Compensation Operations Analyst

Details

OpenAI’s People team supports a complex, rapidly growing organization of researchers, engineers, and business teams. The Compensation function ensures accuracy, scalability, and operational excellence across all compensation tools, systems, and data flows.

Role description

We’re hiring a Compensation Operations Analyst to build and run the systems, tools, and processes that power compensation at OpenAI. This role is deeply operational and technical: you will configure HRIS modules, manage compensation tools end-to-end, maintain pristine data quality, and ensure compensation cycles run flawlessly. You’ll partner closely with People Systems, Total Rewards, Finance, and vendors to keep our compensation infrastructure accurate, scalable, and audit-ready. This role reports to our Head of Compensation.

Responsibilities

• Own configuration and day-to-day operations of compensation tools and HRIS compensation modules.
• Manage annual and off-cycle compensation processes, ensuring data integrity, testing, QA, and on-time execution.
• Build and maintain compensation datasets, dashboards, audits, and data flows across systems.
• Lead compensation vendor relationships, including implementation, troubleshooting, and data submissions.
• Diagnose and resolve system issues, identify root causes, and drive process and tooling improvements.
• Partner with People Systems and Engineering to enhance architecture, workflows, and automation.
• Ensure high data accuracy across compensation systems and proactively identify gaps, risks, or anomalies.
• Translate technical or complex compensation system issues into clear guidance for stakeholders.

Requirements

• 5+ years in compensation operations, HRIS systems, or total rewards tooling in high-growth or tech environments.
• Strong HRIS configuration experience (Workday preferred), especially compensation planning modules.
• High technical fluency: advanced Excel; familiarity with BI tools (Tableau/Looker); SQL/Python is a plus.
• Rigor and precision in data auditing, validation, and lifecycle management.
• Ability to manage and optimize tools at scale while navigating fast-moving environments.
• Excellent cross-functional communication and comfort working with technical partners (People Systems, Engineering, Finance, vendors).
• Action-oriented, organized, and reliable under tight deadlines with strong ownership and a bias toward simple, scalable systems.

Workplace & Location

This role is based in our San Francisco office. We offer relocation support to new employees, and we use a hybrid work model: three days in the office per week with optional work from home on Thursdays and Fridays. While OpenAI isn't actively considering remote applications for this role, applicants are encouraged to apply for future remote opportunities and to indicate preferred working locations in their application.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base pay listed: $200K (base pay may vary depending on market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience). Offers equity.
• Total compensation may include equity, performance-related bonus(es) for eligible employees, and other benefits.
• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer HSA contributions; pre-tax accounts (Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, commuter); 401(k) with employer match; paid parental and medical/caregiver leave; flexible PTO and paid holidays; mental health and wellness support; employer-paid basic life and disability coverage; annual learning & development stipend; daily meals in offices and meal delivery credits; relocation support for eligible employees; and additional fringe benefits.

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 AI capabilities and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.