Program Director, High-Burden Diseases — AI for Global Health

OpenAI Foundation; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 300,000 - 370,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI Foundation is expanding its life sciences program and seeks a Program Director for High-Burden Diseases. The role involves shaping strategy, sourcing grants, and deploying resources across multiple disease areas, with a strong emphasis on external partnerships and field-building.

You will operate as a cross-cutting generalist across science and health sectors. The position is based in San Francisco, CA, with a hybrid work model (3 days in office per week) and some travel.

Qualifications

• 10-15+ years of relevant experience preferred.
• Experience in biology, chemistry, translational medicine, drug development, clinical practice, global health, biotech or related fields.
• Ability to engage credibly across scientific and strategic topics, even when not a deep domain specialist.
• Proven ability to evaluate scientific/technical opportunities and make strong recommendations.
• Experience engaging with external experts, institutions, and senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with clear synthesis of information.
• Strong strategic judgment with execution bias and speed.
• Ability to work in a highly ambiguous, evolving environment.
• High ownership, discretion, and accountability.
• Motivation to accelerate progress in life sciences and Foundation mission.

Responsibilities

• Support strategy, grantmaking execution, and ongoing management across the portfolio.
• Source, evaluate, and recommend grants and funding opportunities across domains.
• Research new disease or technology areas to focus investment theses.
• Engage deeply with researchers, nonprofits, startups, academic centers, funders worldwide.
• Build and maintain relationships with leaders across scientific/health fields.
• Conduct diligence on organizations, projects, and leaders for merit and impact.
• Write internal recommendations, briefs, and strategy memos.
• Identify gaps in the ecosystem and develop ideas for new initiatives and partnerships.
• Support creation of new initiatives from zero-to-one and stand up efforts where needed.
• Over time, take on broader ownership of growing work.
• Represent the Foundation in external conversations to build credibility and opportunities.

Skills

Extensive experience

Biology & life sciences

Chemistry and translational medicine

Drug development

Global health

Grantmaking strategy

External engagement

Strategic evaluation

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Job description

OpenAI Foundation is expanding its life sciences program and seeks a Program Director for High-Burden Diseases. The role involves shaping strategy, sourcing grants, and deploying resources across multiple disease areas, with a strong emphasis on external partnerships and field-building.

You will operate as a cross-cutting generalist across science and health sectors. The position is based in San Francisco, CA, with a hybrid work model (3 days in office per week) and some travel.