Strategic Operations Lead, User Safety & Risk Operations

About the Role

The USRO team operates at the front line of real-world safety and risk management, translating user and operational signals into timely decisions, effective interventions, and improvements to Openai's systems. This team is dedicated to building operational capacity for new, ambiguous, or fast-moving areas of work, and the Strategic Operations Lead will play a key role in defining what needs to be built, creating the operating model to support it, and working with partner teams to make the work scalable and durable over time.

What You Will Do

• Lead strategic operational builds from ambiguous problem statements to implemented operating models, including scope, owners, workflows, milestones, risks, and success measures.
• Build launch and early-life operating models for complex partner deployments, including monitoring cadence, escalation paths, ownership maps, reporting expectations, and follow-up mechanisms.
• Translate technical, policy, safety, privacy, and operational constraints into practical workflows that teams can execute.
• Define how safety and risk signals should be monitored, reviewed, packaged, escalated, and tracked through resolution.
• Partner with senior leaders across USRO and cross-functional teams to translate business, product, safety, and operational needs into clear execution plans.
• Use data and operational signals to understand workflow health, capacity needs, bottlenecks, quality gaps, and risks.
• Identify where AI tools, automation, lightweight systems, or better workflows can reduce operational burden and improve consistency.
• Keep operating models current as data pipelines, tooling, dashboards, partner processes, and ownership mature.

What We Are Looking For

• 8+ years of experience in operations, strategy and operations, product operations, technical program management, trust and safety operations, risk operations, implementation or management consulting, or a related field.
• Track record of leading complex, ambiguous work from problem framing through execution.
• Strong technical fluency, including the ability to reason through data flows, system ownership, logs, dashboards, tooling gaps, and failure modes.
• Strong data literacy, including the ability to collect, analyze, and interpret large data sets.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, hybrid remote environment and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think critically and outside the box.

Nice to Have

• Experience working with AI and machine learning technologies.
• Knowledge of cloud-based platforms and tools, such as AWS or Google Cloud.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and version control systems, such as Git.
• Certification in a related field, such as project management or data science.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunity to work with a pioneering AI company and contribute to the development of innovative technologies.
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a team of experienced professionals.
• Flexible remote work arrangements, with the option to work from home or in the office.
• Professional development opportunities, including training and education programs.
• Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools.
• Recognition and reward programs for outstanding performance.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• To stand out as a candidate, be prepared to provide specific examples of your experience leading complex operational builds and driving user safety and risk operations.
• Make sure you have a strong understanding of technical fluency, including data flows, system ownership, and tooling gaps.
• Highlight your ability to work in a fast-paced, hybrid remote environment and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI and machine learning technologies, as well as your knowledge of cloud-based platforms and tools.
• Show a willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies and workflows, and be open to feedback and continuous improvement.
• Consider creating a portfolio that showcases your work in operations, strategy, and technical program management, and be prepared to discuss your accomplishments and challenges in an interview.