Director, Special Projects

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing startup in the nuclear and energy space creating a never before seen fleet-scale approach to building nuclear reactors. Through its design-once, build-many approach and coalition building across communities, regulators, and financial stakeholders, The Nuclear Company is committed to delivering safe and reliable electricity at the lowest cost, while catalyzing the nuclear industry toward rapid development in America and globally.

About the role

The Director, Special Projects is a senior security leadership role responsible for the strategic design, governance, and delivery of enterprise security initiatives across TNC's fleet-scale nuclear construction and operational programs. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, regulators, and government stakeholders assuring that TNC's people, assets, critical infrastructure, and organizational reputation are protected at every stage of development. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in civil and defense nuclear security, critical national infrastructure (CNI) protection, and operational resilience, with a proven track record of enabling complex, high-value programs to progress safely within highly regulated environments. This role requires a leader who can build and govern security operating models, lead multidisciplinary teams, and drive regulatory assurance at the Board and executive level.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Security Leadership
  • Develop and execute enterprise-wide security strategies aligned with TNC's fleet-scale nuclear construction mission and long-term business objectives.
  • Provide technical authority and executive assurance across multi-project portfolios, ensuring regulatory compliance and operational resilience.
  • Design and implement security operating models and service frameworks that scale across multiple sites and programs.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders, regulators, and government bodies on all matters of security strategy and risk.
• Program Governance & Delivery
  • Lead the governance and delivery of nuclear and CNI security services across complex, regulated programs.
  • Develop and maintain security cases for regulatory review and approval.
  • Ability to oversee physical security architecture and engineering across TNC's construction and operational sites.
  • Implement strategies and make principled, data-based decisions that account for critical factors including cost, schedule, risk, and regulatory requirements.
• Risk, Threat & Crisis Management
  • Direct enterprise-level risk, threat, and vulnerability management programs.
  • Lead crisis management and business resilience planning, ensuring TNC is prepared for a full spectrum of security scenarios.
  • Conduct and oversee risk assessments to inform security posture and investment decisions.
  • Support effective working relationships between international and United States entities involving TNC security interests.
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Lead, mentor, and assure teams of senior security consultants, subject matter experts, and operational security personnel.
  • Build a high-performing, multidisciplinary security organization that achieves superior results.
  • Hold self and others accountable for living the TNC TRUST principles.
  • Respect the dignity of every individual and different viewpoints; foster a culture of inclusion and collaboration.
• Financial & Business Performance
  • Manage financial performance of security programs to contain costs and support the long-term success of the company.
  • Develop and grow security service lines, contributing to business growth and stakeholder confidence.
  • Shape employee and stakeholder opinions, and work through conflicts to create win/win outcomes.

Experience

• High school education or equivalent required.
• BS/BA degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, business, psychology, or comparable work experience preferred.

Background & Experience

• Minimum 10 years of security, military, and/or civilian law enforcement leadership experience required.
• Prior nuclear security management/supervisory experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience at the Director level or above, with accountability for enterprise security strategy, regulatory assurance, and operational resilience across nuclear, CNI, government, or energy sectors.
• Proven track record of Board and executive-level engagement, including advising regulators and government bodies.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary security teams across complex, multi-project portfolios.
• Background in security case development and regulatory approval processes.
• Experience designing and implementing security operating models and service frameworks.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Deep expertise in nuclear and critical national infrastructure security environments.
• Strong capabilities in physical security architecture and engineering.
• Proven risk, threat, and vulnerability management skills with sound decision-making ability.
• Experience in crisis management and business resilience planning.
• Ability to support effective working relationships between international and United States entities involving TNC security interests.
• Ability to lead and motivate a large, geographically distributed team.
• Must know or have the ability to learn and maintain the Security Program in support of company objectives and in compliance with changing regulatory requirements.
• Experience with small-arms, security electronic detection and computer systems, and small unit tactics will be strongly considered.

Any applicant accepting this position will be required to meet background screening and NRC Fitness for Duty requirements.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation packages.
• 401k with company match.
• Medical, dental, vision plans.
• Generous vacation policy, plus holidays.

Estimated Starting Salary Range

The estimated starting salary range for this role is $178,000 - $204,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi-weekly basis. The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company’s discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role.

EEO Statement

The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.

Export Control

Certain positions at The Nuclear Company may involve access to information and technology subject to export controls under U.S. law. Compliance with these export controls may result in The Nuclear Company limiting its consideration of certain applicants.

Recruiting Fraud Alert

Your safety is our priority. We want to ensure your job search stays secure. Please note that the team at The Nuclear Company only communicates through official @thenuclearcompany.com email addresses. We will never ask for payments or sensitive financial information at any stage of our recruitment process. For your peace of mind, please verify all openings and submit your applications directly through our official careers page.