Policy and Partnerships Lead CEE and Baltics, Global Affairs

About the Team

OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. Achieving this requires effective engagement with policymakers and the broader communities impacted by AI.

Our Global Affairs team builds authentic, collaborative relationships with public officials and the wider AI policymaking community. We work to ensure that insights from policymakers and external stakeholders inform OpenAI’s work and, in collaboration with colleagues across the organization, support the development of thoughtful regulation, industry standards, and the safe and beneficial development of AI.

About the Role

As the Policy and Partnerships Lead CEE & Baltics, you will develop and lead OpenAI’s public policy and partnerships strategy across Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltics as part of our broader European team.

You will determine where OpenAI should engage most deeply, develop differentiated country strategies, and connect national political and policy dynamics with OpenAI’s broader European and global objectives. You will build trusted relationships with governments, regulators, public administrations, civil society, business, research institutions, and other influential stakeholders, while identifying practical, high-impact opportunities to demonstrate how AI can contribute to economic competitiveness, public-sector modernization, education and skills, security, resilience, and broader societal benefit.

You will also serve as an important bridge between national capitals and Brussels, surfacing regional intelligence, assessing where national debates may influence Europe-wide outcomes, and translating OpenAI’s European priorities into locally credible strategies and engagement.

This is a senior, high-ownership role at the intersection of public policy, government affairs, and partnership building. You will work closely with colleagues across Global Affairs, Legal, Communications, Product, Safety and Security, Partnerships, and Go-to-Market, and report to the Head of EU Member States Policy & Partnerships.

Warsaw is the preferred location for this role. Exceptional candidates based elsewhere in Central and Eastern Europe or the Baltics may be considered, subject to employment feasibility. We offer relocation assistance to new employees. The role will involve frequent travel across the region, periodic travel elsewhere in Europe and occasional travel to the US (approximately three times per year).

In this role, you will:

- Develop and execute OpenAI’s public policy and partnerships strategy across Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltics, identifying priority markets, issues, and opportunities for engagement.

- Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior policymakers, regulators, public administrations, civil society organizations, researchers, business leaders, and other influential stakeholders.

- Develop differentiated country strategies that reflect local political, economic, and regulatory dynamics while advancing OpenAI’s broader European and global priorities.

- Lead engagement on key AI and technology policy issues, helping shape policy environments that support the safe and responsible development and deployment of AI.

- Identify and develop partnerships, programs, coalitions, and initiatives that translate OpenAI’s mission and policy priorities into tangible regional impact.

- Monitor political, legislative, and regulatory developments across the region, surface emerging risks and opportunities, and provide clear strategic recommendations to internal stakeholders.

- Serve as a bridge between national capitals and Brussels, helping connect national policy developments with EU-level debates, regulation, and implementation.

- Represent OpenAI in senior-level meetings, industry forums, conferences, and other public and private engagements.

- Prepare OpenAI leaders for engagement with policymakers and external stakeholders, including developing briefing materials, policy positions, and strategic recommendations.

- Work cross-functionally with Legal, Communications, Product, Safety and Security, Partnerships, Go-to-Market, and other teams to develop and execute coordinated strategies.

You might thrive in this role if you:

- Have deep knowledge of the political, institutional, and technology-policy landscape across Central and Eastern Europe and/or the Baltics, with meaningful credibility in at least one priority market.

- Have an established network and experience building trusted relationships with policymakers, regulators, civil society, and other senior stakeholders.

- Understand EU policymaking and the interaction between Brussels-level policy, national politics, regulation, and implementation.

- Bring strong technology-policy judgment and an understanding of issues relevant to AI, such as privacy, data, competition, copyright, product safety, and consumer protection. Direct AI-policy experience is a significant plus.

- Have a track record of translating political relationships and policy objectives into concrete partnerships, programs, coalitions, campaigns, or other initiatives with meaningful impact.

- Are comfortable working across multiple countries and political environments, recognizing where a common regional approach creates leverage and where local nuance is essential.

- Are highly self-directed and able to manage multiple markets and workstreams through rapid cycles of analysis, decision-making, and execution.

- Build trust with senior stakeholders while exercising the judgment to challenge assumptions, reshape an approach, or advise against opportunities that are unlikely to have meaningful impact.

- Are an effective coalition builder who can bring together internal teams and external partners around a shared strategy.

- Communicate complex technical and policy concepts clearly to diverse audiences and have the executive presence to represent OpenAI in sensitive, senior-level settings.

- Bring strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, project management, and cross-functional leadership skills.

- Care deeply about the potential for AI to benefit society while remaining thoughtful about its risks and the responsibilities associated with its development and deployment.

- Demonstrate sound judgment, intellectual agility, and outstanding personal integrity.

- Are fluent in English. Professional proficiency in at least one CEE or Baltic language is strongly preferred, with Polish particularly valuable.