Inventory Manager - Robotics

We are seeking an Inventory Manager to build and operate our inventory function from the ground up. As an Inventory Manager at OpenAI, you will be responsible for designing and setting up stockrooms, receiving areas, and material-storage locations. You will personally execute core inventory activities, including receiving, labeling, putaway, picking, kitting, issuing, cycle counting, transfers, returns, and inventory adjustments. You will also establish practical receiving procedures, hire and manage contractors or onsite inventory administrators, and create location structures, naming conventions, barcode workflows, material-status controls, and standard work.

Responsibilities

• Build inventory operations from the ground up across various OpenAI facilities.
• Design and set up stockrooms, receiving areas, and material-storage locations, including selecting racks, shelving, bins, carts, labeling equipment, scanners, and other infrastructure.
• Personally execute core inventory activities, including receiving, labeling, putaway, picking, kitting, issuing, cycle counting, transfers, returns, and inventory adjustments.
• Establish practical receiving procedures that ensure incoming material is identified, recorded, inspected or quarantined when appropriate, and made available quickly.
• Hire, train, and manage contractors or onsite inventory administrators as volume and facility needs grow.
• Create location structures, naming conventions, barcode workflows, material-status controls, and standard work.
• Maintain accurate visibility into what inventory exists, where it is located, and whether it is available for use.
• Establish and maintain cycle-counting and physical-inventory programs, investigate discrepancies, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Own internal logistics and material movement between company facilities, including transfer processes, delivery schedules, chain of custody, transaction accuracy, and reconciliation.
• Develop appropriate controls for serialized, lot-controlled, high-value, consigned, returned, obsolete, and nonconforming material.
• Serve as the business owner for inventory tools and workflows.
• Partner with the systems team to translate operational needs into requirements, prioritize improvements, test new functionality, and drive adoption.
• Create procedures and training that allow inventory operations to be replicated consistently at new facilities.
• Identify inventory risks, shortages, excess material, unidentified material, and process breakdowns before they disrupt operations.

Requirements

• 4+ years of experience in inventory management, warehouse operations, materials operations, internal logistics, or a related field.
• Experience building or substantially improving an inventory operation, not only working within an established one.
• Strong working knowledge of receiving, putaway, picking, kitting, cycle counting, material transfers, inventory reconciliation, and physical inventory controls.
• Willingness to work directly in stockrooms, receiving areas, laboratories, and manufacturing spaces.
• Ability to move comfortably between strategic design and hands-on execution.
• Experience selecting and implementing physical inventory infrastructure such as racks, shelving, bins, labeling systems, barcode scanners, and material-handling equipment.
• Familiarity with ERP, WMS, MES, or inventory-management systems and the transactions required to maintain accurate inventory.
• Willingness to travel regularly among company facilities.

Benefits

• $157K – $196K • Offers Equity
• 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.