Workforce Development & Education Manager, Infrastructure Sites

📋 Job Overview

At OpenAI, we are proud to build and operate our data centers with a community-first led approach. From construction to operations, we want to be positive partners within our data center communities that we are honored to call home…and we are just getting started.

🏢 About OpenAI

OpenAI is seeking a Workforce Development & Education Manager to help build local talent for data center construction, commissioning, and operations in communities hosting OpenAI infrastructure projects. You will work with infrastructure teams and project partners, education providers, and local Community Engagement Leads to understand workforce needs and help education and training providers prepare people for these jobs of the future.

🎯 The Role

You will build partnerships with local community colleges, technical schools, universities, and union apprenticeship programs from the ground up. Working with educators and technical experts, you will develop and expand training programs that connect local residents with career opportunities and meet the local industry hiring needs.

✅ Key Responsibilities

• Work in partnership with the local Community Engagement Lead to build and manage relationships with community colleges, technical schools, universities, career and technical education programs, and local workforce boards.
• Work with building trades unions and joint apprenticeship and training committees to expand training opportunities aligned with project needs both on a local and national level.
• Partner with OpenAI’s infrastructure teams, developers, contractors, and operators to identify job requirements, skills gaps, and hiring timelines across construction, commissioning, and operations.
• Work with educators and technical experts to develop or adapt curricula, hands-on training, and credential programs that reflect employer requirements and offerings available through OpenAI’s literacy programs.
• Support apprenticeships, internships, and other work-based learning opportunities with participating employers.
• Manage program implementation, including timelines, partner responsibilities, and progress against agreed goals.
• Track participation, completion, credential attainment, job placement, and retention, working with partners to use the results to improve programs.
• Partner with the local Community Engagement Lead to identify workforce grants and other funding opportunities, and help education and training partners pursue relevant support.
• Represent OpenAI on local workforce advisory councils and in meetings with education, labor, and community partners, in partnership with the Community Engagement Lead.
• Manage the program operations and administrative tasks needed to run a successful workforce development program within our data center communities.

📌 Required Qualifications

• Seven or more years of experience in workforce development, technical education, apprenticeship programs, or education–industry partnerships.
• Bachelor’s degree in education, instructional design, workforce development, engineering technology, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience developing and delivering technical training programs with employers and education providers.
• Experience working with trade unions, apprenticeship programs, and labor leaders.
• Ability to work with technical experts to translate job requirements into clear learning objectives and practical training.
• Experience managing programs with multiple partners, competing priorities, and defined deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience working with educators, public officials, labor representatives, and technical leaders.
• Experience evaluating program outcomes and using findings to improve delivery.
• Experience in operating with ambiguity and building successful programs from the ground up, with responsible scalability in mind.

⭐ Desirable Experience

• Experience in data centers, telecommunications, semiconductor manufacturing,

🎁 Benefits

Compensation Tier $176K – $385K • Offers Equity
The base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. If the role is non-exempt, overtime pay will be provided consistent with applicable laws. In addition to the salary range listed above, total compensation also includes generous equity, performance-related bonus(es) for eligible employees, and the following benefits.

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.
More details about our benefits are available to candidates during the hiring process.

This role is at-will and OpenAI reserves the right to modify base pay and other compensation components at any time based on individual performance, team or company results, or market conditions.

🛂 Visa & Eligibility