Job Details

Special Projects Manager

Hybrid | San Francisco, CA Direct Hire / Permanent Placement

HireNow Staffing is actively recruiting a seasoned, highly skilled Special Projects Manager on behalf of a valued client partner operating as a holding company that builds and scales AI-native businesses. HireNow Staffing is acting as a direct placement partner for this Special Projects Manager opportunity.

We are seeking a high-agency operator who can work directly with founders and executives on strategic initiatives, venture launches, and cross-functional execution. This individual must be comfortable solving ambiguous problems, moving quickly across multiple industries, and owning complex projects from concept through completion.

Candidates with jumpy or unstable resumes will not be accepted or interviewed. We are prioritizing professionals with consistent tenure, progressive growth, and measurable impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic special projects across the parent company and portfolio businesses
• Support launch and scale initiatives tied to new AI-native ventures, products, and institutions
• Partner directly with founders and executive leadership on growth priorities, partnerships, and expansion opportunities
• Build project plans, operating cadences, timelines, and accountability structures to ensure execution excellence
• Conduct market research, competitive analysis, financial modeling, and strategic assessments across multiple sectors
• Coordinate cross-functional workstreams involving internal teams, external partners, investors, and operators
• Drive operational problem-solving in fast-moving environments with limited structure
• Prepare executive materials, decision memos, presentations, and board-level updates
• Identify bottlenecks, recommend improvements, and implement scalable systems
• Leverage modern AI tools to increase productivity, insight generation, and execution speed

Required Qualifications (Highly Important)

• 24 years of experience in top-tier consulting, investment banking, private equity, venture studios, or high-growth startup environments
• Strong preference for candidates from MBB or top strategy consulting firms
• Proven ability to operate across multiple industries, not just a single vertical
• Exceptional project management skills with demonstrated ownership of complex initiatives
• Strong written and verbal communication with executive-level professionalism
• Analytical problem-solving skills with comfort in ambiguous, changing environments
• Daily working familiarity with modern AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, automation tools, research copilots, etc.)
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously with minimal oversight
• Stable employment history with clear progression; candidates with jumpy resumes will not be considered

Preferred Qualifications (Strongly Valued)

• Startup experience at any stage from Seed through Series C+
• Experience working with venture capital, private equity, venture studios, or founder-led companies
• Board experience with institutions, nonprofits, academic organizations, or advisory bodies
• STEM degree or strong technical / quantitative background
• Experience launching new business units, partnerships, or zero-to-one initiatives
• Financial modeling and business case development skills
• Strong operator mindset with willingness to execute tactically when needed
• Exposure to education, research institutions, or mission-driven organizations

HireNow Disqualifiers

• Limited experience outside a single narrow industry vertical
• No evidence of ownership in high-ambiguity environments
• Minimal AI tool usage in day-to-day workflow
• Inability to manage multiple concurrent priorities
• Frequent job changes without clear rationale or progression

HireNow Checklist

HireNow Staffing is recruiting candidates who meet the following profile:

24 years in consulting, banking, PE, venture studios, or startup environments

Preference for MBB / top-tier strategy consulting backgrounds

Experience across multiple industries or business models

Strong operator who can execute with minimal oversight

Excellent communication and executive presence

Daily user of modern AI tools for workflow acceleration

Able to manage special projects with speed and structure

Comfortable working hybrid in San Francisco, CA

Stable resume with progressive growth

Standout Candidates Include:

Former consultants who transitioned into startup operator roles

Candidates with board experience at institutions or nonprofits

Startup generalists who helped scale companies from early stage onward

Investors or operators from venture-backed ecosystems

HireNow Package

• Base Salary: $120,000 $180,000
• Additional Compensation: Flexible equity + variable compensation for exceptional candidates
• Benefits: Unlimited PTO + standard benefits package
• Work Location: Hybrid San Francisco, CA
• Employment Type: Full-Time / Direct Hire
• Visa Sponsorship: Available

HireNow Staffing Disclaimer

All candidate information is handled confidentially and evaluated against defined requirements. This job description outlines the general scope of responsibilities and qualifications. Duties may evolve based on client needs and business growth. Only candidates meeting the core qualifications will be considered for interview.