OpenAI Finance is responsible for ensuring the organization is set up for success in pursuit of its mission. The Procurement team advises our business partners to make the best investments, ensures we acquire the resources needed for growth, and enables our mission through efficient procurement practices.

We’re hiring a Procurement Operations Lead to support the Head of Procurement Operations by overseeing the day-to-day activities of the procurement operations team and ensuring alignment with strategic goals. You will manage a small team, ensure smooth execution of daily tasks, and optimize our procure-to-pay (P2P) systems and processes. You will also provide critical insights and help drive improvements to support long-term success.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.

• Lead the procurement operations team, ensuring smooth execution of Tier 1 system admin processes, timely purchase order processing, vendor management, and compliance with internal controls and SLAs.
• Manage the month-end close process for Purchase Order accruals and Accounts Payable, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Manage and optimize P2P systems (ZIP, NetSuite, Navan) for day-to-day operations, ensuring seamless procurement and financial operations,
• Oversee the travel & expense program and VIP travel, ensuring compliance, cost-effectiveness, and timely processing of requests, acting as the first point of escalation and delivering exceptional service to employees and executives.
• Generate insightful reports and dashboards in the P2P space that monitor performance, identify trends, and provide actionable insights to support data-driven decision-making aligned with OpenAI’s financial and operational goals.
• Lead efforts to improve operational efficiencies, streamline processes, and implement scalable solutions in the P2P function.
• Ensure adherence to compliance standards, drive reporting initiatives, and oversee audit responses related to procurement and accounts payable.
• Partner with Procurement leadership to align team efforts with broader organizational goals, contributing both operational and strategic insights to support long-term objectives.

• 7-10+ years of experience in procurement and P2P operations, with a proven track record of managing teams and overseeing day-to-day operations.
• A strong understanding of procurement systems (e.g., ZIP, NetSuite, Navan) and the ability to manage day-to-day operations and problem-solve in ambiguous, dynamic environments.
• Proven experience managing projects with a focus on continuous operational improvements that drive efficiency, scalability, and compliance.
• Strong expertise in using reporting tools to create dashboards, analyze procurement data, and provide actionable insights for decision-making.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work with varied cross-functional teams to resolve operational issues and optimize processes.
• A detail-oriented mindset in managing complex issues, ensuring accuracy and consistency across all workstreams.
• The ability to maintain composure and effectiveness in fast-moving environments, while ensuring stability and continuous improvement within the team and processes.