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Special Projects Jobs (NOW HIRING)

idler

Special Projects Operator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $250K/yr

As a Special Projects Operator, you will own end-to-end execution of these programs, from scoping to delivery. This is a hands-on, operations-first role. You will be accountable for delivery quality ...

Uncommon Schools

Special Projects Coordinator

Rochester, NY · On-site

$19.50 - $27/hr

At Uncommon Schools, Special Projects Coordinators (SPCs) execute key logistics and provide operational support that enable students and teachers alike to flourish. The SPC is the executor of various ...

Idler

Special Projects Operator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140K - $250K/yr

As a Special Projects Operator, you will own end-to-end execution of these programs, from scoping to delivery. This is a hands-on, operations-first role. You will be accountable for delivery quality ...

RaceTrac

Manager, Special Projects

Atlanta, GA · On-site

The Manager, Special Projects is responsible for managing strategic and cross-departmental initiatives that add value to the organization. This role involves leading a team of Associate Project ...

GFiber

Special Projects Manager

Austin, TX

Role Description As Special Projects Manager, you will support deployment, operations, installations and maintenance of a fiber optic network for residential and business customers throughout the ...

RaceTrac

Manager, Special Projects

Atlanta, GA · On-site

The Manager, Special Projects is responsible for managing strategic and cross-departmental initiatives that add value to the organization. This role involves leading a team of Associate Project ...

Uncommon Schools

Special Projects Coordinator

Rochester, NY · On-site

$19.50 - $27/hr

At Uncommon Schools, Special Projects Coordinators (SPCs) execute key logistics and provide operational support that enable students and teachers alike to flourish. The SPC is the executor of various ...

MV Transportation

Special Projects Manager

Dallas, TX · On-site

We seek a Special Projects Manager who can work with our Business Development (BD) team on Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) administration. This position is a member of MV's Source to Settle ...

Campbellsville

Special projects in the Center for Faith and Ministry as assigned by the Director Work on special projects from August 2025-January2026

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All JobsSpecial Projects Jobs

Special Projects information

See salary details

$19.5K

$83.9K

$129K

How much do special projects jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for special projects in the United States is $83,928.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $64,500.00 and $103,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a Special Projects role, and why are they important?

To thrive in a Special Projects role, you need strong project management abilities, strategic thinking, and adaptability, often supported by a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field. Familiarity with project management tools like Asana or Trello, and sometimes certifications like PMP, is valuable for organizing and tracking initiatives. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills help you navigate complex, cross-functional assignments. These skills ensure you can successfully deliver unique and high-impact projects that drive organizational goals.

What are examples of job specialization?

Job specialization involves focusing on a specific area or skill set within a profession, such as a software developer specializing in front-end design or a marketing manager focusing on digital campaigns. This allows professionals to develop expertise, improve efficiency, and often requires relevant certifications or training. Specialization can lead to higher proficiency and better job prospects in a particular field.

What are special projects roles?

Special projects roles are positions focused on managing and executing unique, short-term, or high-priority initiatives within an organization. These roles often require cross-functional collaboration and the ability to adapt quickly to changing objectives. Individuals in special projects roles may work on anything from launching new products to improving internal processes or handling urgent business needs. The responsibilities can vary widely depending on the organization's goals and current needs.

What is a special project role?

A special project role involves managing or executing specific, often temporary initiatives within an organization. These roles typically require project management skills, problem-solving abilities, and the ability to coordinate across teams to meet unique objectives outside regular duties.

What are some very unique jobs?

Unique jobs include roles like professional ethical hacker, which involves cybersecurity skills to identify vulnerabilities, and underwater welder, requiring specialized training and safety certifications. Other examples are pet food tester, theme park performer, or forensic artist, each demanding specific skills and sometimes unconventional work environments.

What types of projects might a Special Projects role typically manage, and how do these projects differ from standard departmental initiatives?

A Special Projects role often involves managing high-priority, cross-functional initiatives that fall outside the scope of routine departmental work. These projects can range from launching new business lines, overseeing organizational change efforts, to implementing strategic partnerships. Unlike standard projects, special projects are usually time-sensitive, require collaboration across multiple teams, and demand adaptability as objectives can evolve quickly. Professionals in this role should be comfortable with ambiguity, proactive communication, and balancing multiple stakeholders' interests.

What jobs pay 500,000 a year in the US?

In the US, high-paying jobs that can reach or exceed $500,000 annually include executive roles such as CEOs, CFOs, and other C-suite positions, as well as successful entrepreneurs, top-tier investment bankers, and certain specialized medical professionals like neurosurgeons. These roles typically require extensive experience, advanced skills, and often involve significant responsibilities or ownership stakes.

What is the difference between Special Projects vs Project Coordinator?

AspectSpecial ProjectsProject Coordinator
Required CredentialsVaries; often includes relevant industry experience, certifications like PMP or PMITypically requires a bachelor's degree, project management certifications are a plus
Work EnvironmentFlexible, often cross-departmental, may involve high-level strategic tasksStructured, team-oriented, focused on day-to-day project support
Employer & Industry UsageUsed across industries for specialized initiativesCommon in corporate, non-profit, and government sectors for ongoing projects

Special Projects roles focus on managing unique, high-impact initiatives that often require strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration. Project Coordinators handle the organization and support of ongoing projects, ensuring tasks are completed on time. While both roles involve project management skills, Special Projects positions tend to be more strategic and variable, whereas Project Coordinators focus on operational support and coordination.

More about Special Projects jobs
What cities are hiring for Special Projects jobs? Cities with the most Special Projects job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Special Projects jobs? The most popular types of Special Projects jobs are:
What states have the most Special Projects jobs? States with the most job openings for Special Projects jobs include:
Special Projects jobs near you
Infographic showing various Special Projects job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $83,928 per year, or $40.4 per hour.

Special Projects Operator

idler

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$140K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 29 days ago

Job description

About Idler
Idler builds reinforcement learning environments that encode real human expertise into frontier AI systems. We model the real workflows of serious professionals and hold ourselves to a high bar for quality.
We've secured a landmark multimillion-dollar contract with a leading foundation lab and are expanding into new domains as we scale.
We believe advanced AI should be trained on work that is rigorous, responsibly produced, and grounded in real expertise, and we are building toward that standard.
The Role
Leading AI labs partner with Idler on high-stakes training programs that directly shape frontier models. As a Special Projects Operator, you will own end-to-end execution of these programs, from scoping to delivery.
This is a hands-on, operations-first role. You will be accountable for delivery quality, timelines, and contributor performance, with direct line of sight to revenue.
What You'll Do
  • Own execution of multi-million-dollar programs from scope through delivery.
  • Orchestrate hundreds to thousands of expert contributors under aggressive timelines.
  • Design and iterate on workflows, incentive systems, and quality controls to improve throughput, margins, and reliability.
  • Run QA reviews, surface delivery risks early, and remove bottlenecks before they escalate.
  • Track throughput, quality, cost, and timeliness, and translate performance into clear updates for leadership.
  • Partner with senior stakeholders to align on scope, iterate quickly, and expand engagements through strong execution.
Who Thrives Here
You'll do well in this role if you:
  • Take high ownership and proactively fix what's broken.
  • Turn ambiguity into structured plans and measurable outcomes.
  • Maintain a high bar for correctness and follow-through.
  • Perform well in fast-moving environments with shifting constraints.
  • Want responsibility tied directly to output and business impact.

Common backgrounds include consulting, finance, high-growth startups, and product or operations roles with end-to-end accountability. Experience running large distributed teams or marketplaces is a plus.
Growth Path
Special Projects Operators start by owning projects end-to-end. Top performers take on larger portfolios, manage other operators, and help launch new verticals.
This role scales quickly for people who consistently deliver.
Impact
  • Own programs that can generate tens of millions of dollars in revenue.
  • Shape how frontier AI systems are trained through the work you deliver.
  • Help expand Idler into new domains through execution.
Details
  • In-person in San Francisco
  • Competitive salary + meaningful equity
  • Free meals in office
  • Healthcare, 401(k), PTO
  • Relocation assistance
  • Small, ambitious team

This is an in-person role in San Francisco. We're a tight-knit founding team and we play to win. Join us if you like to win too.

Apply