Workforce Development & Education Manager, Infrastructure Sites

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.

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.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in data centers, telecommunications, semiconductor manufacturing, energy, or other industries with substantial technical workforce needs.
• Familiarity with training and credentials relevant to data center careers, such as OSHA 30-hour and NFPA 70E safety training, Schneider Electric DCCA, BICSI cabling credentials, CompTIA certifications, and EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerant work.
• Experience with workforce funding sources, including Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs, apprenticeship grants, and state workforce or community college grants.
• Experience helping local residents enter skilled trades and technical careers through community-based education and training partnerships.