Strategic Sourcing Lead, Ads & Consumer Verticals

Details

OpenAI Finance ensures the organization is commercially, operationally, and structurally set up to deliver on OpenAI’s mission at global scale. The Strategic Sourcing team partners with Product, Engineering, Security, Legal, and Finance to ensure OpenAI acquires the critical external technology, platforms, and services needed to launch new products, operate safely, and monetize globally with speed, resilience, and commercial discipline.

This role is based in San Francisco (hybrid, 3 days/week in office). You will report to the Technology Strategic Sourcing Lead (Product Ecosystem & Monetization) and work closely with Product, Engineering, Security, Legal, Growth, and Finance leaders to translate product roadmaps into scalable, defensible vendor strategies.

Responsibilities

• Own sourcing and commercial strategy across OpenAI’s ads technology stack and consumer verticals with a focus on health and finance.
• Run high-velocity, high-complexity deals end-to-end: from vendor strategy and RFPs through negotiation, security review, contracting, and go-live.
• Partner with Product and Engineering to ensure external vendors can support new product launches without blocking delivery or increasing risk.
• Build and manage a multi-vendor ads technology ecosystem and health and personal finance–focused tools to support revenue growth, engagement, and cost optimization.
• Structure contracts and pricing models that preserve optionality, support rapid scaling, and minimize long-term lock-in and switching costs.
• Coordinate Security, Legal, and Privacy reviews, especially for regulated data flows (health, personal financial) and high-risk vendors.
• Own vendor lifecycle management: onboarding, ramp-ups, SLA enforcement, renewals, and re-competitions as OpenAI’s volumes and risk profile evolve.
• Act as the control plane between fast-moving product teams and external dependencies, ensuring speed without sacrificing governance, compliance, or economics.

Requirements

• 6+ years of experience leading technology partnerships, sourcing, or commercial negotiations in a high-growth, product-driven environment.
• Demonstrated strong cross-functional leadership and ability to align Product, Engineering, Legal, Security, and Finance around complex, high-stakes decisions.
• Comfortable operating in regulated or high-risk domains (personal financial, health, payments, identity, data, etc.).
• Track record of negotiating commercial, technical, and data-driven agreements with technology vendors.
• Ability to move quickly in ambiguity while maintaining commercial discipline, compliance, and risk awareness.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate pricing models, volume ramps, and vendor risk in the context of revenue and product growth.
• Ownership mindset: independently drive deals, resolve blockers, and close outcomes that materially impact product launches and revenue.

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 the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. OpenAI is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to inclusive hiring practices. Background checks will be administered in accordance with applicable law. Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities can be requested.

Benefits

• Base pay range: $185,000 – $260,000 (role also offers equity).
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts.
• Pre-tax accounts: Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Paid parental leave and paid medical/caregiver leave.
• Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and 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 taxable fringe benefits (charitable donation matching, wellness stipends).