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Founding GTM Lead

Contra
San Francisco, CA
Full Time
Compensation
$225,000–$300,000/year

Job Description

Who we are and what we do

Contra Labs is a human-centered AI lab focused on creative and multimodal outputs, where human taste defines the next generation of AI capabilities.

We build industry-leading creative preference datasets that power benchmarking, evaluation, and post-training for the world’s leading AI models and applications. Our work helps define what “good” looks like across design, video, imagery, and beyond.

Built on top of Contra, the professional network for independent creatives, Contra Labs connects frontier AI labs with a global network of top creative talent. Together, we turn human judgment into the training and evaluation layer that enables AI models and tools to power the next generation of human creativity.

What You’ll Do

  • Own full-cycle sales (0 → 1 → expansion)

  • Build pipeline across AI labs, creative AI apps, and research teams

  • Run sharp, consultative sales processes across:

    • ML / research teams

    • product + creative leaders

  • Turn ambiguous problems (“this feels off”) into clear, scoped deals

  • Sell across:

    • dataset creation

    • benchmarking + evaluation programs

    • ongoing quality systems

  • Close pilots → expand into long-term programs

  • Drive repeat revenue through strong outcomes

  • Own early GTM:

    • turn conversations into positioning + messaging

    • identify wedge use cases

    • build repeatable sales motions

  • Contribute to distribution:

    • turn work into case studies, benchmarks, and social proof

    • feed insights into launches and inbound

  • Feed learnings back into product + GTM

  • Help establish Contra Labs as the authority on creative evaluation


What You’re Selling

AI teams today can measure accuracy.

They can’t measure taste.

Customers come to us to answer:

  • Why does this output feel wrong?

  • How do we evaluate design, layout, UX, or intent?

  • How do we calibrate human judgment at scale?

  • How do we track creative quality over time?

You help them solve this — and make Contra Labs the answer.


About You

  • Founding AE / GTM operator — you build, not just execute

  • You create pipeline and momentum, not wait for it

  • Comfortable selling ambiguous, non-binary value (quality, taste, experience)

  • Strong at:

    • discovery + framing messy problems

    • running sharp, unscripted conversations

    • closing complex, non-obvious deals

  • Can operate across:

    • technical buyers (ML, research)

    • creative stakeholders (design, product)

  • You think beyond the deal:

    • patterns → positioning

    • conversations → repeatable GTM

  • High ownership, low ego, moves fast


Experience

  • Experience selling into:

    • AI / ML teams

    • dev tools

    • creative tooling

  • Experience in early-stage or ambiguous environments (0→1 or close)

  • Familiar with (or excited to learn):

    • preference-based evaluation

    • calibration, benchmarking, quality systems

  • Comfortable building and executing from scratch:

    • pipeline

    • messaging + sales materials

    • early pricing / packaging


Requirements:

  • Based in San Francisco, CA


Comp

  • Salary:

    • base: $225-300k

    • OTE: $500k+

  • Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits

  • 401k Matching

  • We will provide you with a company laptop on your start date


Interview Process

  1. Intro Call with Recruiting Team (20 minutes)

  2. Interview with VP of Product (40 minutes)

  3. Interview with CEO & Co-Founder (30 minutes)

  4. Paid Presentation + Case Study (60 minutes)

  5. Interview with Advisors (30 minutes)


Note: Contra communicates with applicants through @contra.com domains only. We never ask for money from potential employees. For the latest job postings, visit Contra Careers.

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Job Details

Category
Business & Finance
Employment Type
Full Time
Location
San Francisco, CA (Hybrid)
Posted
Compensation
$225,000 - $300,000 per year

About Contra

The commission-free creative network, connecting you with the talent and tools to get work underway. Hire more independents. Start more projects. Get more creative.

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