Sr. Manager of Growth Operations, Handshake AI

About Handshake AI

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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• 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.

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About The Role

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As Handshake AI rapidly expands in the generative AI space, we’re looking for a Sr. Manager of Growth Operations to architect and scale strategic growth initiatives that drive revenue, product adoption, and long-term market leadership. This role is both hands-on and highly strategic - you’ll lead cross-functional efforts to define and execute our growth roadmap, while guiding a team and influencing company-wide decisions. Your work will directly shape how students, employers, and institutions experience our next generation of AI-driven products.

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• Own and lead critical growth initiatives from strategy through execution, collaborating deeply with teams across Product, Engineering, Operations, and Go-to-Market.
• Design and implement scalable growth systems, pipelines, and processes tailored to evolving customer needs and market demands.
• Oversee and optimize the entire growth funnel - from acquisition to activation - for key generative AI products and experiments.
• Build and lead a high-performing team, fostering a culture of curiosity, velocity, and operational excellence.
• Synthesize insights across product usage, market dynamics, and operational performance to surface opportunities and drive prioritization.
• Partner closely with Handshake AI’s leadership to shape strategic direction, define success metrics, and drive accountability across growth workstreams.
• Solve ambiguous, high-priority challenges with a structured, data-driven approach - helping define what “great” looks like as we scale new products and markets.

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Desired Capabilities

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• 4–6+ years of experience in growth, product, strategy, or operations roles at a fast-paced technology company.
• 1–3 years of direct people management experience, with a strong track record of developing and supporting talent.
• Demonstrated success owning growth initiatives end-to-end, including designing and executing data-driven experiments that led to measurable outcomes.
• Experience in strategy- and operations-heavy environments (e.g., marketplaces, logistics, or AI-driven products), ideally at early-stage or high-growth startups.
• Advanced proficiency with data - comfortable using SQL or Python to generate insights and make decisions.
• Familiarity with business intelligence tools, funnel metrics, KPI tracking, and growth analytics best practices.
• Exceptional problem-solving and communication skills, with an ability to operate autonomously and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Bias for action - you thrive in ambiguity and are energized by building structure and scale from zero to one.
• Technical or engineering background is a plus.

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Extra Credit

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• Experience launching or growing AI/ML-based products in B2B or B2C contexts.
• Background in GTM strategy or customer segmentation for highly technical products.
• Familiarity with developer ecosystems or technical user onboarding flows.
• Experience leading cross-functional pods or special task forces in startup environments.

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Perks

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Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported—and thrive at work and in life.

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The below benefits are for full-time US employees.

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🎯 Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company

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💰 Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching

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🍼 Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching

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💝 Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipend

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📚 Growth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing development

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💻 Remote & Office: Stipends for home office setup, internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office

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🏝 Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days, winter #ShakeBreak where our whole office closes for a week!

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🤝 Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses

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