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OpenAI

Associate General Counsel, Commercial – Infrastructure

Hybrid

Part remote, part office, you need to live within commuting distance of a named location.

Hybrid · San Francisco

Employer listed it 8 weeks ago · Added 2 days ago

Been open since 8 weeks ago. Long-running listings are sometimes left up after the role is filled.

Salary

$381,000 to $423,000

Location

Hybrid · San Francisco

Timezone

Not stated

Contract

Full-time

Experience

Senior

Category

Finance

Published by the employer

Remote flexibility

Hybrid

This role is only partly remote, the employer expects time in the office around San Francisco, Hybrid, so you need to live within commuting distance.

What the employer says

  • Source listing states candidate location: "San Francisco, Hybrid"
  • Listing mentions "Hybrid"

What Nomaders makes of it

  • Not suitable if you plan to move between countries

The quotes above are the employer's own words; the reading is ours. Always check the original listing and employment terms before working from another country.

About the role

About the Team

OpenAI’s Legal team plays a crucial role in advancing our mission by tackling novel and consequential legal issues in AI. The commercial infrastructure legal team supports the systems and facilities that make advanced AI possible, including compute, first-party silicon, colocation, and first-party data center development.

About the Role

We’re seeking a senior commercial infrastructure lawyer to lead legal work across our rapidly growing data center development and colocation portfolio. You will advise on complex, high-value transactions involving new data center sites, power, construction, colocation, and related infrastructure arrangements.

This role is designed for a lawyer who understands how data centers are developed and operated—not a general real estate practitioner. You will work closely with infrastructure, finance, procurement, and operations teams, while coordinating outside counsel where appropriate, to help projects move quickly and responsibly.

San Francisco is preferred, and occasional travel may be required.

In this role, you will:

Lead commercial legal strategy and risk management for data center development and colocation transactions.

Draft, negotiate, and advise on colocation agreements, construction agreements, power-related arrangements, and other contracts supporting data center development.

Support first-party projects involving raw land, site and power rights, design and construction, EPC models, third-party build-to-suit structures, and leasebacks.

Partner cross-functionally with infrastructure, finance, procurement, operations, and other stakeholders on fast-moving, complex projects.

Manage and collaborate effectively with outside counsel across a high volume of infrastructure matters.

Develop scalable legal playbooks and contracting approaches for a growing portfolio of data center sites.

You might thrive in this role if you have:

12+ years of legal experience, primarily in commercial legal roles.

Deep, hands-on experience drafting, negotiating, and advising on colocation and data center agreements.

Experience with one or more of the following: first-party data center builds, construction and EPC agreements, power arrangements, raw-land development, build-to-suit projects, or leasebacks.

A track record leading sophisticated, high-value commercial infrastructure transactions.

Experience at a hyperscaler, cloud or compute provider, data center developer, major colocation company, or law firm practice focused on comparable commercial infrastructure matters.

A mix of in-house and top-tier law firm experience.

Excellent judgment and the ability to operate autonomously in a highly technical, fast-paced environment.

Strong communication skills and an ability to translate complex legal issues into practical, business-aligned guidance.

A JD and license or qualification to practice in California.

About OpenAI

Requirements

  • ·12+ years of legal experience, primarily in commercial legal roles.
  • ·Deep, hands-on experience drafting, negotiating, and advising on colocation and data center agreements.
  • ·Experience with one or more of the following: first-party data center builds, construction and EPC agreements, power arrangements, raw-land development, build-to-suit projects, or leasebacks.
  • ·A track record leading sophisticated, high-value commercial infrastructure transactions.
  • ·Experience at a hyperscaler, cloud or compute provider, data center developer, major colocation company, or law firm practice focused on comparable commercial infrastructure matters.

Benefits

No benefits package published with this listing. Ask about it at first interview.

How to apply

  1. 1Check the flexibility label above, hybrid, matches where you plan to live and work.
  2. 2Tailor your CV to the role at OpenAI, mentioning your remote working experience.
  3. 3Apply directly on the employer's careers page using the button below. Nomaders never handles your application.

Found 3d ago. Last checked today. Always confirm the details on the original posting, salary and location can change after publication.

Listing sourced from Company boards.

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$381,000 to $423,000 · You'll be taken to the employer's careers page.