Director - Site Development

Thea Energy; Kearny (NJ); Híbrido; USD 125.000 - 230.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Salary range: $125,000-$230,000

Comprehensive health benefits (medical

Employee equity stock options

20 days PTO

Descripción de la vacante

Thea Energy Inc. is seeking a Director - Site Development to lead site selection for the company's fusion systems. You will define criteria, assess locations, and manage incentives, permits, and infrastructure collaborations with government and community partners.

This execution-focused role requires strong negotiation, regulatory savvy, and the ability to align technical needs with public and stakeholder support, with up to 50% travel and a fast-paced startup environment.

Formación

• 10+ years driving site selection or first-of-a-kind construction projects in deep tech, energy, hardware, or aerospace.
• Proven track record securing complex state/local incentives or non-dilutive government funding.
• Experience with zoning, term sheets, and incentive contracts; able to work with counsel.
• Experience with capital-intensive infrastructure development cycles.
• Structured, process-driven with strong execution and prioritization skills.
• Excellent communication, especially in public-facing negotiations.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Up to 50% travel.

Responsabilidades

• Define and manage site selection criteria and baselines.
• Identify, evaluate, and negotiate state/local incentive packages and grants.
• Serve as liaison with state/local governments for permitting and regulations.
• Lead local stakeholder outreach to build trust for a first-of-a-kind project.
• Identify and manage risks related to land use, zoning, and environmental impact assessments.
• Align siting with technical requirements and company stakeholders.
• Maintain schedule and cost baselines for siting, incentives, land acquisition, and construction.

Conocimientos

Site selection

Incentives negotiation

Regulatory navigation

Stakeholder engagement

Project execution

Educación

Bachelor's degree in technical, legal, or policy field

Descripción del empleo

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.
• This role will require up to 50% travel.

Company Benefits:

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

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.