National Security Lead - APAC

About the Team

OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We believe that achieving our goal requires effective engagement with public policy stakeholders and the broader community impacted by AI. Accordingly, our Global Affairs team builds authentic, collaborative relationships with public officials and the broader AI policymaking community to inform and support our shared work in these domains. We ensure that insights from policymakers inform our work and in collaboration with our colleagues and external stakeholders, seek to shape policy so that it aligns with and supports our mission.

About the Role

This position reports to OpenAI’s global Head of National Security Policy and will help advance OpenAI’s engagement with the Asia-Pacific national security community. This is a senior IC role leading OpenAI’s Asia-Pacific security and technology policy engagement in support of our regional strategy. You will be OpenAI’s primary policy representative on matters related to defense, security, and AI policy across the region, positioning OpenAI as a trusted partner for national security stakeholders across allied and partner governments, regional multilateral fora, and key security institutions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Build and sustain senior relationships across Asia-Pacific ministries of defense/foreign affairs, intelligence, and cybersecurity, including across key partner frameworks such as ASEAN, AUKUS, and the Quad, and in relevant national capitals.

• Represent OpenAI with senior officials, lawmakers, and multilateral bodies, including ASEAN-led mechanisms (ARF, ADMM-Plus), regional security dialogues, and Track 1/1.5 channels as appropriate.

• Lead external engagement with regional think tanks, research institutions, industry groups, and working bodies on AI, security, and resilience, anchored around convenings such as Shangri-La Dialogue and Raisina Dialogue.

• Coordinate closely with the APAC regional team, and act as a cross-functional connector across OpenAI’s global policy team to align between Asia-Pacific efforts and broader national security strategy.

• Track and shape policy developments affecting AI in defense, intelligence, dual-use tech, and export controls, especially those tied to Indo-Pacific security cooperation and defense innovation pathways.

• Draft crisp policy products (briefs, memos, and government responses) on national security and public safety implications of advanced AI, tailored to regional priorities and cooperation mechanisms.

• Advise internal teams on opportunities to strengthen regional resilience and scale beneficial uses of AI for democratic security, defense, disaster response, and critical infrastructure, aligned with priorities in ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, and key partner initiatives.

This role can be based in Singapore, Tokyo or Sydney and will require regular travel throughout the region and occasional trips to the United States.

You should thrive in this role if you:

• Are politically astute, with a deep understanding of the Indo-Pacific security environment, including the defense and intelligence apparatus of key Asia-Pacific democracies and partners, and the regional dynamics shaping security cooperation.

• Are an experienced relationship builder with an established network of senior government officials, multilateral institutions, and/or civil society stakeholders in a national security or technology policy context across the Asia-Pacific region.

• Possess outstanding communication and diplomatic skills, with the ability to represent OpenAI externally and work effectively across cultures and political systems.

We're looking for a blend of:

• 10+ years of experience in Asia-Pacific or Indo-Pacific security, including within relevant national ministries (defense, foreign affairs, intelligence, internal security), regional security organizations, or closely related multilateral and alliance contexts. Candidates with prior industry and government relations experience will have an advantage.

• Demonstrated credibility with