Strategic Sourcing Lead, Professional Services – Human Data
About this role
The OpenAI Finance organization builds and manages supplier ecosystems to ensure the company scales responsibly, securely, and at speed as it pursues its mission. This role owns and executes the category strategy for Professional Services, managing a broad portfolio that includes consulting, advisory, legal, and Human Data services. The person joining this team will handle end-to-end sourcing workstreams, negotiate complex commercial agreements, and design scalable category mechanisms while partnering closely with leaders across Legal, Finance, People, and business teams.
Operating as a hands-on sourcing specialist, the individual will turn ambiguous information and rapid changes into practical next steps and disciplined execution. Candidates who thrive here are scrappy, self-directed operators with strong financial fluency and a track record of using technology to redesign workflows. They will guide senior stakeholders through complex commercial tradeoffs while protecting speed, value, and risk across a growing organization.
What you will do
- Manage the end-to-end strategy and execution roadmap for the Professional Services category based on business needs and market insights.
- Handle complex sourcing workstreams by balancing strategic negotiations with a high-throughput portfolio of services engagements.
- Design fit-for-purpose commercial structures including master services agreements, outcome-based pricing, rate cards, and acceptance criteria.
- Partner with Legal and People teams to establish practical guardrails that reduce co-employment, intellectual property, and delivery risk.
- Build scalable category mechanisms such as intake models, supplier segmentation, and negotiation playbooks.
- Redesign sourcing workflows using artificial intelligence to improve speed, consistency, and decision quality.
- Produce executive-ready reporting on pipeline health, cost avoidance, supplier performance, and realized business value.
What you need
- Bring eight or more years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management with deep focus on Professional Services.
- Demonstrate ownership of category strategy and execution from intake and competitive sourcing through governance and renewals.
- Show a history of leading high-stakes services negotiations that balance cost, speed, quality, and risk.
- Possess strong financial and analytical fluency to turn imperfect spend and performance data into clear decisions.
- Operate effectively through ambiguity, rapid change, and limited structure while influencing senior stakeholders through structured thinking.
Benefits
- Offers Equity
- Relocation assistance to new employees
Questions candidates ask
Where is this role located and what is the remote work policy?
This role is based in San Francisco, California. The company uses a hybrid work model requiring three days in the office per week.
What compensation is provided for this position?
The salary ranges from $234K to $260K and includes equity offers.
Is relocation assistance available for new hires?
Yes, relocation assistance is offered to new employees joining the company.