Impact Strategy Lead — Catalytic Deployments

The OpenAI Foundation; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 220,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI Foundation in San Francisco, CA, is seeking a Program Officer to join the Catalytic Deployments team. The role blends philanthropic investment, strategy, institution-building, and operations to advance AI for social good.

The position reports to the Head of Catalytic Deployments and involves scoping large grants, conducting diligence, and partnering with nonprofits, governments, and researchers to push impactful, scalable AI-enabled initiatives. Hybrid work and travel are expected.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership experience in nonprofits, philanthropy, or government.
• Subject matter expertise in at least one social sector domain.
• Ability to reason about AI capabilities and deployment risks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; strong strategic judgment.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the strategy, prioritization, and the Foundation's approach to Catalytic Deployments; over time, own specific areas within Catalytic Deployments
• Source, evaluate, and recommend grants and other funding opportunities. Conduct diligence on organizations, projects, and leaders, including execution capability and potential for scaling the benefit of AI-enabled approaches
• Support a growing portfolio of grants, ensuring strong judgment, clear prioritization, and high-quality follow-through
• Engage deeply with the external ecosystem, including researchers, nonprofits, academic centers, public-interest organizations, data platforms, funders, and other potential grantee organizations
• Identify gaps in the current ecosystem and develop ideas for how the Foundation can support new efforts, partnerships, or field-building initiatives
• Develop and launch new initiatives from zero-to-one, including helping shape concepts, convene stakeholders, and stand up new efforts where needed
• Represent the Foundation in external conversations, helping to build credibility, source opportunities, and strengthen the broader field
• Write clear internal recommendations and strategy memos to support decision-making

Skills

Leadership

Strategic judgment

Communication skills

External engagement

AI capabilities reasoning

Opportunity evaluation

Job description

OpenAI Foundation in San Francisco, CA, is seeking a Program Officer to join the Catalytic Deployments team. The role blends philanthropic investment, strategy, institution-building, and operations to advance AI for social good.

The position reports to the Head of Catalytic Deployments and involves scoping large grants, conducting diligence, and partnering with nonprofits, governments, and researchers to push impactful, scalable AI-enabled initiatives. Hybrid work and travel are expected.