US Policy & Partnerships Lead

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 expertise in public policy as well as technology. Accordingly, our Public Policy team aims to build relationships with public officials and the AI policymaking community, and engage on the issues that are critical to achieving our ambitious mission.

The broader Communications & Public Policy team includes PR/media relations, public policy, employee communications, and other external-facing functions. Our team supports OpenAI's mission and goals by communicating with integrity, authenticity, and transparency.

About the Role

As the US Policy and Partnerships Lead, you will develop strategy and lead OpenAI’s public policy engagement in the United States, including developing and managing relationships with policymakers at the federal, state and local levels. You will also develop and manage relationships with key US partners, including civil society groups, researchers and experts, seeking to advance partnerships that align with OpenAI’s mission and public policy and communications strategy.

OpenAI is constantly evolving as we release industry-leading research and tools, and you'll face new challenges as the needs of the organization evolve. You will help to shape our public policy strategy, and your day-to-day work may encompass anything from preparing our leaders for engagements with government officials, to providing input on policies we should champion as a company, to formulating policy documents. We welcome diverse perspectives and innovative ideas to further our work. 

We are looking for a self-directed and creative individual with experience managing relationships with both policymakers and civil society, plus a sophisticated understanding of AI-related legislative and regulatory issues and processes, particularly at the US federal level. Technical skills relating to generative AI models are highly desirable.

This strategic, yet hands-on role, will report to the Head of Public Policy and work closely with key internal and external partners. 

This role is based in Washington, DC and will require frequent travel to meet with key stakeholders. We offer relocation assistance to new employees. 

In this role, you will:

• Prioritize key issues on which OpenAI should engage with US policymakers and partners, consistent with OpenAI’s mission.
• Collaborate with researchers and scientists to draft clear and accessible public policy positions and white papers that are consistent with OpenAI's charter.
• Develop creative communications tools and demos of OpenAI technology to help policymakers understand OpenAI’s unique capabilities and unique commitment to advancing AI for the benefit of humanity.
• Help colleagues at OpenAI understand the latest developments and concerns related to AI emerging within the US public policy discourse.

You might thrive in this role if you:

• Are well versed in the issues around emerging AI technologies, and are eager to become conversant and confident enough to educate others.
• Are an enthusiastic and effective coalition builder, who enjoys working independently but also thrives as a member of a high performing, peer-led global team.
• Are excited by new challenges. You don’t have the answers to every question upfront, but the problem-solving process invigorates you. Bespoke issues requiring multidimensional knowledge excite you.
• Are passionate about the promise of technology and the future of artificial intelligence but sensitive to its potential risks.

We're looking for a blend of:

• Deep experience in technology policy
• Proven skills managing collaborative teams and shared team resources
• Sound judgment and outstanding personal integrity
• Ability to execute in fast and flexible environments through rapid cycles of analysis, decision, and action
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills (written and oral) 
• Track record of effectively working with cross-functional teams, especially engineering and research teams, and aligning a diverse range of internal and external partners
• 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