What are the responsibilities and job description for the Global Head of People Compliance & Standards position at OpenAI?
About the team
OpenAI’s People team is dedicated to hiring, engaging, and retaining world-class talent to safely develop and deploy universally beneficial Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). The Global Employee Relations and People Standards team helps shape and safeguard OpenAI’s policies and practices that support our workforce, ensuring alignment with our mission and values. We address complex and high-stakes employee matters on a global scale, leveraging deep expertise in investigations, People compliance, policy development, and strategic risk management.
About the role
We are seeking a strategic, experienced, and proactive Head of People Compliance & Standards to join our Global Employee Relations and People Standards team. You will play a critical role in building and executing OpenAI’s global People compliance function, developing and maintaining policies, procedures, and programs that promote a compliant, ethical, and respectful workplace. You’ll balance high-level strategy with hands-on program execution in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
This role involves working across multiple regions, managing or partnering with external counsel and regional specialists, and ensuring our global practices meet legal requirements and align with our organizational values. You will also partner closely with Legal, Security, Privacy, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to oversee diverse compliance initiatives.
We’re looking for someone who is both nimble and detail-oriented—a leader who can roll up their sleeves when necessary and excel in a dynamic environment.
You’ll have several responsibilities, including :
Lead the development, implementation, and management of global People compliance programs, policies, and procedures.
Serve as an expert advisor on employment law, regulatory frameworks, data protection (e.g., GDPR), and industry standards, providing guidance on risk mitigation strategies and policy development.
Track emerging legislation and regulatory trends globally, proactively advising leadership on actions needed to maintain compliance in all operational regions, including new international expansions.
Oversee global People compliance, collaborating with Legal to update policies, address emerging regulatory trends, and ensure consistent compliance across all regions.
Design, implement, and continuously optimize People policies and processes to ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations (e.g., FLSA, ADA, FMLA, EEOC, OFCCP, paid leave laws) globally.
Plan and lead audits, risk assessments, and thematic reviews, identifying compliance gaps, recommending process improvements, and implementing corrective action plans.
Serve as the primary contact for external audits, regulatory inspections, and inquiries, while also partnering with global mobility leads to ensure compliance with immigration and visa regulations where necessary.
Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders—such as Legal, Finance, Security, and Privacy—to ensure integrated and proactive compliance controls across all employee-related processes.
Create and facilitate compliance training programs that increase awareness and promote adherence to legal and ethical standards, ensuring all teams are equipped with the knowledge to remain compliant.
May lead or mentor any direct reports or cross-functional project teams, championing a culture of integrity, confidentiality, and high ethical standards within the People function.
We’ll look for these qualities, experience, and skills :
JD, MBA, or Master’s degree strongly preferred.
10 years in compliance, risk management, auditing, employment law, People consulting, or similar fields, ideally within innovative and agile companies.
In-depth knowledge of federal, state, local, and global HR laws, regulations, best practices, and data privacy requirements. Familiarity with audit and compliance frameworks (e.g., OFCCP, FMLA, ADA, GDPR).
Proven ability to influence and engage cross-functional teams and external partners. Experience leading or mentoring a team is a plus.
Skilled at developing forward-thinking strategies while also executing day-to-day tasks to maintain operational excellence.
Strong problem-solving skills, data-driven decision making, and continuous improvement mindset.
Demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced and complex environments with changing regulatory landscapes.
Unwavering commitment to professionalism, ethical standards, and safeguarding sensitive data.
Excellent organizational, communication, and business judgment skills, with proficiency in People systems and audit processes.
Location and Workplace
This role is based in our San Francisco or New York office. We offer relocation assistance to new employees for office-based roles.
Our offices use a hybrid work model : three days in the office per week with optional work from home on Thursdays and Fridays. Our open-plan offices have height-adjustable desks, conference rooms, phone booths, well-stocked kitchens full of snacks and drinks and more.
