Pros
Working at Open Phil means that I get to work alongside some of the most intelligent, compassionate and motivated people I’ve ever met, and I’m inspired every day by the collective ambition and kindness of the team. As a member of the operations team, I’m particularly grateful for the fact that the focus of my role doesn’t just consist of achieving a to-do list or making progress on projects but is centered around contributing meaningfully to Open Phil’s mission to have a positive impact on the world’s most pressing issues. The culture values autonomy, encourages curiosity, and fosters a sense of trust among colleagues, and management supports this culture through generous policies, real flexibility and comprehensive benefits.
Cons
The organization is growing pretty quickly, and it can be hard to maintain strong relationships with teams when people are spread out across countries and time zones. Quarterly in-person ‘Togetherness Weeks’, conferences or co-working events, and remote events help bridge this gap. Everyone is driven by a strong sense of purpose, and it can feel quite intense sometimes to see people respond to emails/Slack messages on weekends, when they’re on PTO and out sick. Although it’s not expected for staff to work more than 35-40 focused hours a week, I think Open Phil could be doing a better job of encouraging a healthy work-life balance as an organization.
