Model Policy, Chemical & Biological Risk

About the Role

The Safety Systems team is at the forefront of Openai's mission to build and deploy safe AGI, driving the company's commitment to AI safety and fostering a culture of trust and transparency. As a Model Policy Manager, you will work closely with research and engineering teams to operationalize policy in training and evaluation pipelines, and engage with internal and external subject-matter experts to ensure policies reflect real-world risk landscapes.

The role involves developing structured taxonomies of chemical and biological risk, translating biosecurity and chemical security expertise into actionable model behavior, and identifying emerging risk vectors where frontier AI capabilities could meaningfully lower barriers to harmful activity. You will also be responsible for developing mitigation strategies and broadening your subject matter expertise while maintaining agility across topics.

What You Will Do

• Design and maintain model policies governing chemical and biological risk, defining how models should safely handle dual-use scenarios
• Develop structured taxonomies of chemical and biological risk that inform model training data, evaluation benchmarks, and safety monitoring systems
• Translate biosecurity and chemical security expertise into actionable model behavior, working closely with research and engineering teams to operationalize policy in training and evaluation pipelines
• Develop a broad range of subject matter expertise while maintaining agility across topics
• Identify emerging risk vectors where frontier AI capabilities could meaningfully lower barriers to harmful activity and develop mitigation strategies
• Engage with internal and external subject-matter experts in biosecurity, biodefense, and chemical safety to ensure policies reflect real-world risk landscapes
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and implement safety evaluations and monitoring systems
• Stay up-to-date with the latest research and developments in AI safety, biosecurity, and chemical security, applying this knowledge to inform policy decisions

What We Are Looking For

• Strong domain expertise in chemistry, biology, biosecurity, or related fields, with a motivation to translate that expertise into principled, operational policies that scale to frontier AI systems
• Experience researching or working with LLMs, machine learning, AI governance, technology policy, or related areas, with a focus on tackling structured reasoning and classification problems
• Experience designing, refining, or enforcing policies or safeguards for complex systems, whether in AI/ML environments, scientific research governance, national security contexts, or other high-stakes technical domains
• Ability to navigate a rapidly evolving landscape of AI capabilities and risk scenarios, with a focus on developing practical, effective solutions
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience working with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders
• Ability to develop and maintain broad subject matter expertise, while staying agile and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience applying these skills to complex, high-stakes problems

Nice to Have

• Experience working with LLMs or other AI systems, with a focus on safety and risk mitigation
• Knowledge of AI governance, technology policy, or related areas, with a focus on applying this knowledge to real-world problems
• Experience working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, with a focus on adapting to changing circumstances and priorities
• Strong programming skills, with experience working with languages such as Python or Java
• Experience working with data analysis and visualization tools, with a focus on applying these skills to complex, high-stakes problems

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and equity package
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous PTO and paid holidays
• Remote work stipend and flexible work arrangements
• Opportunity to work with a talented, dedicated team on a critical mission
• Access to cutting-edge technology and tools, with opportunities for professional development and growth
• Collaborative, dynamic work environment with a focus on innovation and experimentation
• Recognition and reward for outstanding performance, with opportunities for advancement and career growth

• Develop a deep understanding of AI safety, biosecurity, and chemical security, and stay up-to-date with the latest research and developments in these fields
• Build a strong portfolio of work that demonstrates your expertise in policy design, AI safety, and biosecurity, with a focus on applying these skills to real-world problems
• Prepare to talk about your experience working with complex systems and high-stakes technical domains, and be ready to provide specific examples of your work
• Emphasize your ability to develop and maintain broad subject matter expertise, while staying agile and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
• Be prepared to discuss your approach to mitigating risk and ensuring safety in AI systems, and be ready to provide specific examples of your work in this area
• Research Openai's mission, values, and approach to AI safety and biosecurity, and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with these priorities
• Practice your communication and collaboration skills, and be prepared to work effectively with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders