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India
Remote only
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Lead Program Manager – Generative AI Data Operations based in India.
This role leads large-scale AI training data programs supporting the development and evaluation of generative AI systems.
You will own program strategy, delivery, operational performance, and client relationships across multiple projects and vendors.
The position combines people leadership, program governance, quality management, capacity planning, and commercial oversight.
You will work closely with cross-functional teams to maintain consistent quality while scaling high-volume data operations.
A key focus will be optimizing workflows, automation, tooling, and operating models to improve efficiency and delivery outcomes.
You will also manage risks, budgets, changes, compliance requirements, and senior stakeholder communications.
The role offers significant autonomy within a global, distributed environment where operational excellence directly supports AI development.
Define program strategy, objectives, roadmaps, milestones, operating models, and delivery plans across multiple projects and vendors.
Lead and develop a team of Program Managers and Coordinators through goal setting, capacity planning, coaching, delegation, and performance management.
Own the day-to-day client relationship, serving as the primary program contact and leading governance meetings, planning sessions, and business reviews.
Align client expectations around scope, priorities, timelines, requirements, and changes while maintaining strong delivery relationships.
Partner with the Quality Manager to establish quality objectives, guidelines, audits, acceptance criteria, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Plan and secure annotator/rater capacity to support high-volume delivery requirements, optimizing shifts, handoffs, workflows, and operational tooling.
Manage program budgets, margins, commercial changes, and change orders while keeping financial and delivery commitments aligned.
Maintain program-level risk, issue, action, and dependency tracking; lead root-cause analysis and remediation for significant challenges.
Identify opportunities to standardize SOPs, templates, dashboards, and operating processes to improve consistency and scalability.
Collaborate with Operations Technology teams to pilot and scale automation that improves productivity, visibility, and delivery quality.
Ensure compliance with data handling, privacy, security, and platform-access policies throughout program operations.
Coordinate closely with Sales, Account Management, Quality, Operations, and Vendor Management teams to achieve client and business objectives.
Establish effective operating rhythms and standards while making tactical and strategic decisions within agreed policies and budgets.
Escalate non-standard or high-impact issues with clear options, risks, recommendations, and potential business impact.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in business, operations, data, engineering, or a related discipline.
5–8 years of experience leading large-scale or multi-workstream delivery programs, ideally within AI data, content review, labeling, annotation, or adjacent operational environments.
Demonstrated experience managing high-volume programs involving vendor management, workforce capacity planning, and distributed delivery teams.
Proven ability to own client relationships and establish effective governance cadences with senior stakeholders.
Strong program planning and portfolio governance capabilities across multiple projects and workstreams.
Experience setting team objectives, coaching employees, delegating responsibilities, and providing performance feedback.
Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with confidence engaging senior clients and internal leadership.
Strong organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to balance scope, time, cost, quality, and operational priorities.
Practical experience with spreadsheets, project/task management tools, and business intelligence dashboards.
Familiarity with SQL and ETL concepts is an advantage.
Strong understanding of quality management, including SOPs, QA gates, acceptance criteria, audits, and corrective actions.
Sound judgment, negotiation skills, and confidence managing escalations and complex delivery decisions.
Advanced English communication skills and the ability to work effectively with global, distributed teams.
Ability to operate autonomously, establish program standards, and make day-to-day and tactical strategic decisions.
Experience managing direct reports while influencing cross-functional stakeholders through dotted-line relationships.
Fully remote working arrangement from India.
Opportunity to lead large-scale programs supporting generative AI training and evaluation.
High level of ownership and autonomy across program strategy and delivery.
Exposure to global clients, distributed teams, AI operations, and emerging AI technologies.
Leadership opportunity managing Program Managers and Coordinators.
Collaborative environment spanning Program Management, Quality, Operations, Sales, Account Management, and Vendor Management.
Opportunities to drive process improvement, automation, operational scalability, and quality initiatives.
Continuous exposure to evolving AI data operations and high-volume global programs.
The original posting does not specify a salary range or additional formal benefits.