Business Development Lead, Compute Strategy

OpenAI

Compute infrastructure partnerships lead sourcing and negotiating high-value deals for OpenAI, an AI research and deployment company. Shaping energy, cloud, silicon, real estate, and financing partnerships to expand reliable AI capacity.

Posted 8/6/2026full-timeSan Francisco • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $226,000 - $285,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in sourcing, negotiating, and executing complex commercial agreements within infrastructure sectors, while effectively managing relationships with senior stakeholders and aligning technical and business objectives.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Business DevelopmentStrategic PartnershipsNegotiation SkillsMarket IntelligenceRelationship Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills

Commercial AgreementsInfrastructure FinanceAnalytical SkillsDeal StructuringProject Development

Soft Skills

Exceptional NegotiationRelationship ManagementComfort Navigating Ambiguity

Certifications & Qualifications

JDMBA

Industry Keywords

Energy and PowerReal EstateColocationCloud Service ProvidersCapital Markets

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Cloud

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Source, evaluate, structure, negotiate, close, and execute partnership opportunities end-to-end across compute infrastructure focus areas
Lead negotiations for complex commercial agreements, balancing cost, speed, and long-term scalability
Build and manage relationships with senior leaders across utilities, real estate, colocation and cloud providers, semiconductor and equipment suppliers, financial institutions, and capital providers
Develop market intelligence for OpenAI’s infrastructure roadmap and partnership strategy
Coordinate with engineering, legal, finance, Treasury, and operations to align agreements with technical and business objectives
Represent OpenAI in external forums, conferences, and industry working groups
Establish governance for signed agreements and track delivery, risks, economics, and business impact against commercial and technical objectives

Requirements

What you’ll need

8+ years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, private equity, corporate development, project development, or infrastructure finance
Relevant experience in at least one focus area: energy and power, land and real estate, colocation, cloud service providers, silicon, fiber and equipment, or capital markets
Demonstrated track record of closing complex, high-value commercial agreements
Deep expertise in at least one listed infrastructure focus area
Ability to translate technical requirements and constraints into commercial structures and contract terms
Exceptional negotiation and relationship management skills, including engagement with C-level stakeholders
Strong analytical skills for assessing market opportunities, modeling deal structures, and evaluating long-term ROI
Comfort navigating ambiguity in a fast-moving environment
JD, MBA, or equivalent experience preferred but not required

Benefits

Comp & perks

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)
Paid medical and caregiver leave (up to 8 weeks)
Flexible PTO for exempt employees and up to 15 days annually for non-exempt employees
13+ paid company holidays
Multiple paid coordinated company office closures throughout the year for focus and recharge
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
Daily meals in offices, and meal delivery credits as eligible
Relocation support for eligible employees
Charitable donation matching
Wellness stipends
Immigration and sponsorship support may be provided based on individual circumstances