Senior Leasing & Strategy Manager, Real Estate & Workplace

ABOUT THE TEAM At OpenAI, our Real Estate & Workplace (REW) team builds and manages the environments that power our innovation. We create spaces that are efficient, scalable, and aligned with our mission — from strategic leasing decisions to the systems that keep our workplaces running smoothly. Joining this team means helping shape the environments where world-changing technology is built. ABOUT THE ROLE We’re looking for a Senior Leasing & Strategy Manager to lead high-impact projects and shape the strategic direction of OpenAI’s global real estate portfolio. You’ll partner with the Leasing and Transactions team to own the full lifecycle of lease transactions, with a strong emphasis on detailed lease review, financial analysis, and portfolio strategy. You’ll also evaluate new opportunities, manage risks, and ensure all leasing decisions align with OpenAI’s long-term business objectives. This role is based in San Francisco, CA. We use a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office per week and offer relocation assistance to new employees. You’ll thrive here if you’re excited to: - Develop and execute real estate strategies that balance cost, flexibility, and growth needs. - Perform detailed proposal and lease reviews of serviced office and direct leases to negotiate the best outcome for OpenAI. - Shape portfolio decisions by creating models, scenarios, and recommendations for leadership. - Balance strategy with day-to-day execution, ensuring outcomes align with company priorities. - Partner with landlords to foster relationships. - Introduce scalable processes that improve efficiency and decision-making. IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL: - Lead end-to-end execution of lease transactions, from strategy and RFPs through lease negotiation, review, approvals and signing. - Conduct in-depth review of proposals and leases to ensure they benefit OpenAI. - Develop portfolio strategies and and translate insights into clear, executive-level presentations and briefing materials. - Build robust financial models and scenario plans. - Track lease expirations, critical dates, and portfolio exposure to enable proactive decision-making. - Collaborate cross-functionally (Strategic Finance, Legal, Design & Construction, Occupancy Planning, Accounting, and other teams) to align lease terms with strategic and operational needs. - Partner on budgeting, variance reporting, and monthly financial reviews with Strategic Finance and Accounting teams. - Maintain accurate reporting and portfolio analytics to inform future strategy and investments. - Assist with Letter of Credits, Security Deposit and Certificates of Insurance and work with internal and external stakeholders on updates to LOC and Security Deposits. - Team with Lease Administration to ensure a high level of accuracy on reporting. - Track lease expirations and assist in coordination of restoration work and move-out oblig - ations. - Use AI-powered tools to accelerate analysis and scenario-planning and to streamline lease review, financial modeling, and portfolio reporting. - Support sustainability initiatives by ensuring lease requirements align with OpenAI’s environmental goals. YOU MIGHT THRIVE IN THIS ROLE IF YOU HAVE: - 6–8+ years of corporate real estate transactions across commercial office, industrial, and warehouse environments; in-house experience strongly preferred. - Advanced expertise in lease interpretation, real estate strategy, financial modeling, and risk assessment. - A proven ability to create clear deliverables for executive decision-making. - Strong communication skills with the ability to resolve ambiguity and independently solve complex issues. - Balanced strategic planning with execution, moving seamlessly from big-picture portfolio strategy to detailed lease review. - Proficiency in ChatGPT, Codex, Google/Microsoft Suites, and Lease Administration systems. About OpenAI OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligen