Director - Site Development

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

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range

Health benefits

Equity stock options

20 days PTO

Job summary

Thea Energy is seeking an experienced Director - Site Development to architect and lead the site selection, incentives, and development strategy for our first-of-a-kind fusion energy projects. In this role, you will define criteria for future sites, lead negotiations for state and local incentive packages, and navigate regulatory and permitting frameworks.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record in capital-intensive infrastructure or deep-tech project development, excels in high-stakes

Qualifications

• 10+ years driving site selection for capital-intensive or deep-tech projects.
• Proven track record negotiating complex state/local incentives or grants.
• Experience with zoning, permitting, and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience with infrastructure development cycles and risk management.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement in fast-paced startups.

Responsibilities

• Define and manage site selection criteria and requirements.
• Lead negotiations for state/local incentives, tax credits, and grants.
• Interface with government bodies to navigate regulatory frameworks.
• Lead local outreach to build community relationships and trust.
• Identify and manage risks related to land use, zoning, and environmental impact.
• Align siting with technical needs and company stakeholders.
• Establish schedule and cost baselines for siting, incentives, land, and construction.

Skills

Site selection

Project development

Negotiations

Stakeholder management

Regulatory navigation

Public-facing communications

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in technical/legal/policy 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 experienced, strategic, and highly motivated Director - Site Development to architect and lead the site selection, incentives, and development strategy for our first-of-a-kind fusion energy projects. In this role, you will define the technical and resource-based criteria for our future sites, lead negotiations for state and local incentive packages, and navigate complex regulatory and permitting frameworks. You will serve as the primary liaison to government bodies and local communities, building the foundational relationships and stakeholder trust required to bring commercial fusion online. The ideal candidate has a proven track record in capital-intensive infrastructure or deep-tech project development, excels in high-stakes negotiations, and thrives in a fast-paced, highly autonomous environment. Thea Energy’s dynamic team is made up of self-motivated individuals with an excitement for solving complex problems.

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

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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.