Partner Incentive Design Lead

OpenAI

Lead incentive design and execution for OpenAI's strategic partner deployment funding programs in a hybrid role. Collaborate across teams to deliver program success and measurable outcomes.

Posted 6/25/2026full-timeSan Francisco • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $293,000 - $325,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead end-to-end design of OpenAI's Agentic AI Deployment Funding Program — including tier structure, eligibility criteria, investment sizing logic, and payout trigger mechanics.
Develop and maintain a differentiated incentive framework across partner segments: Global Systems Integrators, regional consultancies, and domain-specialist AI implementers.
Build the program governance model: approval workflows, partner-facing terms, compliance architecture, and mid-cycle rebalancing protocols.
Design program versioning and evolution strategy — including deprecation and migration pathways as market conditions change.
Own the operational backbone of the deployment fund: claim intake, eligibility validation, calculation methodology, payout operations, and dispute resolution.
Build or oversee the data and calculation infrastructure required to run incentive operations at scale — including upstream API/billing integrations, partner portal touchpoints, and Finance reconciliation processes.
Manage program calendar, partner communication cadence, and cross-functional delivery against committed program timelines.
Partner closely with Legal, Finance, and Compliance to ensure program terms are defensible and payouts are audit-ready.
Design and own the measurement framework for the deployment fund — defining leading and lagging indicators, establishing baselines, and building the reporting infrastructure for executive audiences.
Conduct ongoing program performance analysis: adoption cohort analysis, ROI modeling, partner segment diagnostics, and investment efficiency assessment.
Generate and present regular program performance reviews to senior leadership, including Finance and GTM leadership, with clear recommendations.
Lead post-launch optimization cycles: identify underperforming design elements, develop hypothesis-driven modifications, and test changes rigorously before scaling.
Drive alignment across Sales, Product, Finance, Legal, Marketing, and Partner Success on program design decisions — navigating competing priorities with rigor and speed.
Serve as the subject matter expert on partner incentive design for cross-functional working groups, including new product launches and GTM strategy reviews.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key partner stakeholders — including C-suite contacts at strategic partners — to ensure program design reflects real deployment dynamics.

Requirements

What you’ll need

8+ years of experience in partner incentive program design, commercial program operations, or partner economics — ideally within a technology platform company at scale.
Demonstrated experience owning the full lifecycle of a large-scale incentive program — from design through operational execution and measurement — not just strategy or analysis.
Strong command of program financial mechanics: investment sizing, payout waterfall design, ROI modeling, and scenario analysis.
Experience building or overseeing the data and calculation infrastructure for incentive operations — including upstream integrations, payout processing, and audit controls.
Track record of driving alignment across Sales, Finance, Legal, and Partner teams on complex program design decisions.
Exceptional analytical capability: comfortable with cohort analysis, attribution modeling, and building measurement frameworks from scratch where none exist.
Strong written and verbal communication skills — able to present complex program logic and performance data to senior executives with clarity and conviction.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, with employer contributions to Health Savings Accounts
Pre-tax accounts for Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and commuter expenses (parking and transit)
401(k) retirement plan with employer match
Paid parental leave (up to 24 weeks for birth parents and 20 weeks for non-birthing parents), plus paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks)
Paid time off: flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees
13+ paid company holidays, and multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge, plus paid sick or safe time (1 hour per 30 hours worked, or more, as required by applicable state or local law)
Mental health and wellness support
Employer-paid basic life and disability coverage
Annual learning and development stipend to fuel your professional growth
Daily meals in our offices, and meal delivery credits as eligible
Relocation support for eligible employees
Additional taxable fringe benefits, such as charitable donation matching and wellness stipends, may also be provided.

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Hard Skills & Tools

partner incentive program designcommercial program operationspartner economicsinvestment sizingpayout waterfall designROI modelingscenario analysisdata infrastructurecalculation infrastructureaudit controls

Soft Skills

analytical capabilitywritten communicationverbal communicationrelationship buildingcross-functional collaborationprogram performance analysisproblem-solvingstrategic thinkingpresentation skillsnegotiation