About this role
OpenAI requires a senior leader to address the challenge of scaling sourcing operations and contracting enablement while integrating AI to give procurement teams more time for strategic judgment. This role exists to build the teams, systems, and cross-functional partnerships that allow the organization to handle increasing commercial demands without losing discipline or accountability.
The person stepping into this position will manage the Sourcing Delivery and Contract Management leaders, shape functional priorities, and collaborate with Go-To-Market and Sales teams to drive procurement industry adoption. Responsibilities include designing the sourcing operating rhythm, building AI-enabled workflows that connect ChatGPT to enterprise systems, and establishing clear decision rights and accountability mechanisms across departments.
An ideal candidate brings extensive background in strategic sourcing, procurement leadership, and commercial scaling, paired with demonstrated ability to manage managers and foster team growth. Someone who thrives here is comfortable setting direction in ambiguous environments, possesses deep knowledge of the procurement industry, and knows how to turn automation and artificial intelligence into practical operational capabilities.
What you will do
- Build and lead the organization by hiring managers, coaching performance, and determining how staff, contractors, and AI share operational workloads.
- Own sourcing enablement and delivery operations by setting service commitments and quality standards with delivery and contract management leaders.
- Lead the sourcing operating rhythm by combining demand, priorities, and capacity into a single forward plan informed by workload and performance data.
- Strengthen contract management by partnering with legal and operations teams on lifecycle processes, approved templates, and negotiation playbooks.
- Build and prove AI-enabled ways of working by owning use-case priorities and adoption for sourcing and contracting experiences that connect ChatGPT to enterprise systems.
- Define procurement commercial enablement approaches with Go-To-Market, partnerships, legal, and compliance teams.
- Bring procurement buyer expertise into Go-To-Market strategies to shape demonstrations, industry content, and customer conversations using approved examples.
What you need
- Have 12+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, vendor management, or commercial leadership with strong judgment regarding supplier choices, negotiations, contracts, and risk.
- Have built or transformed a procurement capability through rapid growth or change with clear evidence of better execution, commercial outcomes, or user experience.
- Have managed managers and developed strong teams through hiring, coaching, performance management, and succession planning.
- Have worked in or closely with marketing, sales, or commercial teams serving procurement buyers to turn customer needs into use cases and business cases.
- Know the procurement industry, its buyers, technology providers, service firms, and buying priorities.
- Can turn AI, automation, or enterprise technology into capabilities people use by working with technical partners and driving adoption.
- Can set direction when the path is not defined by prioritizing work, explaining tradeoffs plainly, and earning support from teams you do not manage.
Benefits
- Offers Equity
- Relocation assistance to new employees
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
Where is this role located and what is the remote policy?
This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.
Who does this position report to?
Reporting to the Head of Strategic Sourcing, you will manage the Sourcing Delivery and Contract Management leaders and shape this new function’s priorities, team, and measures of success.
What is the compensation for this role?
The position offers a salary of $266K – $385K along with offered equity.