Director, Licensing

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 of Licensing is responsible for leading the planning, development, and implementation of licensing and permitting activities for The Nuclear Company's reactor projects. Leads teams responsible for reactor technology licensing with a focus on technical and programmatic regulatory matters, design and project-related licensing application development and engagement, and interfaces between the TNC team (i.e., PMO, licensing, design, analysis), prospective owner/operators, project stakeholders, and regulatory authorities. This role requires knowledge and experience in relevant topic areas such as project management, nuclear project finance, environmental laws, nuclear safety, nuclear security, emergency planning, construction, commissioning, and safeguards.  This role would be based out of our Columbia, SC office.

Responsibilities:

• Lead development of regulatory strategy, engagement plans, licensing application development, regulatory review coordination, and stakeholder engagement on licensing and regulatory matters.
• Take ownership of portions of regulatory activities (certifications, permits, approvals, and licenses associated with reactor projects) and ensure milestones are met as agreed with project stakeholders and regulatory authorities.
• Manage/coordinate activities across the licensing teams (discipline and function) to develop successful applications and facilitate their subsequent reviews.
• Ensure documentation developed by regulatory authorities (i.e., Safety Evaluation Reports, Environmental Impact Statements) are accurate, adequate, consistent, and support the project in ensuring compliance.
• Provide guidance to project teams on existing regulatory precedents and monitor the state of the regulatory environment for potential TNC projects. Think and explore creative solutions for regulatory review processes.
• Interface directly with the regulators’ project managers in executing regulatory engagement plans, negotiating review schedules, and managing regulatory audits and RAIs (Requests for Additional Information).
• Write regulatory responses and submit them in accordance with the regulatory guidelines.
• Support planning and executing TNC's business and regulatory strategies.
• Support development of regulatory budgets and planning.
• Actively supports the safety culture and ensures integration of quality in licensing processes.

Experience:

• B.S. in Engineering or Science (i.e., Mechanical, Nuclear, Electrical, Physics, Environmental).
• Ten years relevant engineering, project management, and/or licensing/regulatory affairs experience.
• Experience leading licensing/regulatory affairs teams in achieving regulatory outcomes (i.e., safety evaluations, design approval/certification, license issuance) including experience managing interactions with expert advisory committees or equivalents. Representative experience gained through engineering or project management may be substituted as equivalent.
• Experience in direct NRC, DOE, and/or state-level regulator interactions (written and/or verbal).
• One or more of the following:
  • Knowledge of NRC regulations, requirements, guidance, and industry codes and standards.
  • Experience managing multi-disciplinary projects and contract staff.
  • Experience in working under a quality assurance program such as NQA-1, DOE Order 414.1D, ISO-9000, etc.
  • Experience leading teams in developing technical/environmental documents for regulatory review.

Benefits:

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

Estimated Starting Salary Range: 

The estimated starting salary range for this role is $198,000 - $228,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a semi-monthly 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.