranges on all job postings regardless of desired hiring location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including geographic location as well as candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.

About Us

Handshake is building the future of human data for AI.

We partner directly with top AI labs to power large language model (LLM) training and evaluation with high-quality, expert-generated data. As AI models become more sophisticated, the demand for specialized human input continues to grow—and Handshake is uniquely positioned to meet it. We power career platforms at 92% of the top U.S. universities, giving us direct access to verified expert talent across a wide range of domains.

Our AI team is rapidly building a new generation of human data products—from expert annotation platforms to AI interviewers and seamless payout infrastructure—all designed to accelerate research and improve model performance.

We’ve assembled a world-class team from YC, Notion, Scale, Coinbase, Palantir, and more, and we’re working directly with many of the world’s leading AI research labs. 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.

What We Offer

At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.

Benefits Below Apply To US Employees In Full-time Positions.

• Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.
• 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.
• Generous learning & development opportunities and an annual $2,000 stipend for you to grow your skills and career.
• Financial coaching through Origin to help you through your financial journey.
• ???? Monthly internet stipend and a brand new MacBook to allow you to do your best work.
• Monthly commuter stipend for you to expense your travel to the office (for office-based employees).
• Free lunch provided 3x a week across all offices.
• ️ Free gym access in San Francisco office building.
• Referral bonus to reward you when you bring great talent to Handshake.
• Team outings throughout the year to stay connected to each other.
• 401k Match: Handshake offers a dollar-for-dollar match on 1% of deferred salary, up to a maximum of $1,200 per year.
• All full-time US-based Handshakers are eligible for our flexible time off policy to get out and see the world. In addition, we offer 13 standardized holidays, and 2 additional days of flexible holiday time off. Lastly, we have a Winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off.
• Handshake offers $500 home office stipend for you to spend during your first 3 months to create a productive and comfortable workspace at home.
• Family support: Parental leave coaching and support provided by Parentaly. We partner with Maven Clinic to provide a lifetime coverage up to $15K for expenses related to fertility and family forming!
• Lifestyle Savings Account: We offer you an annual stipend of $500 to use for purchases such as fitness classes, gym memberships, work-from-home setup, and more.
  
  

Looking for more? Explore our mission, values and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.

Handshake is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation, please let your recruiter know during initial communications.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Management and Manufacturing

• Industries

  Software Development

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