Strategy & Operations Lead - Japan

OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research and deployment organization focused on developing safe, beneficial AI systems that serve humanity. The company operates across multiple regions globally, developing and scaling products that represent some of the most advanced AI capabilities available today.

OpenAI's Asia-Pacific team is expanding its footprint across the region, establishing local operations that balance global strategy with regional market dynamics. They're building infrastructure and leadership to support long-term growth while maintaining consistency with company-wide objectives.

This Strategy & Operations Lead role sits at the center of that effort for Japan. You'll translate OpenAI's global priorities into on-the-ground execution, establish operating discipline across the market, and build the systems that enable the region to scale predictably and sustainably.

What you'll do

• Shape Japan's operating strategy, aligning regional execution with APAC and global objectives while accounting for local market conditions and regulatory requirements.

• Drive consistent execution across functions—consumer, product, partnerships, and others—while adapting to Japan-specific needs.

• Set KPIs, reporting structures, and operational rhythms that give visibility into performance and shape decision-making.

• Work closely with global leadership to prioritize initiatives, manage resource allocation, and ensure strong local delivery against ambitious goals.

• Build and optimize scalable processes, workflows, and frameworks across business lines to support growth without sacrificing efficiency.

• Identify operational bottlenecks and inefficiencies, then champion continuous improvement initiatives to address them.

• Support market entry readiness and partnership frameworks that strengthen OpenAI's position in Japan.

• Build and mentor a high-performing regional operations team while developing leadership capability across functions and markets.

• Serve as the central accountability owner for operational delivery, collaborating across functions to drive results.

What you'll bring

• Substantial experience leading regional or international operations in fast-scaling, complex organizations.

• Proven ability to translate strategic goals into executable plans with clear accountability and metrics.

• Track record building scalable operating systems, reporting frameworks, and performance dashboards.

• Experience operating across multiple markets and business functions, ideally within Japan.

• Strong cross-functional leadership with the ability to influence senior stakeholders globally and regionally.

• Comfort in ambiguous environments; you create structure and drive action in fast-moving contexts.

• People leadership skills and experience building and developing high-performing teams.

• Clear communication ability, both written and verbal, with skill at simplifying complex topics.

• High integrity and collaborative leadership style with strong business judgment and bias toward outcomes.

What We Offer

• Hybrid schedule, based in Tokyo with 3 days in office per week.

• Full-time position on the Strategy & Operations team.