U.S. State Policy & Partnerships Manager, Global Affairs

Responsibilities

• Drive operations of the U.S. State Policy and Partnerships team, including planning rhythms, team communications, trackers, briefings, and meeting cadences.
• Support execution of OpenAI’s state and local policy strategy across all 50 states, with focus on high-priority jurisdictions.
• Advance state-level priorities related to AI policy, kids safety, guardrails for advanced AI models, workforce, education, infrastructure, economic opportunity, government modernization, and other issues.
• Track legislative, regulatory, political, and stakeholder developments across states and anticipate risks and opportunities.
• Shepherd policy analysis, legislative reviews, briefing materials, talking points, and strategic recommendations through internal review and approval processes.
• Translate complex technical, legal, and policy issues into clear, accessible materials for policymakers, internal leaders, and external stakeholders.
• Prepare OpenAI leaders for engagements with governors, state legislators, mayors, attorneys general, agency leaders, community organizations, universities, workforce partners, and other stakeholders.
• Represent OpenAI in external meetings, conferences, coalitions, and policy forums.
• Identify opportunities for public-private partnerships, community engagement, and state and local initiatives.
• Coordinate with consultants, trade associations, coalitions, and external partners.
• Handle sensitive matters with discretion, sound judgment, and high integrity.

Requirements

• 5-10 years of experience in public policy (especially tech policy), government (especially legislative or executive work), government affairs, political campaigns, public affairs campaigns, public sector consulting, or related field.
• Understanding of state and local government, including governors’ offices, legislatures, agencies, mayors, attorneys general, and intergovernmental organizations.
• Exceptional organizer who can bring structure to ambiguity without slowing down fast-moving work.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and stakeholders while staying calm, precise, and accountable.
• Strong writer and communicator who can turn complex policy and technical issues into clear analyses and recommendations.
• Strong political instincts and ability to navigate sensitive policy, stakeholder, and internal dynamics with judgment.
• Comfort working across legal, technical, policy, communications, product, and partnership teams.
• Flexibility to move from policy analysis to team operations to external representation in the same day.
• Bias toward action, collaborative style, and high bar for integrity.
• Willingness to represent the company, including occasional travel for meetings, conferences, and state-level engagements.

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience with AI policy and public affairs, online safety, infrastructure, workforce, education, or economic development work.
• Experience working with governors, state legislators, attorneys general, mayors, or national state associations such as NGA, NCSL, CSG, RGA, DGA, or state attorney general organizations.
• Experience managing consultants, coalitions, or multi-state campaigns.
• Experience building internal systems for a growing policy, campaigns, or government affairs team.
• Prior work in a fast-moving technology company, public affairs firm, campaign, legislature, governor’s office, agency, or advocacy organization.