State and Local Government Affairs Lead - Global Affairs

State and Local Government Affairs Lead, Global Affairs

(Washington DC or San Francisco)

About the Team

OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We believe that achieving our goal requires effective engagement with public policy stakeholders and the broader community impacted by AI. Accordingly, our Global Affairs team builds authentic, collaborative relationships with public officials and the broader AI policymaking community to inform and support our shared work in these domains. We ensure that insights from policymakers inform our work and - in collaboration with our colleagues and external stakeholders - seek to further regulation, industry standards, and safe and beneficial development of AI tools. 

About the Role

As a State and Local Government Affairs Lead, you will report directly to Traci Lee, who leads the State and Local Government Affairs team on Global Affairs.  Together, you will develop strategies and lead OpenAI’s engagement with State governments, including developing and managing relationships with state lawmakers and staff around the country. You will support OpenAI leadership in meetings, briefings, hearings and other engagements with state governments. You will also facilitate collaboration with civil society and industry partners relevant to state government engagement and in alignment with OpenAI’s mission.

OpenAI releases industry-leading research and tools. You will face new challenges as the impact of cutting edge generative AI technologies continues to be explored and as the needs of the organization evolve. Day-to-day work may encompass anything from helping to shape strategic initiatives and policy documents to preparing our leaders for engagements with government officials or representing OpenAI in private and public forums. 

We are looking for a self-directed and creative individual with significant state government advocacy experience, experience managing private sector and civil society relationships, plus a sophisticated understanding of AI-related legislative and regulatory issues and processes. Technical skills relating to generative AI models are highly desirable.

This role is based in Washington, DC or San Francisco and will require frequent travel to  various States to participate in meetings and events with key stakeholders. We offer relocation assistance to new employees. 

You should thrive in this role if you:

• Are well versed in the issues around emerging AI technologies, especially in the U.S. state context.

• Are an enthusiastic and effective coalition builder who thrives as a member of a high performing, peer-led global team.

• Are highly organized, and are used to working as an accountable individual contributor as well as a team player.

• Are adept at prioritization, multitasking, and project execution

• Are passionate about the promise of technology and the future of artificial intelligence but thoughtful about its potential risks.

We're looking for a blend of:

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the U.S. political system, institutions, and processes – particularly state governments – and the key policy issues and debates related to AI

• Experience advocating at the state government level

• Experience managing consultants at the state level

• Strong experience in technology policy

• Track record of effectively working with cross-functional teams, especially engineering and research teams, and aligning a diverse range of internal and external partners

• Sound judgment and outstanding personal integrity

• Ability to execute in fast and flexible environments through rapid cycles of analysis, decision, and action

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey complex technical and policy concepts to diverse audiences

• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and project management skills

• Genuine care and knowledge about the impact of technology on society

• Previous work on AI issues and technical AI development expertise a significant plus

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that f