Data Center Finance Leader: Investment & Capital

OpenAI; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 347,000 - 385,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Parental leave

Paid time off

Relocation support

Learning stipend

Meals in offices

Wellness programs

Job summary

OpenAI seeks a Head of Finance - Data Centers to lead the finance for our self-built data center programs. You will partner with infrastructure, real estate, energy, construction, procurement, and finance teams to turn proposed sites into sound investment decisions and funded projects.

This role spans the full development lifecycle: evaluating opportunities, building investment cases, forecasting capital needs, managing construction budgets, and helping determine how projects should be financed.

Qualifications

• Prior experience as a finance leader for large-scale data center builds or major electric generation projects.
• Experience in investment banking or private equity is a strong plus.
• 10+ years of experience in strategic or infrastructure finance, project development, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial evaluation of proposed data center and power infrastructure projects, including site economics and risks.
• Build and own project-level models and capital expenditure forecasts connecting construction, procurement, and funding.
• Establish capital budgets and financial controls; track spending, commitments, and forecasts to completion.
• Partner with development, engineering, energy, construction, and procurement leaders on cost and timing decisions.
• Work with Treasury, Corporate Finance, Tax, and Legal to evaluate financing options such as project debt, leases, and joint ventures.
• Prepare investment recommendations and capital approval materials for senior leadership.
• Build a portfolio view of project costs, cash needs, milestones, and financial performance; partner with Accounting through handoff.

Skills

Investment analysis

Capital budgeting

Financial modeling

Project finance

Leadership

Job description

OpenAI seeks a Head of Finance - Data Centers to lead the finance for our self-built data center programs. You will partner with infrastructure, real estate, energy, construction, procurement, and finance teams to turn proposed sites into sound investment decisions and funded projects.

This role spans the full development lifecycle: evaluating opportunities, building investment cases, forecasting capital needs, managing construction budgets, and helping determine how projects should be financed.