HSE and Portfolio Performance Lead

About the Team The Data Center Build and Delivery team develops the infrastructure that supports OpenAI’s research and products. We work with engineering, construction partners and Operations to deliver safe, reliable facilities at scale. As our portfolio grows, consistent health, safety and environmental practices and clear performance measures help teams identify risks early and deliver sites that are ready to operate. About the Role We are looking for an HSE and Portfolio Performance Lead to strengthen health, safety and environmental oversight and performance management across our data center construction portfolio. You will help sites meet applicable OSHA standards and other HSE requirements, from construction through commissioning and handoff to Operations. You will work across site teams, delivery partners and central functions to establish practical expectations, verify execution and turn portfolio data into action. This role combines hands-on HSE expertise with a portfolio view of contractor performance, risk and operational readiness. Key Responsibilities - Develop a consistent portfolio HSE framework covering contractor expectations, risk assessments, field verification, training and escalation, aligned with OpenAI’s EHS standards and relevant specialists. - Translate applicable OSHA construction and general-industry requirements into practical site expectations, verify implementation and clarify responsibilities as work transitions from construction to commissioning and Operations. - Partner with site and discipline leaders to assess high-risk work, verify critical controls and escalate unsafe conditions, including electrical energization, hazardous energy, lifting, excavation and concurrent construction and operating activities. - Establish portfolio performance measures and reporting for HSE outcomes, contractor performance, corrective-action closure and handoff readiness; align definitions with delivery and Operations teams and validate data quality. - Lead cross-site performance reviews to identify recurring risks, compare execution against agreed expectations and drive improvement plans with accountable owners, milestones and follow-through. - Plan risk-based site assurance and contractor reviews, support incident and near-miss investigations, verify corrective actions and embed lessons learned across the portfolio. - Coordinate environmental compliance with site teams and specialists, including waste management, spill prevention, stormwater controls and relevant permit obligations. - Define HSE readiness criteria for operational handoff with commissioning and Operations teams, including training, procedures, emergency preparedness, outstanding risks and transfer of required records. - Provide clear portfolio updates and recommendations to leadership, surface decisions and resource needs early, and build consistent safety leadership across employees, developers, contractors and service providers. Qualifications - Substantial experience leading HSE programs for major construction or complex industrial projects, including oversight across multiple sites or workstreams and responsibility for contractor performance. - Working knowledge of applicable OSHA construction and general-industry standards, with experience translating requirements into site controls and verifying implementation across construction, commissioning and operating interfaces. - Practical understanding of data center or complex industrial hazards, including electrical safety, hazardous-energy control and high-risk construction activities. - Demonstrated ability to build assurance, performance reporting and corrective-action programs and use leading and lagging indicators to improve outcomes. - Experience coordinatin