About the Team

OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We believe that achieving our goal requires effective engagement with public policy stakeholders and the broader community impacted by AI. Accordingly, our Global Affairs team builds authentic, collaborative relationships with public officials and the broader AI policymaking community to inform and support our shared work in these domains. We ensure that insights from policymakers inform our work and - in collaboration with our colleagues and external stakeholders - seek to further regulation, industry standards, and safe and beneficial development of AI tools.

About the Role

As the lead for the Public Policy team’s work with policymakers and partners in Japan, you’ll play a key role in shaping our work as a trusted partner for the global policy community in the AI space. Japan is already home to users of OpenAI’s tools, as well as leading developers and partner organizations. Defining OpenAI’s strategic goals for engaging with the public policy dimensions is a major challenge but also an exciting opportunity for the right candidate.

You will benefit from a high level of attention, interest and enthusiasm for OpenAI’s revolutionary tools, but at the same time will need to respond quickly to the emergence of new regulatory and policy developments, as well as the fast-moving media and public debate around AI issues in a wide range of global markets. You will have support from OpenAI team members and outside experts, but should be eager to dive in and lead our Japan strategy.

OpenAI is unusual in that we get to be mission-focused - we’re not about profit or self-preservation, but genuinely trying to advance a better future for all people–kind of like in government, in the best sense, you get to go to work every day to advance ideas you really care about.

On the other hand, as a market-leading technology company that has attracted major investment, we are not resource-constrained in the way that the non-profit sector or government is, where you’re constantly trying to make trade-offs. Our organization is small and flat. There’s a lot of internal and external goodwill. Internally, we’re seen as experts in our work and our perspective is valued. Externally, OpenAI is well-regarded in the AI space, and increasingly well known in the general public.

Most challenging part of the role:

Fast pace. Conversations about AI safety, innovation, benefits, and societal impacts are already underway in much of the world. You’ll need to quickly develop and “own” a strategy for public policy engagement in this context.
Small team being pulled in many directions within a small, fast-paced and super cutting edge company environment.
Breadth of the mission. What are the things you need to do and care about in order to advance our mission to ensure that AI/AGI will benefit all of humanity? Thinking about partnerships that can help the world to prepare for the impacts of AI advancements is simply a huge task, and one that won’t ever get “resolved.” At the same time, appreciate being able to think about it every day.
Skepticism that a mission like ours–to benefit all of humanity!-- is even achievable
Being a non-tech person at a highly technical place (at the same time, our expertise is valued)

We're looking for a blend of:

Mid to senior level, experienced public policy leader with
10+ years experience
Public service/government experience, at least several years working directly with senior political leaders or in ministries relevant to our work
Senior level private sector and/or NGO leadership experience in government affairs or public policy
Well-versed in AI safety, including Japan’s approach and applicable international frameworks
Experience developing and executing creative partnerships with governments and grassroots organizations
Would like to see someone who has acted as an “in market team of one”
Need a creative, self-starter who can craft and drive the Japan public policy agenda, shape it, and lead on engagements with minimal day-to-day oversight.

About OpenAI

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

OpenAI Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement

For US Based Candidates: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.

OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy

At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

Legal jobs in Japan

Japan Policy & Partnerships Lead