Talent Network: Senior Project Leader

About Toptal

Toptal is a global network of top talent in business, design, and technology that enables companies to scale their teams, on-demand. With $200+ million in annual revenue and team members based around the globe, Toptal is the world’s largest fully remote workforce.

We take the best elements of virtual teams and combine them with a support structure that encourages innovation, social interaction, and fun. We see no borders, move at a fast pace, and are never afraid to break the mold.

Job Summary

You’ll be joining a New Business offering from Toptal. A premium, expert-driven organization focused on delivering high-quality AI data, evaluation, and human-in-the-loop workflows.

As a Senior Project Lead, you are responsible for launching and operating projects end-to-end in fast-moving, high-pressure environments. This role is highly operational, focused on ensuring projects are set up correctly, talent annotators are prepared, workflows are clearly defined, and day-to-day execution runs smoothly.

You will oversee both client and talent annotator experience, maintain strong delivery oversight and reporting, and continuously improve operational processes. The role requires sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to operate quickly and calmly under pressure.

This is a remote position. We do not offer visa sponsorship or assistance. Resumes and communication must be submitted in English.

Responsibilities

Project Setup & Launch

Stand up new projects end-to-end across client and talent environments

Create clear, structured briefs, workflows, and instructions

Ensure talent is properly vetted, trained, and ready to execute

Confirm all assets, tooling, and access are in place prior to launch

Drive rapid onboarding in time-sensitive, high-pressure scenarios

Day-to-Day Execution

Own daily operations across multiple concurrent projects

Maintain alignment across clients, talent, and internal teams

Manage communication across stakeholders with clarity and responsiveness

Handle sensitive or complex interpersonal situations with professionalism

Ensure consistent delivery against quality, timeline, and SLA expectations

Reporting & Financial Tracking

Deliver regular internal and client-facing reporting

Track project performance across quality, throughput, and timelines

Own financial visibility including billing, invoicing, and cost tracking

Identify risks or variances early and take corrective action

Process Improvement

Identify gaps and inefficiencies in workflows and execution

Build and implement improved processes, not just follow existing ones

Drive continuous improvement across project operations and delivery models

Partner with product, QA, and operations teams to scale best practices

Maintain a high standard of rigor and follow-through in driving change

Qualifications and Job Requirements

5+ years of experience in project management or operations in high-intensity environments (consulting, startups, data/AI, or similar)

Proven ability to manage complex workflows and distributed teams

Strong communication skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and interpersonal complexity

High attention to detail combined with speed and execution focus

Comfortable operating under pressure with shifting priorities

Demonstrated ability to build and improve processes proactively

Key Facts

Projects often require rapid ramp (e.g., onboarding large contributor groups in days)

Work involves tight timelines, high expectations, and constant iteration

The role is execution-focused, with accountability for delivery, not strategy

Growth Path

Start as an individual contributor owning multiple projects end-to-end

Expand into broader delivery ownership, operational leadership, or platform-level impact

About Toptal

Toptal is a global network of top talent in business, design, and technology that enables companies to scale their teams, on-demand. With $200+ million in annual revenue and team members based around the globe , Toptal is the world’s largest fully remote workforce .

We take the best elements of virtual teams and combine them with a support structure that encourages innovation, social interaction, and fun. We see no borders, move at a fast pace, and are never afraid to break the mold.

Job Summary

You’ll be joining a New Business offering from Toptal. A premium, expert-driven organization focused on delivering high-quality AI data, evaluation, and human-in-the-loop workflows.

As a Senior Project Lead, you are responsible for launching and operating projects end-to-end in fast-moving, high-pressure environments. This role is highly operational, focused on ensuring projects are set up correctly, talent annotators are prepared, workflows are clearly defined, and day-to-day execution runs smoothly.

You will oversee both client and talent annotator experience, maintain strong delivery oversight and reporting, and continuously improve operational processes. The role requires sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to operate quickly and calmly under pressure.

This is a remote position. We do not offer visa sponsorship or assistance. Resumes and communication must be submitted in English.

Responsibilities

Project Setup & Launch

Day-to-Day Execution

Reporting & Financial Tracking

Process Improvement

Qualifications and Job Requirements

Key Facts

Growth Path

• Stand up new projects end-to-end across client and talent environments
• Create clear, structured briefs, workflows, and instructions
• Ensure talent is properly vetted, trained, and ready to execute
• Confirm all assets, tooling, and access are in place prior to launch
• Drive rapid onboarding in time-sensitive, high-pressure scenarios
• Own daily operations across multiple concurrent projects
• Maintain alignment across clients, talent, and internal teams
• Manage communication across stakeholders with clarity and responsiveness
• Handle sensitive or complex interpersonal situations with professionalism
• Ensure consistent delivery against quality, timeline, and SLA expectations
• Deliver regular internal and client-facing reporting
• Track project performance across quality, throughput, and timelines
• Own financial visibility including billing, invoicing, and cost tracking
• Identify risks or variances early and take corrective action
• Identify gaps and inefficiencies in workflows and execution
• Build and implement improved processes, not just follow existing ones
• Drive continuous improvement across project operations and delivery models
• Partner with product, QA, and operations teams to scale best practices
• Maintain a high standard of rigor and follow-through in driving change
• 5+ years of experience in project management or operations in high-intensity environments (consulting, startups, data/AI, or similar)
• Proven ability to manage complex workflows and distributed teams
• Strong communication skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and interpersonal complexity
• High attention to detail combined with speed and execution focus
• Comfortable operating under pressure with shifting priorities
• Demonstrated ability to build and improve processes proactively
• Projects often require rapid ramp (e.g., onboarding large contributor groups in days)
• Work involves tight timelines, high expectations, and constant iteration
• The role is execution-focused, with accountability for delivery, not strategy
• Start as an individual contributor owning multiple projects end-to-end
• Expand into broader delivery ownership, operational leadership, or platform-level impact