Director, Certifications

Details

OpenAI’s certification initiative is a major strategic program that spans multiple parts of the company. The Director of Certifications will own this initiative as a company-level program across Product, Customer Education, GTM, and Partnerships.

This role is responsible for defining the architecture, operating model, and long-term trajectory of OpenAI’s certification program. You will set vision for how OpenAI certifications are structured, how they integrate with product capabilities, and how the system scales to reach millions of learners while maintaining credibility and rigor. The role requires operating across all of OpenAI to build a coherent certification system that reflects real product capability. The role reports to the Head of Customer Readiness and works closely with leaders across Product, GTM, and Partnerships. This position is Remote (US).

Responsibilities

• Own the certification initiative as a strategic program

  • Lead the development of OpenAI’s certification system as a company-wide initiative.
  • Define the program’s structure, roadmap, and operating model.
  • Ensure that certifications evolve alongside OpenAI’s rapidly developing products.

• Define how AI capability is measured

  • Develop frameworks for evaluating practical AI capability using OpenAI products.
  • Ensure certifications measure real workflows and product usage rather than theoretical knowledge.
  • Translate product capabilities into meaningful certification pathways.

• Shape product integration

  • Partner closely with product teams to ensure certification systems integrate with OpenAI’s platform and learning tools.
  • Influence product features that support learning, evaluation, and skill development.
  • Ensure certifications remain tightly aligned with real product capabilities.

• Build a scalable certification system

  • Design a program architecture capable of reaching millions of learners while maintaining credibility and signal value.
  • Ensure certification pathways integrate with OpenAI learning programs and educational initiatives.
  • Establish systems that allow certification programs to scale globally.

• Drive cross-company alignment

  • Operate across Product, GTM, Customer Education, and Partnerships to align strategy and execution.
  • Ensure certification initiatives reinforce enterprise adoption and workforce readiness.
  • Build shared understanding across teams of how certification programs support OpenAI’s broader mission.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience leading large, cross-functional strategic initiatives involving product, education, and go-to-market teams.
• Comfortable defining new programs where the operating model does not yet exist and able to influence multiple teams and senior leaders without direct authority.
• Experience building for developer or technical audiences.
• Experience leading large-scale learning or credential systems and working closely with product teams on customer-facing tools.
• Familiarity with developer platforms, AI systems, or emerging technology ecosystems.
• Enjoy working at the intersection of technology, education, and workforce transformation.

Why This Role Matters

AI is rapidly becoming a foundational capability across the global economy. As organizations adopt AI technologies, the ability to demonstrate real skills with these systems will become increasingly important. The certification system being built at OpenAI will help define how AI capability is measured and recognized. The person in this role will shape how millions of people demonstrate practical AI skills and how organizations evaluate those capabilities.

Compensation

• Compensation Range: $239,400 - $335,000 USD
• Total compensation may include equity and performance-related bonus(es) for eligible employees.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Paid parental leave and paid medical/caregiver leave.
• Flexible PTO for exempt employees; up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees.
• 13+ paid company holidays and additional company office closures.
• Mental health and wellness support; employer-paid basic life and disability coverage.
• Annual learning and development stipend.
• Daily meals in offices and meal delivery credits as eligible.
• Relocation support for eligible employees.

Additional Notes

• Reports to: Head of Customer Readiness.
• Teams: Go To Market, GTM Readiness.
• Location: Remote (US).