Policy Specialist, Discoverability - USDS

Responsibilities
The USDS Policy Implementation team takes the established rules (Community Guidelines) and makes sure they are applied effectively and accurately in practice. This role will focus on Discoverability. You will need to cultivate a deep understanding of the platform and how users leverage discoverability features including search related products and hashtags. The role will ensure discoverability policies are implemented effectively for US users, focusing on the integrity of search results and suggestions. You will work closely with a variety of internal partners in policy, product, data science and legal to ensure that TikTok is able to detect, triage, and prevent search related incidents. This position will be full-time based in San Jose or Washington DC.

This role may be exposed to harmful content as part of their core day-to-day functions, as well as in project work; in response to escalation requests; or by chance.

Some content viewed my violate our community guidelines which include but are not limited to bullying; hate speech; child abuse; sexual assault; torture; bestiality; self-harm; suicide; and murder.

In order to enhance collaboration and cross-functional partnerships, among other things, at this time, our organization follows a hybrid work schedule that requires employees to work in the office 3 days a week, or as directed by their manager/department. We regularly review our hybrid work model, and the specific requirements may change at any time.

Responsibilities:
- Provide guidance for all high-priority, US search-related escalations, ensuring decisions follow existing policy rules.
- Act as the US market expert for search policy, advising stakeholders on rules around discoverability.
- Partner with the Global Policy team to translate operational needs and US-specific data into requirements for new policy drafts. (Note: This role does not write the policies; it informs them).
- Guide Search Operations and Product teams on policy enforcement to directly help improve model recall and the effectiveness of safety systems.
- Monitor emerging US social media trends and slang to anticipate violations and recommend proactive policy and system updates.
- Work with global teams to align on goals and milestones for effective search policy implementation.
- Analyze all new search product launches in the US market to assess policy risk, require enforcement, and ensure accurate localization.
- Use data on discoverability to develop and deliver comprehensive, ongoing training for moderators on search policy changes and procedures.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- 3+ years of work experience in Trust & Safety, content policy, or brand safety with a direct focus on policy enforcement and risk mitigation for Search, Discoverability, or algorithmic ranking features
- Experience with trust and safety models, scalable policy recall solutions, technical acumen, and actionable policies that reduce issues stemming from policy complexity
- Demonstrated systematic thought process regarding policy and thorough operational experience
- Background in operational excellence with a proven ability to structure policy and process-oriented milestones
- Ability to thrive in ambiguous environments, identify trade-offs, and make decisions in high-pressure situations
- Deep knowledge in how policy develops in new media, technology, entertainment, or related fields
- Proven ability to develop sound research methodologies and collect, synthesize, analyze, and interpret data

Preferred Qualifications
- Background in linguistics
- Experience managing complex research projects in a start-up, and forming new teams in established companies
- Advanced proficiency in Excel and understanding of data access tools, and intermediate proficiency in SQL
- Your ability to work in a high tempo environment, adapt, respond to day-to-day challenges of the role.
- Your resilience and commitment to self-care to manage the emotional demands of the role.

About USDS
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. U.S. Data Security (“USDS”) is a subsidiary of TikTok in the U.S. This new, security-first division was created to bring heightened focus and governance to our data protection policies and content assurance protocols to keep U.S. users safe. Our focus is on providing oversight and protection of the TikTok platform and U.S. user data, so millions of Americans can continue turning to TikTok to learn something new, earn a living, express themselves creatively, or be entertained. The teams within USDS that deliver on this commitment daily span across Trust & Safety, Security & Privacy, Engineering, User & Product Ops, Corporate Functions and more.


Why Join Us
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day.
We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.

Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.


Trust & Safety
TikTok recognises that keeping our platform safe for the TikTok communities is no ordinary job which can be both rewarding and psychologically demanding and emotionally taxing for some. This is why we are sharing the potential hazards, risks and implications in this unique line of work from the start, so our candidates are well informed before joining.
We are committed to the wellbeing of all our employees and promise to provide comprehensive and evidence-based programs, to promote and support physical and mental wellbeing throughout each employee's journey with us. We believe that wellbeing is a relationship and that everyone has a part to play, so we work in collaboration and consultation with our employees and across our functions in order to ensure a truly person-centred, innovative and integrated approach.


USDS Reasonable Accommodation
USDS is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/USDS-RA


Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Annually)
The base salary range for this position in the selected city is $96000 - $217023 annually.
Compensation may vary outside of this range depending on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies and experience, and location. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and restricted stock units.
Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Employees have day one access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) savings plan with company match, paid parental leave, short-term and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, wellbeing benefits, among others. Employees also receive 10 paid holidays per year, 10 paid sick days per year and 17 days of Paid Personal Time (prorated upon hire with increasing accruals by tenure).
The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:
1. Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
2. Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and
3. Exercising sound judgment.