What are the responsibilities and job description for the Infrastructure Strategic Sourcing Manager position at OpenAI?
About the Team :
OpenAI, in close collaboration with our capital partners, is embarking on a journey to build the world's most advanced AI infrastructure ecosystem. The InfraDev team is central to this mission, setting the core infra strategy and implementing this vision. From site selection to the buildout process, this team sits at the intersection of commercial, technical, strategy, and operations, interacting with teams and executives inside and outside of OpenAI.
About the Role :
OpenAI is seeking someone who is excited by massive global challenges spanning thousands of stakeholders; someone motivated by driving massive commercial deals across the globe. Specifically, the Infrastructure Strategy & Delivery team supporting Stargate is seeking an experienced and ambitious sourcing professional to lead our infrastructure sourcing efforts.
This role will focus on equipment and vendor sourcing, touching on both commercial and material requirements necessary to build the world's most advanced supercomputer. With scope covering not only electrical, mechanical, and connectivity equipment, but also critical contractor and engineering relationships, this role offers an unparalleled breadth, perfect for a candidate looking to have maximum impact across an immense capital project.
By establishing relationships, building commercial terms, and driving supplier performance across the data center industrial base, this role will sit at a critical point in OpenAI's infrastructure, and organizational, strategy. Infrastructure is destiny, and you get to sit in the driver's seat!
In this role you will :
Initiate, negotiate, and manage contracts and terms for the entire data center campus, including site selection, utilities, construction, and architectural services.
Identify and de-risk critical building equipment, data hall systems, and operational infrastructure (e.g., power, networking, and cooling equipment)
Collaborate with local and governmental agencies, consulting firms, and contractors to ensure compliance and project success.
Work closely with internal teams (engineering, operations, legal, and finance) to align sourcing strategies with overall project objectives
Build competitive commercial strategies and relationships, driving material readiness and cost competitiveness across our infrastructure roadmap
Provide commercial and technical guidance during the selection and evaluation of vendors and equipment, ensuring alignment with data center operational and design requirements.
Regularly communicate sourcing updates, risks, and milestones to executive stakeholders.
You might thrive in this role if :
10 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or contract management for data center infrastructure and operations, as well as leading sourcing for data centers or major capital equipment
Proven track record of managing contracts and vendor relationships for large-scale data centers, including general contractors, technical specialists, and global suppliers, with a focus on commercial terms and international logistics
A strong understanding of data center equipment technical standards and operations, including electrical (e.g., switchgear, transformers), mechanical (e.g., cooling, heat management), and connectivity solutions
Knowledge of power, cooling, networking, and construction systems
Experience working with diverse external partners, including government agencies, consulting firms, and engineering design firms.
Familiarity with industry best practices and standards for data center design and operation.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on cost optimization and value delivery.
Proven ability to negotiate and shape multi-equipment deals and commercial terms for capital projects; drive vendor accountability.
Strong cross-functional leadership experience, including managing internal and external executive stakeholders to drive major project decisions
Expertise in balancing technical and financial trade-offs in high-cost environments, including structuring payment milestones
Experience with supply chain, manufacturing, and material readiness for large-scale projects
Advanced certifications in procurement, project management, or data center operations are preferred.
About OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.
We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.
OpenAI Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement
For US Based Candidates : Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.
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At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.
Compensation Range : $270K - $425K
Salary : $270,000 - $425,000
