Head of Policy & Content Moderation
Everyone is welcome at Handshake. We know diverse teams build better products and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.
Your impact
As the Head of Policy & Content Moderation you will play a pivotal role in shaping and maintaining a secure and trustworthy environment for our student, employer and education users. Leveraging your extensive experience in trust and safety, content moderation, and user generated content platforms, you will develop internal and external policies that guide user interactions on Handshake.
Your role
- Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy:
Collaborate with key cross-functional teams and policy stakeholders to ensure that policy analysis and recommendations reflect input from diverse perspectives. Lead discussions on policy trade-offs, guiding consensus toward decisions that align with Handshake’s long-term vision and objectives. - Subject Matter Expertise:
Leverage in-depth knowledge of industry trends, policy frameworks, and regulatory landscapes to shape policy recommendations and inform critical trade-off discussions. Work closely with internal teams to assess risks and policy requirements related to upcoming product launches. Continuously monitor emerging trends to keep Handshake proactive in addressing evolving challenges and threats. - Policy Development:
Take full ownership of the policy development process, from identifying needs and prioritizing initiatives to setting direction and drafting both internal and external policies. Oversee the creation of mechanisms for training operations teams and measuring the impact and effectiveness of policies. Manage all Trust & Safety-related documentation, including community guidelines, enforcement notices, and internal content review SOPs. - Policy Enforcement:
Define and implement Handshake’s approach to enforcing policies, ensuring fairness and consistency across customer types. Design an enforcement system that balances user safety with the opportunity for users to correct violations. - Escalations & Incident Management:
Lead decision-making on individual content escalations and manage high-impact incidents. When necessary, escalate issues to leadership, providing clear analysis and recommended actions for resolution.
Your experience
- Proven experience in developing and implementing both internal and external policies in a senior Trust & Safety role, preferably in a company with both marketplace and community dynamics.
- Strong expertise in industry best practices, regulations, and emerging trends related to trust, safety, and online community management.
- Track record of leading complex trade-off discussions and building consensus among diverse stakeholders on challenging Trust & Safety issues.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and departments.
- Experience working with tools and technologies related to content moderation, user safety, and online platform security.
- Ability to apply deep Trust & Safety knowledge to the unique challenges and dynamics of a growing business.
- A strong blend of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, with the ability to deliver results while aligning with broader organizational goals.
Compensation range
- $177,502-$197,224
For cash compensation, we set standard ranges for all U.S.-based roles based on function, level, and geographic location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. In order to be compliant with local legislation, as well as to provide greater transparency to candidates, we share salary ranges on all job postings regardless of desired hiring location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including geographic location as well as candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.
About us
Handshake is the career platform for Gen Z. With a community of over 17 million students, alumni, employers, and career educators, Handshake’s network is where career advice and discovery turn into first, second, and third jobs. Nearly 1 million companies use Handshake to build their future workforce—from Fortune 500 to federal agencies, school districts to startups, healthcare systems to small businesses. Handshake is built for where you’re going, not where you’ve been.
When it comes to our workforce strategy, we’ve thought deeply about how work-life should look at Handshake. With our hybrid-work model, employees benefit from collaboration and shared team experiences three days per week in our vibrant offices, and enjoy the flexibility of remote work two days per week. Handshake is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, London, and Berlin.
What we offer
At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.
Benefits below apply to employees in full-time positions.
- 💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.
- 🍼 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.
- 💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.
- 💻 Handshake offers $500/£360 home office stipend for you to spend during your first 3 months to create a productive and comfortable workspace at home.
- 📚 Generous learning & development opportunities and an annual $2,000/£1,500/€1,850 stipend for you to grow your skills and career.
- 💰 Financial coaching through Origin to help you through your financial journey.
- 🛜 Monthly internet stipend and a brand new MacBook to allow you to do your best work.
- 🚃 Monthly commuter stipend for you to expense your travel to the office (for office-based employees).
- 🥗 Free lunch provided twice a week across all offices.
- 🤝 Referral bonus to reward you when you bring great talent to Handshake.
(US-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)
- 🏦 401k Match: Handshake offers a dollar-for-dollar match on 1% of deferred salary, up to a maximum of $1,200 per year.
- 🏝 All full-time US-based Handshakers are eligible for our flexible time off policy to get out and see the world. In addition, we offer 8 standardized holidays, and 2 additional days of flexible holiday time off. Lastly, we have a Winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off.
- 🍼 Family support: We partner with Milk Stork to provide comprehensive 100% employer-sponsored lactation support to traveling parents and guardians. Parental leave coaching and support provided by Parentaly.
(UK-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)
- 🏦 Pension Scheme: Handshake will provide you with a workplace pension, where you will make contributions based on 5% of your salary. Handshake will pay the equivalent of 3% towards your pension plan, subject to qualifying earnings limits.
- 🏝 Up to 25 days of vacation to encourage people to reset, recharge, and refresh, in addition to 8 bank holidays throughout the year.
- 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco.
- 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake UK employees.
(Germany-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)
- 🏝 25 days of annual leave + 5 days of a winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off across the company.
- 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco once a year.
- 🧘 Urban sports club membership offering access to a diverse network of fitness and wellness facilities.
- 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake Germany employees.
Looking for more? Explore our mission, values and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.
Handshake is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at people-hr@joinhandshake.com.
Average salary estimate
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At Handshake, we believe that everyone has a role in shaping a more inclusive and respectful online community, and we’re searching for a passionate Head of Policy & Content Moderation in San Francisco, CA to join our team. In this pivotal position, you will leverage your extensive expertise in trust and safety to create a secure and trustworthy environment for our users. As the Head of Policy & Content Moderation, you will take the lead in developing internal and external policies, ensuring they are reflective of diverse perspectives and industry trends. You’ll collaborate significantly with cross-functional teams to guide discussions on policy trade-offs while aligning decisions with Handshake’s long-term vision. Your in-depth knowledge will allow you to not just shape policies, but also assess risks related to new product launches while keeping abreast of evolving challenges in the digital space. Additionally, you’ll oversee the enforcement of our policies and ensure fairness across all user types, while also managing high-impact incidents and escalations. Our culture encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply; we find that diverse teams foster better products. If you’re ready to impact the next generation’s career journey, come help us build a dynamic environment where policy and safety solve real challenges every day!
By
Handshake
Our mission at Handshake is to give all students the chance to build the career they want, no matter where they’re from or what school they attend.
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