Role Overview

The Trustworthy AI team at OpenAI is at the forefront of AI safety innovation, investing heavily in external assurances to validate and enhance the safety of our flagship AI launches. As a Technical Program Manager, you'll bridge the gap between internal engineering teams and external experts, including academic researchers and third-party evaluators. This role demands a rare combination of program management prowess, deep AI safety knowledge, and exceptional partnership skills.

Based in San Francisco with a hybrid model (3 days in-office), you'll strategize research partnerships, manage external assurance programs, and translate complex findings into actionable insights. If you thrive in high-stakes environments where AI safety meets real-world deployment, this is your chance to shape the future of responsible AI at one of the world's leading AI companies.

OpenAI's mission to ensure general-purpose AI benefits all humanity requires rigorous safety measures. Your work will enable third-party assessments, pilot new assurance mechanisms, and incorporate independent expert input into critical decisions—directly impacting products used by millions.

Key Responsibilities

• Create strategic research partnerships: Identify, negotiate, and launch collaborations with top academic labs and AI safety experts to advance OpenAI's safety agenda.
• Proactively identify new partners: Scout and onboard high-quality third-party evaluators, research institutions, and independent assessors for external assurances.
• Develop feedback mechanisms: Design systems to convert external research outputs into practical product recommendations and policy guidelines.
• Communicate effectively: Deliver clear progress reports, status updates, and risk assessments to executive stakeholders, internal teams, and external partners.
• Drive efficiency improvements: Optimize tools, workflows, and processes to scale external assurance programs seamlessly.
• Execute interdisciplinary programs: Collaborate with OpenAI researchers, engineers, product teams, and external communities to initiate and deliver ambitious projects.
• Set goals and milestones: Define success metrics, timelines, and deliverables for multi-team initiatives in AI safety evaluations.
• Manage third-party assessments: Oversee evaluations for flagship launches, ensuring rigorous, independent validation of safety claims.
• Pilot assurance innovations: Test and refine new mechanisms like safety compliance reviews with real-world applicability.
• Synthesize research findings: Distill technical reports from AI evaluations and social science studies into executive-ready summaries.
• Coordinate cross-functionally: Align product, research, engineering, and policy teams around external input and safety decisions.
• Monitor program health: Track KPIs, mitigate risks, and iterate on partnership strategies for continuous improvement.
• Build safety ecosystem: Contribute to a comprehensive framework of external validations that bolsters public trust in OpenAI's AI systems.
• Engage technical communities: Represent OpenAI in academic and industry forums to foster collaborative AI safety advancements.

These responsibilities position you at the intersection of AI research, policy, and deployment, offering unparalleled impact.

Qualifications

To excel as a Technical Program Manager, Trustworthy AI, you'll need:

• Advanced understanding of AI evaluations, benchmarks, and measurement techniques, with hands-on engagement experience.
• 5+ years managing external stakeholders, especially in academic research collaborations.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex technical and social science research into concise executive summaries.
• Track record of cross-functional leadership spanning product, research, engineering, and policy domains.
• Passion for frontier AI safety, policy implications, and ethical AI deployment.
• Experience in strategic partnership development and program management in tech/research environments.
• Strong communication skills for diverse audiences, from C-suite to researchers.
• Familiarity with AI safety landscapes, including red-teaming, assurance testing, and risk frameworks.
• Hybrid work readiness in San Francisco with willingness for 3 days in-office.
• Bonus: Prior work at AI labs, policy orgs, or academic institutions focused on trustworthy AI.

Candidates with arrest or conviction records will be considered per OpenAI's equal opportunity policy.

Salary & Benefits

Salary Range: $220,000 - $350,000 USD yearly (base + equity), depending on experience. Total compensation may exceed $500K with performance bonuses.

• Industry-leading equity in OpenAI, a high-growth AI leader.
• Top-tier health, dental, vision insurance with low premiums.
• 401(k) with 4%+ employer match.
• Unlimited vacation and flexible holidays.
• Relocation package including housing support for SF move.
• Parental leave: 18 weeks fully paid.
• Wellness stipend ($1,000+/year) for gym, therapy, etc.
• Professional development budget ($10K/year).
• Commuter benefits and free lunches in-office.
• Catered team events and global offsites.
• Mental health days and employee assistance programs.
• Diversity, equity, inclusion initiatives with ERGs.

Why Join OpenAI?

OpenAI isn't just building AI—we're ensuring it's safe, beneficial, and accessible to all. As a Technical Program Manager on Trustworthy AI, you'll work on mission-critical initiatives that define industry standards for AI safety. Our San Francisco HQ fosters collaboration in a vibrant, inclusive environment where diverse voices drive innovation.

With products powering real-world applications, your contributions will have global impact. Join a team of world-class experts pushing AI boundaries responsibly. OpenAI values every perspective in humanity's spectrum, offering equal opportunity regardless of background. Background checks comply with law, considering qualified applicants holistically.

Thriving here means embracing ambiguity, rapid iteration, and bold goals in service of our charter.

How to Apply

Ready to advance trustworthy AI? Submit your resume, cover letter highlighting relevant AI safety/program management experience, and LinkedIn/GitHub. Tell us why you're passionate about OpenAI's mission. We review applications on a rolling basis—apply now to join our hybrid SF team!

EEO: OpenAI is committed to diversity. See our policy.