Data Program Manager, Science

Location: Hybrid, based at the San Francisco HQ, United States.

Salary: $207K–$230K base pay annually, plus equity and eligible performance-related bonuses.

Company

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company developing general-purpose AI systems with a focus on safe deployment and broad human benefit.

What you will do

• Develop data strategies with Research by translating research goals, model limitations, and evaluation gaps into evidence needs and success criteria.
• Find and assess distinctive scientific data sources, including datasets, research organizations, and industry partners, with particular focus on biology and chemistry.
• Shape research partnerships, pilots, deliverables, and acceptance criteria while balancing scientific value, expertise, ongoing relationships, and commercial terms.
• Lead proposals, pricing assessments, negotiations, and operational execution with Legal, Privacy, Security, Procurement, and engineering.
• Coordinate data preparation, ingestion, access, documentation, and researcher feedback while identifying ethical, privacy, security, confidentiality, and misuse concerns.
• Improve sourcing, assessment, and delivery through code, APIs, automation, AI tools, and repeatable operating practices.

Requirements

• Substantial grounding in biology, chemistry, or related sciences through research, industry, or equivalent experience, with the ability to critically evaluate methods and evidence.
• Experience delivering complex scientific, data, or partnership projects, with depth in one or more of scientific data and evaluation, commercial partnerships, or cross-organization research collaborations.
• Strong judgment in testing claims, matching evidence to research needs, making recommendations, and acknowledging uncertainty.
• Hands-on data experience, including inspecting unfamiliar files, investigating quality, and using Python, SQL, APIs, and AI-assisted coding.
• Ability to build trust through careful listening, precise questions, thoughtful negotiation, and relevant local or international relationships, or the demonstrated ability to develop them.
• Discretion regarding the limits of personal expertise and authority, including knowing when scientific, ethical, or safety questions require specialist input.
• Ability to take broad ownership across multiple projects, prioritize changing needs, and move between scientific, technical, and commercial questions.
• Creative problem-solving and follow-through when handling unfamiliar or ambiguous opportunities.
• Ability to learn quickly about AI training, evaluation, and unfamiliar research areas.
• Equal depth across scientific, technical, and partnership experience is not required; different combinations of experience are welcomed.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work based at the San Francisco headquarters.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and families, with employer HSA contributions.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, FSAs, commuter benefits, and paid parental, medical, caregiver, sick, and safe leave.
• Flexible PTO for exempt employees or up to 15 paid days annually for non-exempt employees, plus 13 or more paid holidays and coordinated office closures.
• Mental health and wellness support, employer-paid basic life and disability coverage, and an annual learning and development stipend.
• Daily office meals, eligible meal delivery credits, relocation support for eligible employees, equity, and additional taxable fringe benefits.

Hiring process

• More details about benefits are provided during the hiring process.
• Background checks are administered in accordance with applicable law, with reasonable accommodations available for applicants with disabilities.