Strategic Sourcing Leader - Enterprise & Engineering Technology

About the Role

The Strategic Sourcing team at Openai helps the company scale responsibly, efficiently, and at speed. This team manages strategic supplier relationships across engineering platforms, infrastructure software, security technology, enterprise systems, IT, and hardware. The work connects technical roadmaps, commercial strategy, supplier leverage, financial discipline, operational resilience, and security.

As a leader in this team, you will be responsible for translating technical needs, security requirements, supplier constraints, adoption patterns, and long-term operating priorities into clear sourcing strategies and commercial structures. You will also build and improve the operating system for the category, including category cards, negotiation playbooks, reporting mechanisms, supplier governance, coordinator workflows, and executive communication rhythms.

What You Will Do

• Lead sourcing strategy and execution across enterprise and engineering technology categories, including infrastructure software, engineering platforms, security technology, enterprise systems, IT, and hardware.
• Independently define, prioritize, and lead multiple complex sourcing workstreams, shaping supplier strategy and commercial decisions without regular oversight.
• Own strategic supplier negotiations, including major renewals, enterprise license agreements, infrastructure software commitments, security technology agreements, engineering platform agreements, and hardware-related sourcing decisions.
• Manage and develop experienced category leads, creating clarity, improving commercial judgment, and empowering the team to deliver strategic goals without heavy managerial intervention.
• Build scalable category tools and frameworks, including category cards, negotiation playbooks, supplier segmentation, renewal calendars, reporting dashboards, and escalation paths.
• Partner with senior leaders across the CTO, CISO, and IT organizations to translate technical roadmaps, security requirements, platform dependencies, adoption plans, performance needs, and supplier constraints into sourcing strategies and commercial structures.
• Advise senior leaders on major supplier decisions by presenting clear deal narratives, financial impact, risk, tradeoffs, supplier context, and recommendations.
• Create cost and commercial structures aligned to Openai's business model, including usage-based pricing, flexible consumption models, pooled commitments, ramp structures, scale protections, and performance-based economics.
• Set direction for coordinators and category partners supporting quick-turn negotiations, ensuring seamless execution and minimizing business disruption.

What We Are Looking For

• Proven experience in strategic sourcing, preferably in the tech industry, with a strong track record of leading complex sourcing initiatives and negotiating high-value agreements.
• Deep expertise in enterprise and engineering technology categories, including infrastructure software, engineering platforms, security technology, enterprise systems, IT, and hardware.
• Excellent leadership and management skills, with the ability to develop and empower experienced category leads and coordinators.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to structure complex commercial problems and develop creative solutions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to partner effectively with senior stakeholders and present complex information in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, with a high degree of flexibility and adaptability.
• Strong business acumen, with a deep understanding of Openai's business model and the ability to create cost and commercial structures that align with the company's goals.

Nice to Have

• Experience working with AI technologies and enabling AI within sourcing workflows.
• Knowledge of category management and supplier segmentation.
• Familiarity with negotiation playbooks and supplier governance.
• Experience working in a remote or hybrid work environment.
• Certification in strategic sourcing or a related field.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary and equity package.
• Comprehensive health insurance and benefits.
• Generous PTO and paid holidays.
• Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options.
• Professional development opportunities, including training and education programs.
• Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools.
• Collaborative and dynamic work environment.
• Recognition and reward programs for outstanding performance.

• Make sure to highlight your experience in strategic sourcing, particularly in the tech industry, and emphasize your ability to lead complex sourcing initiatives and negotiate high-value agreements.
• Develop a deep understanding of Openai's business model and the categories you will be working with, including enterprise and engineering technology.
• Prepare to talk about your experience working with AI technologies and enabling AI within sourcing workflows, as well as your knowledge of category management and supplier segmentation.
• Be ready to provide specific examples of your leadership and management skills, including your ability to develop and empower experienced category leads and coordinators.
• Research Openai's culture and values, and be prepared to discuss how you align with them and how you can contribute to the company's mission.
• Don't hesitate to ask about the company's approach to remote work and what support systems are in place for remote employees.
• Be prepared to negotiate your salary and benefits package, and make sure to research the market rate for your role and experience level.