Strategic Program & Ops Lead (Data Projects)

Recruiting From Scratch • San Francisco, CA

45d • $150,000 - $250,000 • Onsite

About The Position

As the Strategic Program & Operations Lead (Data Projects) , you’ll own the delivery of high-impact data projects that bridge creative judgment with model training. You’ll collaborate across research, engineering, and operations to design, execute, and scale data pipelines for subjective domains such as design, tone, and style. Your role will combine strategy, product thinking, and hands-on operational excellence .

Requirements

• 2–5 years of experience in operations, program management, or product operations , ideally within AI, data labeling, or research-heavy startups.
• Proven experience managing complex human data or ML-related projects .
• Strong understanding of how datasets, formats, and feedback loops influence model performance.
• Technically fluent — comfortable reading or discussing data schemas, prompts, or small code snippets.
• Methodical, detail-oriented, and able to thrive in fast-paced, ambiguous, and high-agency environments.
• Deep personal interest in creative fields such as art, design, writing, or fashion — with an intuitive sense for “taste.”

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working at a data-centric or AI infrastructure company (e.g., Scale AI, Labelbox, Surge AI, Snorkel AI, etc.).
• Experience designing or managing subjective evaluation pipelines (pairwise ranking, rubric-based evaluation, or similar).
• Experience partnering directly with research or model training teams.

Responsibilities

• Partner with research and engineering to define and manage data pipelines, labeling criteria, QA processes, and evaluation workflows.
• Coordinate with growth and community teams to recruit and manage expert human evaluators (“taste-makers”).
• Develop and enforce quality standards for subjective datasets — setting the bar for what “great” looks like in AI-generated outputs.
• Serve as the main point of contact for AI lab clients, managing communication, feedback, and iteration cycles.
• Identify process gaps and work with engineering to design tools that make these data operations scalable and efficient.

Benefits

• Equity: 0.1%–0.5% (significant early-stage ownership)
• Visa Sponsorship: Available for qualified candidates
• On-site Perks: Collaborative workspace in San Francisco’s Jackson Square district
• Impact: Join as one of the first five hires — with direct influence over company direction, product quality, and culture

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed