Director, Annotations

As the Director, Annotations at Motive, your responsibilities will include leading a large, multifunctional team, driving strategic initiative planning, managing the Data Annotations Program, and ensuring the effective execution of projects. You will be in charge of defining program OKRs, overseeing workforce planning, and maintaining high standards of project management and quality assurance. Ensuring the smooth operation of live services with minimal downtime will also be one of your key duties.

To qualify for the Director, Annotations role at Motive, candidates typically need a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, alongside 8+ years of experience. Additionally, having at least 3 years in leadership roles with experience in video or data annotation, as well as strong skills in project management and team leadership, will be critical to success in this position.

In the Director, Annotations role at Motive, you will collaborate closely with AI and ML teams to accurately capture and prioritize requirements needed for timely model development. You'll also engage with Product, Design, and Engineering teams to align initiatives and promote efficient communication across various projects, ultimately leading to successful delivery and outcomes within the organization.

Preferred experience for the Director, Annotations role at Motive includes previous leadership of large-scale teams in a remote setting, familiarity with live operations, and a background in quality assurance. Experience working with data scientists and machine learning researchers is a significant plus, as you're expected to bridge technical expertise with operational strategies effectively.

Essential skills for the Director, Annotations position at Motive include strong leadership, excellent communication, analytical problem-solving, project management proficiency, and an ability to mentor and coach team members. Familiarity with project management tools such as JIRA and agile methodologies will also enhance your success in this role, framing you as a collaborative force within the organization.

In your response, demonstrate an understanding of quality assurance processes, referencing specific metrics and methodologies you've implemented in past roles. Touch on the importance of regular audits, clear guidelines, and feedback loops that you've established to continuously improve the data annotation process.

Provide specific examples of how you've successfully managed, motivated, and led a large remote team. Discuss strategies you've used for communication, problem-solving, and fostering a positive team culture despite geographical distances, which are essential skills for the Director, Annotations role.

Discuss your familiarity with different project management methodologies such as Agile and Scrum. Offer insights into how you select methodologies based on project requirements, team composition, and organizational goals to ensure effective delivery and timely results.

Explain your approach to prioritization, such as using frameworks like the Eisenhower Box, or tools like Trello. Illustrate how you balance urgent versus important tasks and make decisions that align with both immediate and long-term organizational objectives.

Share a relevant example that highlights your problem-solving skills. Discuss the challenge, your analysis, the steps you took to address it, and the outcomes of your efforts. Emphasize your innovative thinking and how it led to operational improvements.

Outline methods you've used to ensure clear communication with executive stakeholders regarding project health and outcomes. Talk about the tools and metrics you use, as well as how you tailor your messaging to fit the audience's needs.

Discuss specific projects where you've collaborated with AI or ML teams. Explain your role in bridging business and technology, ensuring requirements were met to support innovation and model development, making it directly relevant to the Director, Annotations role.

Demonstrate your conflict resolution skills by sharing a specific example. Discuss techniques such as active listening, mediation, and focusing on solutions that promote a collaborative work environment.

Explain your methodical approach to defining Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). Mention the importance of aligning them with broader business goals and how you involve team input for clarity and commitment towards achieving them.

In your answer, focus on the importance of creating a culture of feedback, regular training sessions, and performance reviews. Highlight your proactive efforts in collecting data and insights to fuel improvements over time.