VP, Operations
About The Position
Handshake is the career network for the AI economy. 20 million knowledge workers, 1,600 educational institutions, 1 million employers (including 100% of the Fortune 50), and every foundational AI lab trust Handshake to power career discovery, hiring, and upskilling, from freelance AI training gigs to first internships to full-time careers and beyond. This unique value is leading to unparalleled growth; in 2025, we tripled our ARR at scale. 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 Work hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world’s top educational institutions Join a team with leadership from Scale AI, Meta, xAI, Notion, Coinbase, and Palantir, among others Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue We’re looking for a VP, Operations to drive excellence and scalability across our core operations. This leader will oversee a portfolio of central operations teams — including Fellow Experience, Pay, Data & Analytics, and Training & Learning — that support the teams of operators powering our Human Data delivery engine, as well as a Strategy team helping to chart the future of the business. The ideal candidate is an operator–strategist hybrid: analytical, execution-minded, and capable of building scalable systems and teams that keep pace with rapid company growth. This role sits at the intersection of business operations, people strategy, and execution enablement.
Requirements
- 10-15+ years of experience in operations, strategy, or business leadership, ideally in tech, AI, or platform-based companies.
- Proven track record building and managing high-performing, multidisciplinary teams.
- Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-scaling environments.
- Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills.
- Experience using systems thinking to design processes at scale.
- Excellent communication and executive presence; able to translate between operational and executive audiences.
Nice To Haves
- Experience leading workforce operations or marketplaces (e.g., gig or flexible workforce models).
- Prior experience in management consulting, biz ops, or strategy roles in growth-stage tech.
- Familiarity with AI/ML operations or data annotation environments.
Responsibilities
- Lead and Scale Core Operations: Evolve central teams responsible for Fellow Experience, Pay Operations, Data Analytics, Strategy, and Training & Learning to drive excellence in our operations
- Drive Operational Strategy: Translate company goals into operational plans that improve efficiency, quality, and Fellow engagement.
- Manage Cross-Functional Alignment: Partner with Product, Growth, Ops Delivery, and People teams to ensure smooth execution of initiatives
- Operational Analytics & Planning: Build dashboards, metrics, and business reviews that measure performance and inform strategy.
- Org Design & Capacity Planning: Ensure that operational structures scale efficiently as the business grows.
- Executive Leadership: Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and broader leadership team on operational scaling, resource allocation, and growth readiness.
Benefits
- 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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
