Communications Associate

About Thea Energy: Thea Energy is leveraging recent breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering to create a faster and simpler approach to commercializing fusion energy. The company is reinventing the stellarator using computer-controlled arrays of planar coils thereby replacing the intricate, complex modular magnets required in all other stellarator architectures. Thea Energy is on a mission to create a limitless source of zero emission energy for a sustainable future. Position Overview: Thea Energy is a rapidly growing company seeking a Communications Associate to support our communications and marketing team. As the company scales, this role will provide the coordination, content support, and operational capacity the team needs to work efficiently. The role has two key focus areas. The first is telling the stories of the people who work here, building the surfaces where candidates and colleagues learn who we are, and helping a fast-growing team stay informed and connected as it scales – all with a heavy but not exclusive focus on internal communications. The second is communications operations: the project management, systems, vendor coordination, and logistics that keep a lean team moving quickly. This is a broad, hands-on role. The ideal candidate has spent a few years in an agency or communications coordinator seat, is exceptionally organized, is fluent in generating and editing content with Adobe Creative Cloud and leveraging AI tools, and would rather build a system than repeat a task. You will work closely with People, Talent, Facilities, and Engineering leaders across the company, and you will be trusted with information before it is public. The Communications Associate reports to Thea Energy’s Manager - Communications. Key Responsibility Areas: Own the corporate accounting function and complete timely, accurate month-end and year-end financial closes. Architect and oversee the end-to-end procurement process, from vendor onboarding and purchase order (PO) management to the accurate and timely processing of accounts payable. Lead the implementation of a scalable financial infrastructure (ERP/Procurement tools) built on robust systems and processes. Prepare comprehensive financial statements, manage accounting data feeding business insights, and assist in preparing board decks and investor reporting materials. Collaborate with FP&A to conduct variance analysis, understand spend velocity, and prepare quarterly and annual cash forecasts. Lead grant and debt administration, ensuring adherence to compliance requirements, including reporting and the preparation of reimbursement requests for government or private funding. Maintain the fixed asset register to track R&D capital expenditures. Ensure GAAP compliance and audit readiness, and coordinate with external partners to manage federal, state, and local tax filings. Oversee internal controls to mitigate financial risk and develop standard operating procedures for all accounting and procurement workflows. Lead the preparation and documentation for Federal and State R&D tax credits; collaborate with engineering teams to capture qualifying activities and costs to maximize tax incentives. Oversee multi-state sales and use tax compliance and manage exemption certificates for R&D-related purchases. Ideal Experience & Skillsets: Previous experience in a role requiring strong organization and content skills, such as an agency account coordinator, communications or marketing coordinator, executive assistant, or internal communications Strong content generation, writing, and editing skills Demonstrated fluency with AI tools such as Claude or ChatGPT, and the ability to apply them to drafting, research, and process improvement. Comfort working in markdown documents and shared digital workspaces is required Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage many concurrent commitments without loss of accuracy Proficiency with Google Workspace, Slack, and a project management tool such as Asana Sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential company information prior to public release Ability to take direction, ask good questions, and execute independently once direction is set Ability to work on-site in Kearny, NJ Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience Preferred qualifications: Prior experience at a deep tech, energy, hardware, aerospace, or scientific organization, or at an early-stage startup Comfort working on complex topics and with technical teams Experience in internal communications, employer branding, or recruitment marketing Ability to build simple tools, automations, or AI agents; coding experience is a plus but is not required Basic design, photo, or video editing skills (Figma, Canva, or Adobe Creative Cloud) Experience with a content management system or intranet platform (Webflow, Notion, Confluence, SharePoint) Event or conference coordination experience Company Benefits: Salary range $60,000-$75,000 Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision) Employee equity stock options 20 days PTO It’s not necessary to meet all of the skillsets outlined above. Please feel free to send us a note and tell us why you would still be a great fit for this role or Thea Energy. Diversity and Inclusion: Thea Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a company of diverse backgrounds. By creating a diverse environment, we will bring new ideas and approaches to solving some of the world’s hardest (and most important) problems. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, family or marital status, age, disability, veteran’s status, or other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations. #J-18808-Ljbffr