Senior Manager, Global Equity Administration

About the role

You will own the operational backbone of equity programs for a subsidiary, ensuring that every transaction and data point is accurate, timely, and auditable. This role demands hands-on administration of the full equity lifecycle while proactively refining processes to support scalable global growth. You will act as a cross-functional liaison, aligning Legal, Finance, Payroll, Tax, and Equity Programs to uphold compliance and strategic objectives. The position requires meticulous attention to detail in high-stakes, time-sensitive scenarios, including managing complex transactions and liquidity events. You will build and maintain robust systems and reporting that provide reliable, audit-ready visibility into equity programs. Success in this role will be defined by your ability to execute with precision, automate manual workflows, and partner closely with stakeholders to enhance the employee experience. You will be a builder of processes and systems, ensuring that OpenAI's equity foundation is resilient and future-ready as the company continues to evolve.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Execute end-to-end employee equity administration across key lifecycle events including new grants, vesting and RSU releases, option exercises, and related transactions.
• Run recurring operational cycles by managing timelines, checklists, stakeholder inputs, and issue resolution to ensure on-time and accurate execution.
• Produce audit-ready equity reporting and support accounting, compliance, and regulatory reporting needs with accurate, well-documented data.
• Build and maintain automated reporting, including scheduled reports, dashboards, and reconciliations, to reduce manual effort and improve speed and accuracy.
• Support equity system operations on platforms such as Shareworks or comparable systems, including troubleshooting, configuration updates, permissions management, and report builds.
• Partner with Internal Controls to keep process documentation, narratives, and flowcharts current, and ensure controls are followed consistently across equity operations.
• Support new programs and special transactions by coordinating operational steps and ensuring clean execution, including handling liquidity events such as tender offers.
• Collaborate with Compensation, Payroll, Tax, and Finance to reconcile equity-related data and ensure alignment with compensation and financial records.
• Maintain data integrity across equity systems by performing regular audits, validations, and cross-system reconciliations.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for equity products and workflows, translating complex equity structures into clear processes and documentation.
• Proactively identify operational risks and recommend controls or improvements to mitigate issues before they impact stakeholders.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to streamline equity administration, standardize procedures, and enhance the employee experience.
• Support ad hoc analyses and strategic initiatives related to equity programs, providing insights that inform decision-making.
• Ensure all equity activities comply with legal, tax, and regulatory requirements across jurisdictions where OpenAI operates.
• Act as a key point of contact for employees and stakeholders regarding equity matters, providing timely and accurate information.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive equity administration experience in a high-growth environment.
• Strong working knowledge of equity administration platforms such as Shareworks or comparable systems, including reporting and day-to-day workflows.
• Ability to operate with precision and urgency in time-sensitive, high-stakes processes.
• Comfort working across equity data flows with HRIS, payroll, and accounting/reporting partners.
• Strong analytical skills, including advanced Excel and comfort with reporting and analytics tools.
• High ownership and strong prioritization, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple workstreams and deadlines.
• Clear communicator who can partner effectively across teams and explain complex topics in a concise and accessible manner.
• High integrity and sound judgment when handling confidential and sensitive information.

Nice to have

• Experience supporting special transactions such as tender offers within an equity administration context.
• Familiarity with global equity plans and cross-jurisdictional compliance considerations.

Practical notes

This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees.