Compensation Programs & Operations Lead
About The Position
The Compensation Programs & Operations Lead owns end-to-end program management for OpenAI’s global cyclical and ad hoc compensation programs, turning compensation priorities into executable plans and leading delivery from initial scoping through launch, reconciliation, and continuous improvement. This is a senior, hands-on role for a compensation subject-matter expert with experience in compensation operations analysis, compensation analysis, business partnership, and program management. The role establishes how compensation programs operate, including calendars, responsibilities, systems requirements, controls, communications, and handoffs that connect program design to the employee experience. It partners with Compensation Partners, HR Business Partners, People Operations, People Technology, Finance, Payroll, Equity Administration, and Legal to create clarity and drive execution as priorities evolve.
Requirements
- 10+ years of progressive compensation experience, including substantial responsibility for global compensation programs and operations in a complex, fast-growing organization.
- Experience performing core responsibilities across compensation operations analysis, compensation analysis, compensation partnership, and compensation program management, through separate roles or a combination of positions.
- Deep compensation expertise across base pay, incentives, equity, market benchmarking, salary structures, and job architecture, with understanding of their day-to-day administration.
- Experience independently leading complex compensation cycles and new initiatives, coordinating multiple teams from planning and analysis through implementation and reconciliation.
- Strong analytical skills and practical systems experience, including advanced spreadsheet modeling and hands-on work with Workday or comparable HR and compensation platforms.
- Ability to establish priorities and drive progress amid incomplete or changing requirements, making thoughtful tradeoffs among speed, accuracy, and capacity.
- Clear communication skills with senior leaders and working teams; ability to influence across functions and make ownership and next steps explicit.
- Sound judgment with confidential information and a high standard of accuracy, accountability, and service.
Responsibilities
- Own the integrated roadmap and calendar for cyclical and ad hoc compensation programs, including compensation reviews, bonus and equity cycles, promotion-related compensation processes, recognition and retention initiatives, and new program launches.
- Define program scope, deliverables, milestones, accountable owners, dependencies, and resource needs; coordinate work across teams, resolve blockers, and escalate decisions and tradeoffs to appropriate owners.
- Translate approved compensation program designs into eligibility rules, calculations, workflows, approval paths, and exception processes; identify gaps and implementation risks before launch.
- Build and review models, validate inputs and calculations, investigate discrepancies, and reconcile final program outcomes.
- Establish quality checks, documented approvals, access controls, and audit trails; coordinate accurate handoffs to Payroll, Equity Administration, and People Operations through completion.
- Translate business needs into systems requirements, partner with People Technology on configuration and integrations, lead user acceptance testing, and prioritize improvements that reduce manual work and errors.
- Create an intake and prioritization process for ad hoc compensation initiatives and make capacity, timing, and dependencies visible.
- Develop operating guides, manager resources, communications, and training to help stakeholders understand and use programs consistently.
- Measure program accuracy, timeliness, manual effort, and stakeholder experience; conduct post-cycle reviews and implement process improvements, stronger documentation, and automation.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
