Talent Operator

About Contrario

Contrario (YC W25) is building an AI-powered recruiting marketplace that connects elite startup recruiters with fast-growing companies through software and operational tooling. We’ve raised $2.5M from Y Combinator and Nexus Venture Partners, with angels from Hudson River Trading, Stanford, and OpenAI. Our customers include 150+ YC and venture-backed startups hiring across engineering and GTM roles.

The Role

We’re hiring Talent Operators to join our team!

As a Talent Operator, you are the engine of our marketplace. You will run full-cycle recruiting for our partners while actively stress-testing Contrario’s internal AI and tooling. You’ll be on the front lines, mastering the recruiting landscape before transitioning into broader operational or leadership roles.

Once you master the recruitment landscape, we’ll increase your scope based on where you spike best. This could be account management, working with our recruiter network, or scaling internal systems.

This is a role for someone who loves to win, thrives in fast-paced environments, and wants to see their direct impact on a company’s bottom line every single day.

Compensation

• Base is $80k–$110k, and total comp (OTE) is ~$140k-$170k+
  (earnings are uncapped)

Earnings-based compensation is directly tied to revenue generated off of successful placements.

Growth Path

We view the Talent Operator role as a proving ground for future leaders at Contrario. As an early team member, your path is based on where you "spike" and what you're passionate about:

• Account Management: Own the end-to-end relationship with our partner companies and recruiters.
• Recruitment Management: Scale and lead a team of Talent Operators as we grow.
• Marketplace Operations: Drive the supply and demand strategy for our marketplace.

We are committed to investing in your growth. In exchange, we ask for high throughput, sharp judgment, and a "founder" mindset.

What You’ll Do

• Master the Funnel: Source, screen, and manage candidates across multiple high-growth startup pipelines.
• Product Feedback Loop: Be the primary "power user" of Contrario’s AI features, providing direct feedback to our engineering team to help shape the product.
• Relationship Management: Act as a bridge between candidates and the elite startups we serve.
• Build the Playbook: Help us refine our internal operations and recruiting systems as we scale from 200 to 1,000+ customers.

About You

• 0-2 years in operations, recruiting, or other high-signal backgrounds (consulting, IB, etc.)
• High agency and output-driven execution
• Comfortable managing high-volume, fast-moving workloads
• Low ego and highly coachable
• Based in or relocating to San Francisco

1. Initial Screen (20–30 min) with Will, Chief of Staff.
2. Take-Home Sourcing Exercise (2–3 hours, skippable)
3. Team Panel Interviews
4. On-Site / Working Session (1-2 days)