Strategic Delivery Lead, DoW CDAO

Details

About the Team

The OpenAI for Government team is a mission-driven group leveraging frontier AI to transform how governments achieve their missions. The team empowers public servants with secure, compliant AI tools, including ChatGPT Enterprise in custom configurations, and mission-aligned deployments that meet government technical requirements with strong reliability and safety.

The team works across U.S. defense enterprises to accelerate adoption through hands-on support, tailored training, and early insights.

About the Role

The Strategic Delivery Lead for the Department of War (DoW) will identify and deliver some of OpenAI's most complex and high-impact deployments for the U.S. national security enterprise. The role focuses on CDAO-led efforts, including GenAI.mil, Advana (WDP), and other programs that accelerate DoW adoption of data, analytics, and artificial intelligence.

This highly cross-functional and customer-facing role partners with Research, Engineering, Go-to-Market, CDAO, the Military Departments and Services supported by CDAO, and other external stakeholders to align on scope, unblock delivery, and communicate progress from technical teams through the C-suite.

The role owns and drives execution of technical delivery workstreams led by Forward Deployed Engineers, Researchers, Solutions Architects, and Enablement teams. Responsibilities include problem framing, milestone definition, proactive risk identification, issue resolution, translation between business objectives and technical solutions, progress communication, and demonstrating value to national security customers. Accountability for contractual milestones and acceptance criteria sits with the role.

This role is based in Washington, DC, follows a hybrid work model with three days in the office per week, and requires up to 50% travel. Relocation assistance is offered.

Responsibilities

• Support early relationship-building, ideation, and technical shaping while working with Account Directors on commercial strategy, pricing, deal shape, qualification, and close.
• Serve as the accountable lead for high-impact defense engagements tied to contractual milestones and acceptance criteria.
• Translate technical progress, risks, requirements, and dependencies for senior executives and technical practitioners.
• Work with CDAO, the Military Departments and Services it supports, defense industry partners, and academia to identify national security and defense AI use cases and translate them into actionable delivery plans.
• Guide technical direction, anticipate blockers, and proactively align teams.
• Establish best practices for milestone tracking, internal coordination, and delivery operations at scale.
• Lead regular progress reviews with CDAO and defense stakeholders.
• Identify delivery risks and work cross-functionally to mitigate blockers and maintain program velocity.
• Navigate ambiguity and evolving requirements while maintaining alignment.
• Help shape OpenAI's milestone-based delivery programs for defense customers.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in defense enterprise AI and digital transformation, national security consulting, delivery leadership, or senior program management.
• Experience driving complex technical initiatives across cross-functional teams for defense missions.
• Active U.S. Government TS/SCI clearance.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% and work on-site with defense customers.
• Experience leading AI, digital, or business transformation initiatives with defense departments, agencies, or military services.
• Experience leading complex defense and national security programs in enterprise SaaS, AI/ML, consulting, or transformation environments.
• Proven ability to influence executive- or board-level customer decision-making and drive clarity, accountability, and alignment.
• Ability to translate national security mission outcomes into technical execution plans with defined success metrics.
• Experience managing large-scale AI/ML, enterprise API-based deployments, enterprise AI adoption and orchestration, and application deployments.
• Passion for using AI and AGI to enhance defense missions and institutions.
• Ability to build partnerships across researchers, operators, and other stakeholders in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
• Prior relationships with CDAO are beneficial but not required.

Benefits

• Base salary of $266,000–$370,000 per year, plus equity.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax FSA, dependent care, and commuter accounts.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Paid parental, medical, and caregiver leave.
• Paid time off, company holidays, and paid office closures.
• Mental health and wellness support.
• Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage.
• Annual learning and development stipend.
• Office meals and eligible meal delivery credits.
• Relocation support for eligible employees.