About this role
Synthesizing technical evidence, policy perspectives, and operational inputs, this position focuses on shaping how governance bodies and senior leaders review AI safety, deployment, and oversight. The Governance team at OpenAI unites diverse viewpoints to address emerging risks, resolve difficult questions, and translate analysis into concrete action across research, safety, and product units.
Day-to-day work involves connecting ideas across departments, framing substantive reviews, and tracking complex initiatives from ambiguous concepts through to completion. Candidates who thrive here are intellectually curious, exercise sound judgment in sensitive situations, and possess the program-management discipline to drive decisions forward without adding unnecessary bureaucracy.
What you will do
- Synthesize technical, policy, and operational inputs to create coherent decision materials for senior leaders and governance bodies.
- Navigate ambiguous questions, test assumptions, and identify gaps or conflicting evidence to determine necessary next steps.
- Engage critically with evaluations, safeguards, and risk assessments alongside relevant subject matter experts.
- Partner with stakeholders to frame critical questions and communicate conclusions clearly during substantive reviews.
- Translate feedback and decisions into concrete projects with accountable owners, milestones, and clear criteria for completion.
- Drive cross-functional work forward, resolve operational blockers, and maintain clear records of decisions and rationale.
- Refine internal operating cadences, practical tools, and governance practices as capabilities and circumstances evolve.
What you need
- Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional work in research, technology, policy, safety, security, or a governance environment.
- Ability to take initiative, move quickly, and find practical solutions when ownership or paths forward are unclear.
- Intellectual curiosity to learn unfamiliar subjects, ask sharp questions, and recognize when deeper expertise is needed.
- Capacity to synthesize complicated or conflicting information while retaining important distinctions, limitations, and uncertainties.
- Clear and precise writing skills, particularly when explaining difficult issues and recommendations to senior decision-makers.
- Strong program-management fundamentals with a record of turning ambiguous requests into finished work.
- Sound judgment in sensitive situations with the ability to navigate disagreements constructively.
Nice to have
- Research program management or strategy and operations in a technically complex organization.
- Background in AI safety, preparedness, model evaluations, cybersecurity, or technical risk management.
- Experience with advisory committees, board-facing work, or executive decision support.
- Track record of translating policies, standards, or governance decisions into practical requirements.
- Familiarity with strategic partnerships or sensitive deployment contexts.
Benefits
- Offers Equity
Questions candidates ask
What is the compensation range for this role?
The salary range for this position is $239K to $328K, and the compensation package also includes equity offers.
Where is the position located?
This role is based in San Francisco.
What teams will I be working with?
The person in this role will work closely with research, safety systems, preparedness, security, legal, product, leadership, and relevant external partners.
What kind of background is helpful for this position?
Helpful experience includes research program management, AI safety or risk management, board-facing or executive decision support work, and translating policies into practical programs.