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 partner with leading AI labs and enterprises to provide the human intelligence essential to AI development. Our vast talent network trains frontier AI models in the same way teachers teach students: by sharing knowledge, experience, and context that can't be captured in code alone. Today, more than 30,000 experts in our network collectively earn over $2 million a day.

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.



Frequently asked questions

Q: What skills or qualities help someone succeed as a Project Associate?

A: To succeed as a Project Associate, key technical skills include proficiency in project management tools such as Asana, Trello, or MS Project, as well as knowledge of data analysis and visualization tools like Excel, Tableau, or Power BI. Soft skills like effective communication, teamwork, and time management are also crucial, as they enable the associate to collaborate with team members, stakeholders, and clients, and prioritize tasks to meet project deadlines. By combining these technical and soft skills, a Project Associate can effectively support project delivery, build strong relationships, and lay a solid foundation for future career growth in project management or related fields.

Q: What is the career path for a Project Associate?

A: A Project Associate typically starts as an entry-level role, assisting project managers with tasks such as coordination, communication, and data analysis, and progresses to mid-level roles like Project Coordinator or Assistant Project Manager, where they take on more responsibilities and lead smaller projects. As they gain experience, they can move into senior roles like Project Manager or Senior Project Manager, overseeing large-scale projects and leading cross-functional teams. With continued growth, Project Associates can also transition into related fields like program management, business analysis, or operations management, leveraging their project management skills to drive organizational success.



Mercor job posting for a Strategic Project Associate in San Francisco, CA with a salary of $120,000 Annually and benefits including Medical, Vision, Dental, and Retirement with a map of San Francisco location.