Director, Project Development

Role Overview

• Overseeing a team of internal resources as well as third party consultants, advisors, engineers and lawyers to obtain all permits, contracts and entitlements necessary to begin site preparation and construction activities
• Maintain project schedule and budget information utilizing industry standard project management techniques and strategies to plan and monitor work. Develop appropriate recovery plans in the event of potential shortfalls
• Establish a center of excellence for project development including objectives and key results, performance metrics and documented best practices and lessons learned with the intent of creating a replicable playbook for future development
• Drive process improvements and, where applicable, drive the development of tools and/or department or division policies.
• Develop a diligence log to keep accurate information on all aspects of the project
• Develop and maintain a repository of potential sites and partners for future ARC development
• Maintain an inventory of commitments and obligations during the development phase and confirm positive receipt by appropriate persons in the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Security (EHSS) and Construction teams
• Work with legal and compliance teams to ensure compliance with all relevant and applicable requirements, standards, and laws
• Support technical due diligence on potential and selected sites, ensuring appropriate rigor and documentation of key risks and decisions
• Create long-term projection of revenues and expenses with a proforma to be utilized in obtaining financing and making a financial investment decision for project equity investors
• Proactively detect and mitigate key risks to the project, escalating emergent risks when appropriate in a timely manner
• Facilitate and lead the development of creative solutions to potentially blocking issues
• Work collaboratively with local consultants and contractors to adapt to requirements from various authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ) for the project(s)
• Maintain familiarity with current and upcoming Policies and Programs that could affect or facilitate fusion power plant siting
• Expand flexibility for the design and construction teams throughout the development phase by managing and deferring potentially constraining design decisions.
• Work closely with ARC design team to support site specific design changes to the standard ARC power plant design
• Model and promote CFS Core values of Execution, Self-Critique, Impact, and Integrity
• Organize, recruit, and lead an effective project development team composing of both direct reports and matrixed professionals focused on delivering fusion power projects in the fastest and most affordable way possible
• Conduct assessment of external affairs and participate in industry conferences and forums to advocate for policies supportive of fusion technology.
• Facilitate and lead a cross functional group of internal stakeholders, consultants, and contractors
• Coordinate due diligence activities with other internal groups to ensure proper analysis and structuring of assigned projects
• Serve as CFS’ subject matter expert on project development and represent the company professionally with integrity to stakeholders and approval authorities
• Provide periodic updates on progress to a varied set of internal stakeholders ranging from peer teams to the board of directors
• Fulfill duties as contract manager/owner for all consultants supporting project development
• Act as liaison between internal and external specialists regarding procurement, contracting, permitting and interconnection
• Serve as an ambassador of CFS and fusion energy to key stakeholders including, but not limited to the community, local and regional governments, and AHJs
• Utilizes commercial expertise to solidify commercial agreements and lead negotiations with integrity, creativity, and a commercial mindset
• Promotes safe behavior, in accordance with Company expectations, and adherence to the safety rules on the project
• Develop and implement corporate compliance policies to be utilized while developing the project and interfacing with public officials
• Working closely with Government Affairs, develop engagement strategies for key stakeholders to produce positive outcomes for CFS
• Develop, track and mitigate key risks associated with ARC project development
• Participate in future ARC siting activities addressing items such as technical feasibility, planning, and permitting risks.
• Establish relationships with potential third-party developers and key policy makers to promote a strategy for future incorporation of fusion technology
• Support other teams, including Government Affairs and other Commercial Teams, as required to support the needs of the business
• Maintain a value driven mindset to advance multiple streams of value including financial value, option value, and audience value to improve CFS’s overall value proposition
• Work with and support corporate development, finance, and commercial organizations on activities related to financing and investment of the projects
• Work closely with Environmental Health Safety Security (EHSS) to ensure required licensing is accomplished on schedule
• Work with the ARC design team to identify opportunities to improve the design, development, and construction processes

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Engineering, Engineering Technologies, Business, Finance, Economics, Math, Physics or a related field **OR **>10 years of progressive experience developing large scale energy projects
• 5+ years of large capital project development and investment
• A minimum 5 years project management experience
• Demonstrated cross-functional project leadership experience, team performance skills, service mindset approach, and the ability to act as a trusted advisor
• MS Excel
• Proficiency
• MS Power Point
• Proficiency
• MS Project or P-6 Primavera
• Proficiency
• Deep knowledge of project development and project management practices across a wide range of domains including project finance, permitting, electrical interconnection
• Experience in successfully achieving FID or financing of a major project (greater than $50 mm financing)
• Proven and demonstrated success leading a cross-company, multi-function enterprise team through a large, complex project
• Sufficient technical aptitude to rapidly learn fundamental concepts of fusion power plants
• Ability to deliver presentations to a range of external audiences in a sincere and personable manner, adhering to company talking points and messaging.
• Demonstrated ability to consensus build, appropriately balance competing functional drivers and effectively communicate complex topics
• Demonstrated project management capabilities with proven ability to prioritize multiple projects and/or issues with conflicting deadlines and/or business unit drivers
• Demonstrate a reliable and persistent work ethic, seeing tasks through to completion. Stays determined in the face of uncertainty and failure
• Adaptability to a start-up environment, capability to take initiative, develop own tasks and timelines, and solve broad, ambiguous problems.
• Comfort and capability making judgment calls that are fundamental to the success of entire projects or major initiatives
• Proven writing and communication ability, and consistent quality of work appropriate for preparing material for a broad external audience
• Can respectfully challenge senior leadership with a well-reasoned and data-supported argument.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation with equity
• 12.5 Company-wide Holidays
• Flexible vacation days
• 10 sick days
• Generous parental leave policy
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Professional growth opportunities
• Team-building activities