Incentive Operations Lead, Aws

OpenAI OpenAI · AI Frontier · San Francisco, CA · Go To Market

This role focuses on building and managing the operational infrastructure for OpenAI's AWS incentive funding programs. It involves designing and executing workflows for funding requests, claims, reimbursements, and spend tracking, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency. The role requires strong operational rigor, process design expertise, and cross-functional collaboration with Finance, Procurement, Operations, and GTM teams. While the company is OpenAI, the role itself is not directly involved in AI/ML development or research, but rather in the business operations supporting strategic partnerships.

What you'd actually do

  1. Build and manage the operating model required to execute AWS incentive funding programs at scale, including both Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) funding and broader AWS partner incentive programs.
  2. Design and operationalize end-to-end workflows for funding requests, including: Intake and submission, Eligibility validation, Approval routing, Partner selection, Documentation management, Funding tracking and reconciliation
  3. Define and implement the mechanics of funding delivery across multiple operating paths, including: AWS-funded partner reimbursements, OpenAI-funded partner payments, Hybrid funding models
  4. Manage the submission, validation, and reconciliation of claims and reimbursement requests with AWS to ensure timely and accurate funding recovery.
  5. Establish auditable procurement, finance, and operational processes that support internal controls, compliance requirements, and scalable program execution.

Skills

Required

  • Experience building operational processes for partner programs, incentive funding, procurement, finance operations, or strategic alliances.
  • Highly detail-oriented and comfortable managing complex workflows with multiple stakeholders and dependencies.
  • Enjoy designing scalable systems and improving operational efficiency through automation and process optimization.
  • Strong analytical and organizational skills, with the ability to manage budgets, claims, reconciliations, and reporting infrastructure.
  • Can navigate ambiguity and independently create structure in fast-moving environments.
  • Communicate clearly and effectively across technical, operational, and executive audiences.
  • Thrive in cross-functional environments and enjoy partnering across Finance, GTM, Partnerships, Operations, and Systems teams.

Nice to have

  • Experience working with AWS incentive programs, Strategic Collaboration Agreements (SCAs), MDF/co-sell funding, or cloud partner ecosystems.
  • Experience managing reimbursement processes, claims operations, or partner payment workflows.
  • Familiarity with procurement systems, financial controls, and operational compliance processes.
  • Experience building operational tooling, dashboards, or reporting systems.
  • Strong analytical skills and experience working with large datasets, forecasting, or spend management.
  • Familiarity with SaaS, cloud infrastructure, AI, or enterprise technology ecosystems.

What the JD emphasized

  • AWS incentive programs
  • Strategic Collaboration Agreements (SCAs)
  • funding programs
  • incentive funding