Research Communications Manager

OpenAI OpenAI · AI Frontier · San Francisco, CA · Communications

OpenAI is seeking an experienced communications professional to join their Platform & Research Communications team. This role will work closely with the Research Communications Lead and in partnership with applied and engineering teams to shape how OpenAI’s scientific work is understood by researchers, journalists, policymakers, and the broader public. This position is responsible for developing and executing external communications strategies around OpenAI’s research—from foundational model advances to applied science collaborations—ensuring accuracy, nuance, and alignment with OpenAI’s long-term goals. The ideal candidate brings strong science or technical fluency, excellent storytelling instincts, and experience navigating complex, high-stakes narratives.

What you'd actually do

  1. Develop clear, credible external narratives around OpenAI’s research roadmap, breakthroughs, and long-term scientific direction.
  2. Build and maintain trusted relationships with top-tier science, technology, and business journalists.
  3. Partner with research teams to plan communications for major papers, model releases, evaluations, and science initiatives.
  4. Identify potential reputational, scientific, or misinterpretation risks early.
  5. Work closely with Product, Policy, Safety, Legal, and Marketing to align research communications with broader company goals.

Skills

Required

  • 7+ years of experience in research, science, or technology communications
  • Demonstrated experience working directly with scientists, engineers, or technical leaders.
  • Strong understanding of AI, machine learning, or adjacent scientific domains
  • Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to adapt tone for expert and general audiences
  • Proven judgment handling complex, ambiguous, or high-stakes narratives
  • Experience managing multiple workstreams in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities
  • Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills
  • Comfort operating at both strategic and executional levels
  • Familiarity with academic publishing, peer review, or research collaborations

What the JD emphasized

  • strong science or technical fluency
  • experience navigating complex, high-stakes narratives
  • proven judgment handling complex, ambiguous, or high-stakes narratives