Program Manager, National Security Policy Operations

OpenAI•San Francisco, CA

5d•$171,000 - $190,000

About The Position

OpenAI is seeking a highly organized Program Manager to join the Global Affairs team and support the National Security Policy team. Reporting directly to the leader of the National Security Policy team, this hands-on role runs the planning, coordination, and execution systems that help the team operate effectively. The Program Manager translates priorities into executable plans, synthesizes data and inputs into program updates, manages programs and workstreams, and maintains operating discipline around decisions, dependencies, and follow-through. The role provides visibility into commitments, dependencies, decisions, and risks; reduces fragmented operational work; supports faster, better-informed decisions; and helps priorities move from scoping through completion. It works closely with policy experts but is not primarily responsible for setting policy positions or serving as the team's external policy lead. The position may be based in San Francisco or Washington, DC, requires travel as necessary, and offers relocation assistance to new employees.

Requirements

At least 5 years of relevant experience in program management, project management, policy operations, strategic operations, chief of staff, government program delivery, or related roles.
Experience coordinating complex work across multiple stakeholders and building practical systems that help teams deliver.
A track record of independently driving complex cross-functional programs from scoping through delivery, managing stakeholders, dependencies, and risks, building durable systems, and delivering measurable outcomes.
Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills, including the ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative inputs into decision materials, action plans, and executive-ready updates.
Ability to understand strategic context while remaining hands-on in detailed execution, influence without formal authority, and exercise sound judgment and discretion in fast-moving, sensitive environments.
Care for the impact of AI on national security, democratic institutions, and society.
Ability to learn enough technical and policy context to coordinate work and synthesize expert inputs into clear materials for technical and non-technical audiences.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting policy, government, national security, or technical teams.
Familiarity with frontier risk, cybersecurity, biosecurity, critical infrastructure, defense and intelligence applications, or technical AI governance.
Formal project or program management certification.

Responsibilities

Run portfolio planning and team operations, including intake, workplans, milestones, owners, dependencies, risks, and progress reporting.
Surface capacity constraints, recommend sequencing and tradeoffs, and escalate decisions to the team lead, who sets priorities and makes resource decisions.
Build and maintain repeatable operating systems for planning, meeting cadences, knowledge management, decision logs, and centralized tracking of developments, commitments, and follow-up.
Own program metrics and central tracking of commitments, owners, deadlines, dependencies, decisions, and follow-up; maintain reliable records and produce concise updates and practical dashboards.
Coordinate policy deliverables and external engagements from planning through follow-up, including briefing packages, talking points, presentations, readouts, updates, visits, convenings, logistics, review cycles, and action-item tracking.
Manage contractors and consultants operationally, including onboarding, scopes of work, deliverables, contract renewals, invoices, offboarding, and performance tracking in coordination with relevant teams.
Coordinate across Global Affairs, Research, Safety, Security, Product Policy, Legal, Communications, and OpenAI for Government to manage dependencies, surface decisions, and advance shared priorities.
Improve the team's operating model through feedback loops, retrospectives, and thoughtful use of AI, automation, and lightweight tooling.