Director - Site Development

Thea Energy, Inc.; Kearny (NJ); On-site; USD 125,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range $125,000-$230,000

Comprehensive health benefits

Employee equity stock options

20 days PTO

Job summary

A pioneering fusion energy company located in Kearny, NJ, seeks an experienced Director of Site Development. This role involves leading site selection for the company's innovative fusion systems, coordinating with various stakeholders, and securing local and state incentives. The ideal candidate will possess over 10 years of experience in site selection or complex construction projects, strong negotiation skills, and a relevant degree. The company offers a competitive salary and comprehensive health benefits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant work experience in site selection or construction project development.
• Proven track record of securing complex state and local incentive packages.
• Experience navigating zoning ordinances and regulatory frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Define and manage site selection criteria.
• Lead negotiations for incentive packages and grants.
• Serve as liaison with government to navigate permitting processes.
• Build relationships with local stakeholders and ensure project community support.
• Identify and manage risks related to land use and environmental impacts.
• Align siting processes with company technical requirements.
• Establish baselines for scheduling and costs across project phases.

Skills

Site selection

Negotiation of incentive packages

Understanding of regulatory frameworks

Infrastructure development

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or greater in a relevant field

Job description

About Thea Energy:

Thea Energy is leveraging recent breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering to create a faster and simpler approach to commercializing fusion energy. The company is reinventing the stellarator using computer-controlled arrays of planar coils thereby replacing the intricate, complex modular magnets required in all other stellarator architectures. Thea Energy is on a mission to create a limitless source of zero emission energy for a sustainable future.

Position Overview:

Thea Energy is seeking an execution-oriented Director - Site Development to lead the complex process of identifying, evaluating, and securing the location for the Company’s upcoming fusion systems. This candidate will interact with Company leadership, finance & operations, and technical teams, and external stakeholders. The Director - Site Development will lead the site selection processes for the Company’s core operations and integrated fusion systems and will be responsible for securing competitive state and local incentive packages, navigating regulatory frameworks, and establishing strong community partnerships. Your efforts will directly contribute to the organization's success by aligning technical requirements with community and government support.

Key Responsibility Areas:

• Define and manage technical and resource-based site selection criteria.
• Identify, evaluate, and lead negotiations for state and local incentive packages, tax credits, and infrastructure grants.
• Serve as the primary liaison with state and local governments to navigate regulatory frameworks and permitting processes.
• Lead local stakeholder outreach to build community relationships and secure the local stakeholder trust required for a first-of-a-kind fusion energy project.
• Proactively identify and manage risks related to land use, zoning, and environmental impact assessments.
• Align the siting process with technical requirements and company stakeholders to ensure site readiness and compatibility.
• Establish and maintain schedule and cost baselines for siting, incentives, land acquisition, and construction phases.

Ideal Experience & Skillsets:

• 10+ years of relevant work experience driving site selection, first of a kind construction project development, or government affairs within deep tech, energy, hardware, or aerospace.
• Proven track record of successfully negotiating and securing complex state and local incentive packages or non-dilutive government funding.
• Comfort interfacing with legal and regulatory frameworks; able to effectively partner with counsel to navigate zoning ordinances, term sheets, and incentive contracts.
• Experience with complex and capital intensive infrastructure development cycles.
• Highly structured and process-driven, with a speed and execution mindset and the ability to manage competing priorities across internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, particularly in public-facing or sensitive negotiation settings.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment.
• Bachelor's degree or greater in a relevant technical, legal, or policy field.

Company Benefits:

• Salary range $125,000-$230,000
• Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)
• Employee equity stock options
• 20 days PTO

It’s not necessary to meet all of the skillsets outlined above. Please feel free to send us a note and tell us why you would still be a great fit for this role or Thea Energy.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Thea Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a company of diverse backgrounds. By creating a diverse environment, we will bring new ideas and approaches to solving some of the world’s hardest (and most important) problems. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, family or marital status, age, disability, veteran’s status, or other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.