Senior Operations Program Manager, Central Operations at Handshake — San Francisco, CA

About Handshake AI

Handshake is building the career network for the AI economy. Our three-sided marketplace connects 18 million students and alumni, 1,500+ academic institutions across the U.S. and Europe, and 1 million employers to power how the next generation explores careers, builds skills, and gets hired.

Handshake AI is a human data labeling business that leverages the scale of the largest early career network. We work directly with the world’s leading AI research labs to build a new generation of human data products. From PhDs in physics to undergrads fluent in LLMs, Handshake AI is the trusted partner for domain-specific data and evaluation at scale.

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.

Now’s a great time to join Handshake. Here’s why:

• Leading the AI Career Revolution: Be part of the team redefining work in the AI economy for millions worldwide.
• Proven Market Demand: Deep employer partnerships across Fortune 500s and the world’s leading AI research labs.
• World-Class Team: Leadership from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir, just to name a few.
• Capitalized & Scaling: $3.5B valuation from top investors including Kleiner Perkins, True Ventures, Notable Capital, and more.

About the Role

The Senior Operations Program Manager, Central Ops will own and drive high-impact operational programs across critical functions including Trust & Safety, Pay Operations, and Contractor Management. This role is responsible for designing, executing, and continuously improving processes that support scalable, high-quality operations.

As an individual contributor, you will partner cross-functionally with Legal, Finance, Product, Engineering, Analytics, and Delivery teams to identify opportunities, implement solutions, and track performance against key metrics. You will play a key role in bringing structure to ambiguity, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring programs run smoothly end-to-end.

The ideal candidate is highly analytical, detail-oriented, and thrives in fast-paced environments where strong execution and cross-functional collaboration are essential.

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

Desired Capabilities

• 4-6 years of experience
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to use data to inform decisions
• Experience using SQL (or similar tools) to pull and analyze data
• Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional projects and influence stakeholders
• Comfort operating in ambiguous environments and driving clarity
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

Extra Credit

• Experience in Trust & Safety, Payments, or Contractor Operations
• Strong problem-solving skills with a structured approach to complex challenges
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate insights and recommendations
• Experience operating in fast-paced, metrics-driven environments

Perks