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OpenAI's Product Policy team is seeking a Research Lead for Policy Communications to build and lead a rigorous research program that helps the organization understand how people engage with complex AI policy issues.
You will design and execute both qualitative and quantitative studies, develop durable research practices, and translate findings into clear recommendations for Policy, Communications, Product, and other cross-functional partners. Your work will help teams communicate complex topics accurately, responsibly, and in ways that resonate with diverse audiences.
Key Responsibilities:
- Build and manage a mixed-methods research program from initial questions through study design, fieldwork, analysis, reporting, and documentation, establishing high standards for quality, consistency, and responsible research practice.
- Design rigorous quantitative research, including surveys and longitudinal studies. Oversee questionnaire design, sampling, weighting, vendor quality, analysis, and clear communication of uncertainty and limitations.
- Lead qualitative research, including interviews and focus groups, to understand how people interpret complex policy topics and improve the clarity and usefulness of policy communications.
- Translate findings into executive-ready reports with practical recommendations for Policy, Communications, Product, Marketing, Data Science, Legal, Privacy, and other partners.
- Build reusable research tools, benchmarks, and knowledge that strengthen organizational decision-making over time.
- Manage research vendors, budgets, timelines, privacy, and research ethics while building systems that enable organizational learning.
The role is based in San Francisco with a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week. Relocation assistance is available.
Requirements:
- Substantial experience leading public-opinion, communications, policy, market, or behavioral research in a complex or fast-moving environment.
- Deep survey-methods expertise, including questionnaire design, sampling, weighting, panel and vendor quality, experimentation, statistical analysis, longitudinal research, and clear treatment of uncertainty.
- Ability to design and conduct or oversee strong qualitative research, including recruitment, interviewing or moderation, synthesis, and integration with quantitative findings.
- Experience designing research across varied populations and judging whether a sample can support the conclusions being drawn.
- Demonstrated ability to translate research into clear communications, policy, and product recommendations, and influence senior cross-functional partners when evidence challenges a preferred direction.
- Strong communication skills for complex methods and findings; ability to manage research vendors, budgets, timelines, privacy, and research ethics.
