Strategic Delivery Lead, National Security

About the Role

The Strategic Delivery Lead (SDL) for National Security will identify and deliver on some of OpenAI's most complex and high-impact deployments for the U.S. national security enterprise. You will work closely with national security partners to make their hardest problems solvable on the OpenAI Platform API and ChatGPT Enterprise. The role is highly cross-functional and customer-facing, partnering with Research, Engineering, Go-to-Market, and external stakeholders to align on scope, unblock delivery, and communicate progress at every level.

You will own and drive execution of technical delivery workstreams led by internal teams (Forward Deployed Engineers, Researchers, Solutions Architects), ensuring clear problem-framing, crisp milestone definitions, proactive risk identification, rapid issue resolution, and effective translation between business objectives and technical solutions. Accountability for contractual milestones and acceptance criteria sits with you.

In this role, you will:

• Forge and manage strategic partnerships with key national security AI users to identify and deliver on the most impactful AI and AGI use cases.
• Serve as the accountable lead for delivering high-impact national security engagement tied to defined contractual milestones.
• Act as a key translator between technical teams and business stakeholders, clearly articulating technical progress, risks, requirements, and dependencies.
• Work with government, defense, industry partners, and academia to identify key concepts for national security AI use and translate them into actionable delivery plans.
• Partner deeply with technical teams (FDEs, SAs, Research) to frame complex business and technical problems into actionable, scoped projects.
• Establish best practices around milestone tracking, internal coordination, and delivery operations at scale.
• Lead regular progress reviews with national security stakeholders, ensuring transparency and confidence in delivery.
• Identify delivery risks early and work cross-functionally to mitigate blockers and maintain program velocity.
• Navigate ambiguity and evolving requirements with composure, helping internal and external teams stay aligned.
• Help shape the future of how OpenAI engages with national security customers through milestone-based delivery programs.

You'll thrive in this role if you:

• Have 10+ years of experience in national security consulting, delivery leadership, or senior program management roles.
• Active U.S. Government TS/SCI clearance.
• Are willing to travel up to 50% and work on-site with national security customers.
• Have experience leading organizational transformation initiatives (AI, digital, or business transformation) directly with national security departments or agencies.
• Have led complex national security programs in enterprise SaaS, AI/ML, consulting, or transformation environments.
• Have a proven track record influencing and shaping customer decision-making at executive/board level.
• Are adept at translating national security mission outcomes into technical execution plans with defined success metrics.
• Strong track of execution in delivering ambitious goals on complex cross-functional projects.
• Prior experience managing large scale AI/ML or enterprise API-based deployments.
• Are passionate about how AI and AGI can enhance the national security mission.
• Thrive in ambiguous, fast-moving environments and can create clarity and momentum.