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Strategic Project Management Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

As a Strategic Project Associate (SPA) at Mercor, you will work with Strategic Project Leads to ... Source, vet, and manage the performance of hundreds of domain experts from different disciplines (e ...

... and execution-focused Strategic Projects Lead (SPL) to own and deliver high-impact, cross ... Managing a network of hundreds to thousands of people to collect video data and to engage and ...

Strategic Project Lead

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$90K - $180K/yr

... and execution-focused Strategic Projects Lead (SPL) to own and deliver high-impact, cross ... Managing a network of hundreds to thousands of people to collect video data and to engage and ...

Role Overview About the Role The Strategic Project Lead owns the day-to-day execution of our ... The SPL reports to the SPL Manager for craft and career, and on the ground takes delivery direction ...

Role Overview About the Role The Strategic Project Lead owns the day-to-day execution of our ... The SPL reports to the SPL Manager for craft and career, and on the ground takes delivery direction ...

PMO Manager

Salinas, CA · On-site

$140/hr

Reporting to the Sr. Director of Corporate Strategy & Technology, the PMO Manager designs the tools, governance structures, and project cadences that define how the company executes its strategic ...

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Strategic Project Management information

See California salary details

$54.3K

$95.1K

$203.8K

How much do strategic project management jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for strategic project management in California is $95,059.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,000.00 and $94,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a strategic project manager do?

A strategic project manager oversees the planning, execution, and completion of projects aligned with an organization’s long-term goals. They develop project strategies, coordinate teams, manage budgets, and use tools like Gantt charts and project management software to ensure objectives are met efficiently. Strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills are essential for success in this role.

What is the highest paid project management job?

The highest paid project management roles are often executive-level positions such as Program Director or Portfolio Manager, especially in industries like finance, technology, and engineering. These roles typically require extensive experience, advanced certifications like PMP or PgMP, and strong leadership skills, with salaries reaching into six figures or higher depending on the industry and location.

What are the typical challenges faced in a Strategic Project Management role?

Professionals in Strategic Project Management often navigate challenges such as managing competing priorities, responding to shifting organizational goals, and coordinating cross-functional teams with diverse stakeholders. Balancing long-term strategic vision with day-to-day execution can require flexibility and strong decision-making skills. You may encounter obstacles in aligning resources, maintaining clear communication among teams, and mitigating project risks. Success depends on your ability to adapt quickly, facilitate collaboration, and consistently deliver value within set timelines and budgets.

What is a Strategic Project Management job?

A Strategic Project Management job involves overseeing projects that align with an organization's long-term goals and objectives. Professionals in this role ensure that projects support business strategy, optimize resources, and drive measurable success. They use a combination of project management methodologies, strategic planning, and leadership skills to mitigate risks and maximize efficiency. This role often requires collaboration with executives, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact outcomes.

What jobs can you get with strategic management?

A degree or experience in strategic project management can lead to roles such as strategic planner, project manager, business analyst, operations manager, or management consultant. These positions involve developing long-term plans, coordinating projects, and improving organizational efficiency, often requiring skills in leadership, analysis, and use of project management tools like MS Project or Trello.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Strategic Project Management position, and why are they important?

To excel in Strategic Project Management, you generally need a background in project management methodologies, business strategy, and analytical problem-solving, often backed by a bachelor's degree and PMP or similar certification. Familiarity with project management software such as MS Project, Asana, and data analysis tools is typically expected. Exceptional leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills distinguish top performers in this field. These abilities are essential for aligning project objectives with organizational goals and driving successful outcomes across complex initiatives.

What are the 4 types of project managers?

In project management, four common types of project managers are functional, projectized, matrix, and hybrid managers. Functional managers work within specific departments, projectized managers lead projects independently, matrix managers operate across departments with shared authority, and hybrid managers combine elements of these styles. Understanding these types helps in selecting the right management approach for different projects and organizational structures.
What are popular job titles related to Strategic Project Management jobs in California? For Strategic Project Management jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Strategic Project Management jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Strategic Project Management jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Strategic Project Management jobs? Cities in California with the most Strategic Project Management job openings:
Infographic showing various Strategic Project Management job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,059 per year, or $45.7 per hour.
Strategic Project Associate

Strategic Project Associate

Mercor

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

About Mercor
Mercor's mission is to organize human intelligence to power the AI economy. We're a leading AI data company, building the layer between human expertise and frontier models. Millions of domain experts on the platform are paid over $4 million per day to train frontier AI models. Mercor's APEX benchmark family measures AI's real-world impact on professional work. Mercor Enterprise brings this same infrastructure to Fortune 500 companies: helping companies capture how their best people actually work, translating that expertise directly back into agents.
Mercor is creating a new category of work where expertise powers AI advancement. Achieving this requires an ambitious, fast-paced and deeply committed team. You'll work alongside researchers, operators, and AI companies at the forefront of shaping the systems that are redefining society. Mercor is a profitable Series C company valued at $10 billion. We work in-person five days a week in our San Francisco, NYC, or London offices.
About the Role
Silicon Valley's top AI companies work with Mercor to find domain experts who can help train and evaluate their models. As a Strategic Project Associate (SPA) at Mercor, you will work with Strategic Project Leads to drive the tactical execution of these projects, ensure top-notch service to customers, and single-handedly drive millions of dollars in revenue. In doing so, you will have a significant impact on Mercor's long-term growth. Strategic Project Associates will report to a Strategic Project Lead.
Our Strategic Project Associate program is designed for exceptional recent grads (targeted graduation date of December '25 or May/June '26) and will provide a fast-paced introduction to running large scale human data projects. Promotions to Strategic Project Lead will be considered on a quarterly basis (with a target of ~6-12 months). We're an early-stage startup that operates with intensity. That means occasionally being responsive on weekends and always holding a high bar for output. The upside - performance incentives, career trajectory, and meaningful equity - reflects that.
Key Responsibilities
  • Generate $10M+ in revenue by executing large-scale projects on behalf of leading AI labs and tech companies
  • Source, vet, and manage the performance of hundreds of domain experts from different disciplines (e.g., software engineering, medicine, law)
  • Foster strong relationships with researchers at leading AI labs and tech companies, anticipating client needs and identifying opportunities for project expansion
  • Collaborate closely with the wider Operations team to execute project strategies, meet client objectives, and drive process optimizations
  • Interface with the Engineering & Machine Learning team to improve the Mercor platform
What Are We Looking For?
  • Experience in consulting, finance, startups, or similar organizations
  • Strong analytical and communication skills
  • Experience working with customers
Compensation
  • Base cash compensation $120k
  • Generous equity grant vested over 4 years
  • A $7.5K relocation bonus (if moving to the Bay Area)
  • $10K proximity bonus (if you live within 0.5 miles of our office)
  • $1.5K monthly stipend for meals
  • Free Equinox membership
  • $200 monthly laundry reimbursement
  • $200 monthly personal wellness reimbursement
  • Health, Dental, Vision insurance401(k) with company match

We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.