Senior Engagement Manager

Handshake · San Francisco, CA · Yesterday

On-siteBusiness Development$60/hrFull-time

About Handshake

Handshake is the career network for the AI economy — powering career discovery, hiring, and upskilling for 25 million job seekers, 1,600 educational institutions, and 1 million+ employers, from first internships to full-time careers to the frontier of AI training. In 2025, we launched Handshake AI on that same network and trust, and grew it into the fastest-growing AI data business in history — from $0 to a ~$1B run rate, now paying ~$60M a month to over 30,000 experts.

The Role

As a Senior Engagement Manager on Handshake AI's Engagement Management team, you own full, end-to-end relationships for our largest frontier AI lab customers — accounts at $100M+ run rate — from first scope through expansion and renewal. You're the person these customers call first, acting as a thought partner rather than a traditional account manager, translating ambiguous, high-stakes problems into clear direction while Strategic Project Leads and Operations execute delivery. You'll sit at the intersection of customer, product, and engineering, making fast, high-judgment tradeoffs under pressure and protecting both the relationship and the quality bar.

Responsibilities

Own full end-to-end relationships across a portfolio of $100M+ frontier AI lab accounts, serving as the first call in high-stakes moments and the single throughline for value.
Translate messy, evolving client goals into sharp requirements and priorities, partnering closely with Strategic Project Leads & Operations to turn strategy into delivery.
Make fast, high-conviction tradeoffs on speed, quality, and cost — knowing when to commit, push back, or escalate to protect the relationship and the outcome.
Partner with Sales to identify and help close expansion opportunities, growing account value and deepening Handshake AI's role in customers' model development.
Define and report on success metrics (KPIs, SLAs, model quality) that keep leadership and clients aligned on what's working and what needs to change.

Requirements

8+ years in high-ownership, customer-facing or high-stakes leadership roles — engagement management, management consulting, strategy & ops, elite military leadership, or founder/operating roles — ideally with exposure to AI, data, or complex operational products.
Meaningful time at a top-tier consulting firm (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or equivalent), or an equivalent mix of consulting, elite institutional leadership, and high-intensity startup or operating experience.
Currently in an external, customer-facing role, or have held one within the last two years.
Genuine, demonstrated curiosity about AI — excited to learn from frontier researchers and build deep technical fluency in the space, not just drawn to the opportunity.
A track record leading complex, multi-stakeholder engagements to measurable outcomes for demanding enterprise customers.
Experience working directly with VP- and C-level stakeholders, and navigating complex, political organizations while still getting to an answer fast.
Comfort making high-judgment decisions with incomplete information, and shifting fluidly between executive relationship management and detailed data review.
Genuine energy for high-intensity, fast-changing environments, including periods that call for significant time investment — this isn't a fixed-hours, narrow-scope role.

Bonus Points

Technical or STEM background (engineering, computer science, or related) alongside your customer-facing experience.
Prior experience in AI, data, or frontier model development.
Investment banking, private equity, or GM/BizOps background with strong analytical range.

Qualifications

Technical or STEM background (engineering, computer science, or related) alongside your customer-facing experience.
Prior experience in AI, data, or frontier model development.
Investment banking, private equity, or GM/BizOps background with strong analytical range.

Skills

High ownership and customer-facing experience.
Strategic project management and execution.
Complex stakeholder management and negotiation.
Clear communication and presentation skills.
Ability to make high-judgment decisions under pressure.
Technical fluency in AI and data.

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

Pay

Compensation Range: $275K