Special Projects Lead

About the role

As a Special Projects Lead, you are the swiss army knife of Adaption. You thrive at the zero-to-one stage, where ambiguity is the starting condition and a working system is the deliverable. You QB strategic initiatives, bring creative energy to unconventional problems, and have a bias for action that turns vision into momentum. You'll partner directly with the founders to shape how this company operates, scales, and builds toward vision.

Responsibilities

• Lead special projects end-to-end: own high-priority, often undefined initiatives from first principles to finished product.
• Scale team operations globally: build the systems, rituals, and infrastructure that hold a distributed team together.
• Own internal tools, communication frameworks, and knowledge management as we grow from founding team to scaled organization.
• Drive strategic initiatives: partner with leadership to translate strategy into action. You connect the dots across functions, maintain momentum, and make sure nothing important falls through the cracks.
• Unlock day-to-day execution: own business operations including vendor management, legal coordination, compliance, and administrative infrastructure.
• Anticipate needs before they become blockers.
• Find creative leverage: spot the unconventional fix, the 10x shortcut, the reframe that makes a hard problem simple.
• Whether it's a new workflow, a better vendor arrangement, or a fresh take on how the team communicates - you bring imagination to the operational layer.

Qualifications

• 3–7 years in operations, strategy, or special projects roles - ideally at a high-growth startup or tech company
• Track record of building from scratch and driving complex, cross-functional initiatives to completion
• Creative thinker who brings fresh ideas to operational and strategic problems
• Strong instincts for prioritization and an ability to context-switch without losing the thread
• Exceptional communicator who builds trust across all levels of an organization
• Impeccable attention to detail - you know which details create leverage and spend your time accordingly
• Bonus: experience with AI/ML companies or familiarity with technical product development

Benefits

• Flexible work: In-person collaboration in the Bay Area, a distributed global-first team, and team offsites.
• Adaption Passport: Annual travel stipend to explore a country you've never visited.
• Lunch Stipend: Weekly meal allowance for take-out or grocery delivery.
• Well-Being: Comprehensive medical benefits and generous paid time off.