Manager, Strategic Projects - AI

Manager, Strategic Projects - Handshake AI

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AI is reshaping how skills are built, how work gets done, and how careers begin. Static credentials and résumé-based hiring no longer reflect how people actually learn or contribute. Handshake is bridging that gap. Built on a trusted SaaS platform connecting 22M+ students and alumni, 1,600+ universities, and 1M employers, Handshake is expanding into AI‑native work through Handshake AI—partnering with frontier AI labs and leading technology companies to build the human data that powers modern AI systems.

• Shape how careers work in the AI economy—at global scale
• Work with world‑class AI labs and Fortune 500 partners
• Join a team with leadership from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir

As Manager, Strategic Projects you will lead an SPL team that sits at the center of our most critical AI data and evaluation work. This is a high‑intensity, high‑visibility role where you own delivery, quality, and scalability across some of our most important customer and lab programs. You will manage a team of SPLs across multiple high‑stakes AI data projects, set the standard for operational excellence, and act as the connective tissue between customers, researchers, procurement partners, Operations leadership, and Product and Engineering.

• Leading and managing a team of SPLs across multiple complex AI data and evaluation projects, ensuring clarity of ownership, priorities, and execution.
• Driving on‑time, high‑quality delivery across custom data pipelines and expert labeling workflows, with a sharp focus on throughput, quality, and cost.
• Translating researcher and customer needs into clear project plans, scopes, and operational workflows that SPLs and Fellows can execute.
• Owning performance metrics across your portfolio, including quality, throughput, SLAs, utilization, and margin, and using data to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensuring a top tier experience for Handshake Fellows, enabling them to produce high‑quality, scalable data while feeling supported and informed.
• Partnering with Product and Engineering to evolve internal tooling, workflows, and systems that unlock step‑function gains in efficiency and quality.

• Your SPL team consistently delivers on or ahead of commitments for our most important AI data and evaluation programs, with clear, referenceable wins.
• Key operational metrics across your portfolio improve materially, such as quality, on‑time delivery, throughput, and margin.
• SPLs see you as a trusted and supportive leader who raises the bar on performance while providing clear direction and coaching.
• Product, Engineering, and Engagement teams proactively involve you in planning and scoping for new programs because they trust your judgment and operational instincts.

• Strategic Project Leads (SPLs) to set priorities, unblock delivery, coach performance, and build strong operational habits.
• Operations leadership on resourcing, staffing models, and long‑term capacity planning.
• Researchers, procurement partners, and Engagement Managers to translate research and business goals into executable project plans.
• Product and Engineering on internal tools, data pipelines, and systems that make SPLs and Fellows significantly more effective.

• 5+ years in operationally intensive roles such as marketplace operations, data operations, strategy and operations.
• 2+ years managing high‑performing teams in fast‑paced, execution‑focused environments.
• Prior experience in investment banking, private equity or management consulting strongly preferred.
• Experience leading complex, multi‑stakeholder projects from definition through delivery, ideally with AI, data, or technical workflows.
• Background in AI data operations, ML ops, or technical services is a strong plus.

• Want to own a critical piece of the Handshake AI delivery engine and be directly accountable for team performance and outcomes.
• Enjoy leading…