Operations Program Manager

Socket.dev; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in a fast-growing company

401(k) match

Paid parental leave

Fertility benefits

Mental health support

Learning stipend

Remote & Office: SF office perks

Job summary

Handshake is seeking an Operations Program Manager for Central Operations to drive end-to-end operational programs across core functions, translating needs into requirements, execution plans, and measurable outcomes for cross-functional partners. You will analyze performance data, identify gaps, and build scalable processes to improve efficiency and quality.

Work closely with Legal, Finance, Product, Engineering, Analytics, and Delivery to ensure programs run smoothly end-to-end, with a strong

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in operations, technical program management, or a similar individual-contributor role supporting cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to use data to inform decisions.
• Strong SQL and data analysis skills, with the ability to independently pull, analyze, and investigate operational data to surface actionable insights.
• Proven ability to manage multiple cross-functional programs or workstreams simultaneously, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Comfort operating in ambiguous environments — including working "in the weeds" of operational workflows — and translating messy real-world processes into structured, clear plans.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute operational programs end-to-end across Central Operations functions.
• Translate operational needs into clear requirements, execution plans, and measurable outcomes for cross-functional partners.
• Analyze performance data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Build and optimize processes to improve efficiency, quality, and scalability.
• Partner cross-functionally to launch and iterate on operational initiatives.
• Track and report on key metrics, ensuring programs meet performance targets.
• Drive continuous improvement through structured problem-solving and experimentation.

Skills

Operations

Analytical skills

SQL

Cross-functional program management

Ambiguity tolerance

Tools

SQL

Job description

About Handshake

Handshake 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 feel

• Partner hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world's top educational institutions

• Work together with engineers, scientists, operators, and more from Palantir, Meta, Scale AI, and former YC founders

• Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue

About Handshake AI

Human 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.

About The Role

The Operations Program Manager, Central Operations is an individual contributor role driving the execution of high-impact operational programs across Central Operations' core functions — Contractor Operations, Marketplace & Allocations, Trust & Safety, and Pay. This is a hands-on role focused on designing, improving, and scaling operational processes through strong program management, data fluency, and structured execution. You'll partner closely with Legal, Finance, Product, Engineering, Analytics, and Delivery to translate operational needs into clear requirements, execution plans, and measurable outcomes — bringing structure to ambiguity so programs run smoothly end-to-end.

• Own and execute operational programs end-to-end across Central Operations functions

• Translate operational needs into clear requirements, execution plans, and measurable outcomes for cross-functional partners

• Analyze performance data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement

• Build and optimize processes to improve efficiency, quality, and scalability

• Partner cross-functionally to launch and iterate on operational initiatives

• Track and report on key metrics, ensuring programs meet performance targets

• Drive continuous improvement through structured problem-solving and experimentation

You Have

• 2+ years of experience in operations, technical program management, or a similar individual-contributor role supporting cross-functional initiatives

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to use data to inform decisions

• Strong SQL and data analysis skills, with the ability to independently pull, analyze, and investigate operational data to surface actionable insights

• Proven ability to manage multiple cross-functional programs or workstreams simultaneously, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Comfort operating in ambiguous environments — including working "in the weeds" of operational workflows — and translating messy real-world processes into structured, clear plans

Bonus points:

• Experience in one of Central Operations' core functions — Contractor Operations, Marketplace & Allocations, Trust & Safety, or Pay

• Strong problem-solving skills, with a structured approach to complex challenges

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, particularly in documenting requirements and communicating status, risks, and tradeoffs

• Experience operating in fast-paced, metrics-driven environments, with a bias toward execution and continuous improvement

We Offer

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: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office
• Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days
• Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses

Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.