Program Lead
Listing checked October 13, 2026 · pay as published by Mercor
Overview
A leading AI lab needs Program Leads for its GenAI team, where your work shapes the foundation models behind advanced large language models. You will run AI training data, human data, and model evaluation programs that depend on large pools of domain experts. Day to day, that means guiding experts, turning research inputs into crisp guidelines, and pushing quality and throughput higher. The role is full-time at 40 hours per week. Cincinnatus LLC employs you as a W-2 worker and places you with the AI lab as part of its extended workforce.
What You'll Do7
- 1Coordinate the day to day work of a large domain expert pool, including onboarding new experts and keeping assignments on schedule.
- 2Run calls and weekly reviews that keep contributors aligned with deadlines and quality standards.
- 3Translate research and leadership input into clear guidelines and task instructions that experts can follow.
- 4Track deliverables, throughput, and quality metrics in Google Sheets or Excel and report program status to stakeholders.
- 5Review expert submissions and quality trends, find root causes of issues, and write feedback that lifts team performance.
- 6Surface risks and blockers early, suggest fixes, and work with research, product, and operations partners to resolve them.
- 7Partner with researchers, product teams, and other subject matter experts to keep training data consistent and accurate.
Requirements10
- 1Direct experience as an Expert Program Manager, program lead, or team lead on AI training data, human data, or model evaluation projects.
- 2Background at Mercor or another AI training and data company such as Scale AI, Surge, Micro1, Turing, Outlier, Appen, TELUS, or an internal AI data operations group at a large technology company.
- 3At least 3 years leading or coordinating large contributor or expert teams against deadlines and quality bars.
- 4A clear record of career growth, for example from Expert Contributor to Reviewer to Team Lead to Program Lead or Expert Program Manager.
- 5Availability for at least 40 hours per week on weekdays.
- 6Strong written communication skills and a knack for explaining complex guidelines and quality decisions.
- 7Prior work on Mercor projects.
- 8Degree in a STEM field.
- 9Advanced spreadsheet skills in Google Sheets or Excel, working knowledge of SQL, and some coding experience.
- 10People leadership experience managing large groups of contributors or experts.
Who Should Apply
Program leads with 3+ years running large expert teams on AI training data, human data, or model evaluation work fit this role. The best candidates show a progression from contributor to reviewer to team lead to program lead, write precise guidelines and feedback, and commit 40 hours per week on weekdays. Sheets or Excel, SQL, coding, or a STEM degree adds weight.
Salary Insight
Pay ranges from $45.00 to $70.00 per hour. The band matches program leads who have already run large expert pools on AI training data or model evaluation, with 3+ years of team leadership. Cincinnatus LLC provides W-2 employment and places you inside a leading AI lab's extended workforce.
Pay and demand for AI Training roles
AggregatedTypical pay
$70/hour
This role
$45–$70/hr
Most AI Training roles pay $40–$98 per hour. This role's pay falls inside that range.
Based on 1,071 similar roles that publish pay · 304 publish only a top rate; those count at the rate they gave
Rates shown per hour. Yearly and monthly pay converted; one-time fees and non-USD pay are not included.
- Live similar roles
- 1,238
- Listed in last 30 days
- 470
- Remote
- 97%
Hiring most right now: micro1 (363) · SME Careers (255) · Mercor (149)
Most requested skills · share of roles
- ai training13%
- llm evaluation11%
- ai evaluation11%
- data annotation9%
Figures from AI Training roles live on NearSkill when this page loaded. A role can close before you apply, so check the listing itself.
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Compensation
$45–70/hr
Required Skills
Application Tip
Name every AI training data or model evaluation program you led, including the platform (Mercor, Scale AI, Surge, Micro1, Turing, Outlier, Appen, TELUS), the size of the expert pool, and the quality or throughput gains you achieved. Show your progression from Expert Contributor to Reviewer to Team Lead to Program Lead, and list Sheets, Excel, SQL, or coding skills when you have them.
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