Strategic Projects Lead

Handshake; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

401(k) match

Parental leave

Fertility benefits

Medical, dental, and vision

Wellness stipend

Learning stipend

Commuting support

Free lunch

Office gym access

Job summary

Handshake seeks a Strategic Projects Lead (SPL) to own large-scale human data programs powering frontier AI model training and evaluation. You will partner with top AI labs and technology companies, making real-time decisions that affect revenue, margins, and delivery quality.

This high-ownership role rewards accountability and the ability to navigate ambiguity, working with senior stakeholders to deliver impact at scale.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in management consulting, investment banking, product or operations.
• Strong analytical and first-principles problem-solving skills applied to scaling operations.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, including with senior customers.
• High ownership mindset with pride in end-to-end accountability.
• Curiosity and ability to quickly learn technical AI concepts and industry trends.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end execution of multi-week to multi-month AI data programs to deliver double-digit millions in ARR-equivalent impact.
• Lead and coordinate hundreds to thousands of expert Fellows to meet aggressive delivery timelines while maintaining quality and cost targets.
• Design and adapt staffing models, incentives, and workflows to improve throughput, margins, and delivery reliability under changing requirements.
• Partner directly with frontier AI labs and senior stakeholders to shape scope, resolve issues, and expand programs through execution.

Skills

Management consulting

Investment banking

Operations

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication

First-principles problem-solving

Tools

Data analysis tools

AI concepts

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.

The Role

As 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 impact

• Lead and coordinate hundreds to thousands of expert Fellows to meet aggressive delivery timelines while maintaining quality and cost targets

• Design and adapt staffing models, incentives, and workflows to improve throughput, margins, and delivery reliability under changing requirements

• Partner directly with frontier AI labs and senior stakeholders to shape scope, resolve issues, and expand programs through execution

You Have

• 2+ years of experience in management consulting, investment banking, product or operations

• Strong analytical and first-principles problem-solving skills applied to scaling operations

• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, including with senior customers

• High ownership mindset with pride in end-to-end accountability

• Curiosity and ability to quickly learn technical AI concepts and industry trends

Bonus Points

• Experience managing large, distributed workforces or marketplaces

• Exposure to AI data, model evaluation, or technical services delivery

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.