Compensation Programs & Operations Lead

Location: Hybrid in San Francisco, United States.

Salary: $270,000–$320,000 per year, plus equity, performance-related bonuses for eligible employees, and benefits.

Company

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company developing and deploying general-purpose artificial intelligence with a focus on ensuring that it benefits all of humanity.

What you will do

• Own the integrated roadmap and calendar for global cyclical and ad hoc compensation programs, including compensation reviews, bonus and equity cycles, promotion-related compensation, recognition, retention, and new program launches.
• Lead programs from scoping through launch, reconciliation, and continuous improvement by defining deliverables, milestones, owners, dependencies, and resources.
• Translate compensation designs into eligibility rules, calculations, workflows, approval paths, exception processes, and implementation controls.
• Build and review models, validate inputs and calculations, investigate discrepancies, reconcile outcomes, and maintain audit trails.
• Translate business needs into HR and compensation systems requirements, partner on configurations and integrations, lead user acceptance testing, and reduce manual work and errors.
• Develop operating guides, manager resources, communications, training, intake processes, and post-cycle improvements while coordinating with Compensation, HR, People Technology, Finance, Payroll, Equity Administration, and Legal.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive compensation experience, including substantial responsibility for global compensation programs and operations in a complex, fast-growing organization.
• Experience performing the core responsibilities of a Compensation Operations Analyst, Compensation Analyst, Compensation Partner, and Compensation Program Manager, through separate roles or a combination of positions.
• Deep expertise in base pay, incentives, equity, market benchmarking, salary structures, and job architecture, including their day-to-day administration.
• Experience independently leading complex compensation cycles and new initiatives from planning and analysis through implementation and reconciliation.
• Strong analytical skills, advanced spreadsheet modeling, and hands-on experience with Workday or comparable HR and compensation platforms.
• Ability to establish priorities and drive progress when requirements are incomplete or changing, balancing speed, accuracy, and capacity.
• Clear communication with senior leaders and working teams, cross-functional influence, and explicit ownership of decisions and next steps.
• Sound judgment with confidential information and a high standard of accuracy, accountability, and service.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid work in the San Francisco office environment.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts, plus FSA and dependent-care accounts.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, paid parental and medical/caregiver leave, paid time off, paid holidays, office closures, and sick or safe time.
• Mental health and wellness support, life and disability coverage, and an annual learning and development stipend.
• Daily office meals, eligible meal delivery credits, relocation support for eligible employees, charitable donation matching, and wellness stipends.

Hiring process

• Background checks are administered in accordance with applicable law.
• Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities.