SVP Growth & Partnerships

Zap is advancing the next generation of nuclear power technology across fusion, fission and hybrid applications. Built on an integrated platform of high-energy-density physics and pulsed power, liquid metals and advanced materials, and compact, modular systems, Zap is building the foundational technologies needed to deploy the energy sources of the future.

About the Opportunity

Zap’s Senior Vice President of Growth & Partnerships will own and achieve our federal and commercial revenue targets by identifying, qualifying, and securing long-term commitments for reactor deployment. As a member of the senior leadership team, you will serve as the chief architect of our go-to-market strategy and stakeholder engagement efforts, setting commercial direction across the organization and translating complex technical capabilities into compelling value propositions for sophisticated energy buyers. This is a defining executive role requiring deep technical fluency, elite commercial instincts, and the proven ability to lead organizations through multi-year, multi-billion-dollar sales cycles.

Key Responsibilities

• Achieve Federal and Commercial Business Development Targets: Own and achieve the company targets for multi-gigawatt contracted capacity through signed, binding, long-term agreements.
• Strategic Market Development: Set and execute the North American and global business development strategy to close deals for SMR technologies. Identify and pursue emerging market opportunities, such as “behind-the-meter” solutions for data centers and industrial hubs.
• Relationship & Pipeline Ownership: Cultivate and own senior leadership relationships with federal agencies and within nuclear utilities, IPPs, and large energy consumers. Oversee the full commercial pipeline from initial engagement through contract award.
• Commercial Structuring & Closing: Lead the origination, negotiation, and closing of complex commercial agreements, including Capacity Reservation Agreements (CRAs), Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), and Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) with pre-commercial structures and milestone-based payment schedules.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Provide leadership for government affairs, communications, marketing and commercial strategy. Serve as the senior integrator across engineering, licensing, finance, and legal to ensure all commercial offerings are technically viable, regulatory-compliant, and bankable. Build and lead a high-performing external-facing team.
• Market Representation: Represent Zap Energy at the highest levels — major industry forums, regulatory proceedings, and global energy conferences — to accelerate the revenue pipeline and shape the narrative around SMR deployment.
• External Perspective: Set strategic direction for proposal, marketing, and policy teams to develop high-quality collateral, technical bids, and competitive pursuit strategies aligned with company growth objectives.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Nuclear, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field; an MBA or advanced degree is strongly preferred.
• Industry Experience: 15+ years of progressive experience in business development or strategic commercial leadership within the nuclear or power generation sectors, including prior experience managing and scaling commercial teams.
• Technical Knowledge: Understanding of SMR and advanced reactor technologies (e.g., PWR, BWR, Gen IV), fuel cycles, and modular construction methods.
• Regulatory Fluency: Familiarity with NRC licensing pathways (10 CFR Part 50, 52, and the emerging Part 53 framework) and their impact on project timelines and commercial risk.
• Commercial Track Record: Demonstrated executive-level success originating and closing large-scale, high-value contracts with long sales cycles in regulated or deregulated energy markets.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional ability to distill complex technical and regulatory topics into clear recommendations for boards, executive stakeholders, and investors.

Employment may be conditioned upon the ability to obtain export authorization. Estimated compensation range: $275,000–$375,000 annually with variable, performance-based compensation components. Candidates may be considered for other positions at Zap Energy and actual salary will be based on relevant education, experience, and other qualifications. Range is published in accordance with Washington Equal Pay and Opportunity Act.

Zap Energy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.