Strategic Sourcing Leader, Professional Services (Hybrid)

OpenAI, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 266,000 - 295,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Equity opportunities

Learning & development stipend

Meal credits or meals in office

Job summary

OpenAI, Inc. is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Leader for Professional Services in San Francisco.

You will build and guide a high-impact team, translating business priorities into category strategies and delivery plans while maintaining strong partner relationships and ensuring commercial excellence. You will oversee a broad portfolio from advisory relationships to numerous SOWs and renewals, remaining hands-on in critical negotiations and enabling team delivery as OpenAI scales.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive strategic sourcing/procurement experience across Professional Services.
• 5+ years of people leadership including objective setting, performance management and delegation.
• Experience leading complex services negotiations with measurable outcomes and coaching to transfer value.
• Familiarity with using AI to redesign sourcing workflows and improve quality.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Professional Services sourcing team; set objectives, delegate and review performance.
• Define portfolio strategy and roadmap; align category plans with business demand, spend and supplier markets.
• Manage pipeline and capacity across strategic negotiations, supplier governance and recurring SOWs; allocate work by capability and risk.
• Lead select critical negotiations and set standards for commercial quality across the team; shape scope, pricing, deliverables and exit protections.
• Build intake, partner models, and playbooks; ensure efficient handoffs and proper escalation for exceptions.
• Strengthen supplier relationships and accountability; assess proposals for staffing, fees, quality and risk.
• Collaborate with Finance and Accounting on spend visibility, demand scenarios and invoicing alignment.
• Coordinate with Legal, People and Extended Workforce to determine service models and risk safeguards.
• Establish concise portfolio and team performance views; use evidence to improve decisions and delivery.
• Foster trusted senior stakeholder relationships and guide tough trade-offs with clear options and recommendations.
• Promote adoption of AI-enabled sourcing tools with human oversight and measurable gains.

Job description

OpenAI, Inc. is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Leader for Professional Services in San Francisco.

You will build and guide a high-impact team, translating business priorities into category strategies and delivery plans while maintaining strong partner relationships and ensuring commercial excellence. You will oversee a broad portfolio from advisory relationships to numerous SOWs and renewals, remaining hands-on in critical negotiations and enabling team delivery as OpenAI scales.