Director, Project Governance

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 Nuclear Company is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Director, Project Governance to establish, manage, oversee, and continuously improve the frameworks that ensure the successful, compliant, and efficient delivery of our critical projects. The Director, Project Governance will be a pivotal leader in our organization, responsible for designing, implementing, and maturing a robust project governance framework tailored to the unique complexities and stringent regulatory environment of the nuclear energy industry, within a dynamic startup setting. This role will ensure accountability, transparency, and effective decision-making across all projects, from research & development to engineering, licensing, and deployment. You will balance the need for rigorous control with the agility required in a rapidly evolving company.

Responsibilities:

Establish & Mature Governance Frameworks:

• Design, implement, and continuously refine project governance policies, processes, and standards, including project stage gates through the life of the Project, across the organization, ensuring alignment with company strategy, industry best practices (e.g., PMI, PRINCE2), and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and manage the Project Management Office (PMO) functions, focusing on repeatable and scalable governance processes, tools, and methodologies that support predictable project delivery. Project Oversight & Portfolio Management: · Provide strategic oversight of the entire project portfolio, ensuring projects are aligned with strategic objectives, resourced effectively, and progressing according to plan.
• Provide the governance support to enforce the implementation of robust project reporting mechanisms, key performance indicators (KPIs), and dashboards to provide clear visibility into project health, risks, and performance for executive leadership.
• Facilitate regular project reviews, gates, and steering committee meetings, ensuring clear decision-making and escalation paths.

Risk Management & Compliance:

• Develop and embed the governance framework to enable comprehensive risk management processes within the project lifecycle, identifying potential risks early and ensuring effective mitigation strategies are in place.
• Ensure all projects adhere to strict regulatory compliance standards (e.g., NRC, quality assurance requirements), safety protocols, and internal policies critical to the nuclear energy sector.
• Drive a culture of quality, safety, and accountability in all project endeavors, through the implementation of the appropriate governance processes.

Process Optimization & Standardization:

• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in project management processes, tools, and templates, balancing standardization with the need for agility in a startup environment. · Champion the adoption of project management best practices and foster a project-oriented mindset across functional teams.

Leadership & Mentorship:

• Lead and mentor a team of project managers and project control specialists, fostering their professional growth and ensuring consistent application of governance standards.
• Act as a trusted advisor to project leads and executive management on all matters related to project governance and execution.
• Tooling & Systems:
  Oversee the selection, implementation, and optimization of project management software and tools (e.g., Jira, Smartsheets, Microsoft Project, etc.) to support governance and reporting needs.

Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field. Master's degree highly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in project management, with at least 5+ years in a senior leadership or governance role.
• Proven experience establishing and maturing project governance frameworks and/or PMOs from the ground up, ideally in a fast-growing startup or highly dynamic environment.
• Direct experience in the nuclear energy industry or another highly regulated, capital-intensive, safety-critical industry (e.g., aerospace, oil & gas, large-scale infrastructure).
• Extensive experience managing complex, multi-year projects across different functional domains (e.g., R&D, engineering, manufacturing, licensing).
• Strong track record of implementing effective risk management and compliance strategies within projects.
• Exceptional Project Governance & PMO Leadership
• Advanced Project Management Methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid)
• Risk Management & Mitigation
• Regulatory Compliance (Nuclear preferred) & Quality Assurance
• Strategic Planning & Execution
• Proficiency with project management software and reporting tools.
• Thorough up-to-date knowledge of corporate and project governance

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.