Vice President of Public Affairs & Government Affairs

Job description

As Zap's Vice President of Public Affairs & Government Affairs, you will shape how Zap Energy is understood by policymakers, industry leaders, customers, investors, and the public. You will lead the company's external affairs strategy, integrating communications, government affairs, policy engagement, executive positioning, and stakeholder relations into a single, cohesive function. You will help define the emerging category of the integrated nuclear company while ensuring Zap is a trusted voice in the national conversation around energy security, artificial intelligence infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and technology leadership. Your work will span congressional engagement, executive branch relationships, state and local government outreach, industry associations, media, conferences, scientific publications, and strategic partnerships. This is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the CEO. It requires someone who thrives at the intersection of deep technical substance, public policy, and strategic communications. Zap needs an executive with the judgment, presence, and credibility to become a trusted advisor to the CEO and leadership team. We need someone who can shape policy, influence external stakeholders, anticipate emerging issues, and help guide strategic decisions before they become communications or government affairs challenges. You will lead a growing team responsible for communications, government affairs, policy, executive communications, media relations, and stakeholder engagement, while managing external agencies, consultants, and lobbying partners to advance Zap's strategic objectives. Responsibilities: what you will do Strategic Communications & Corporate Narrative Translate Zap's scientific and strategic vision into a compelling narrative that resonates across policymakers, customers, investors, regulators, engineers, and the public. Partner closely with the CEO and executive leadership to articulate not only what Zap is building, but why it matters for America's energy future. Own the company's overarching narrative and ensure consistency across every external touchpoint. Lead executive communications, speeches, congressional testimony, op-eds, white papers, and strategic thought leadership. Build and maintain Zap's editorial voice: technically rigorous, credible, ambitious, and grounded. Partner with engineering and scientific teams to translate technical milestones into clear public messages. Government Affairs & Public Policy Develop and execute Zap's government affairs strategy across federal, state, local, and international stakeholders. Build long-term relationships that position Zap as a trusted partner on advanced nuclear energy, national security, energy infrastructure, manufacturing, and innovation policy. Develop and execute Zap's government affairs strategy aligned with corporate objectives. Build relationships with members of Congress, congressional committees, executive agencies, governors, state legislatures, regulators, national laboratories, and local governments. Partner with internal leadership and external lobbying firms to influence legislation, appropriations, regulatory frameworks, and public policy. Identify policy opportunities and risks while advising executive leadership on evolving political and regulatory landscapes. Coordinate government engagement across commercialization, siting, licensing, funding, defense, and research initiatives. Represent Zap before policymakers, industry associations, and public forums. Support pursuit of federal funding opportunities, strategic partnerships, and public-private initiatives. Messaging & Brand Define and steward the messaging architecture that positions Zap as a category-defining company. Develop core messaging frameworks and audience-specific positioning. Ensure alignment across marketing, recruiting, business development, investor relations, government affairs, and policy communications. Continuously refine messaging based on evolving technology, policy, competitive dynamics, and public perception. External Engagement & Executive Visibility Build Zap's presence where the future of energy policy, technology, and investment is being shaped. Develop an integrated strategy for conferences, policy forums, industry events, and executive speaking engagements. Secure opportunities for Zap leadership before industry, government, defense, and academic audiences. Prepare executives for congressional hearings, media interviews, keynote presentations, panels, and investor engagements. Host government officials, policymakers, investors, strategic partners, and media at Zap facilities. Publishing, Media & Thought Leadership Build Zap into one of the most respected voices in advanced nuclear energy. Develop a publishing strategy spanning scientific communications, policy papers, op-eds, technical perspectives, and executive thought leadership. Partner with engineering, policy, and commercial teams to produce rigorous content for technical and non-technical audiences. Lead earned media strategy and cultivate relationships with leading journalists covering energy, technology, manufacturing, climate, defense, and national security. Oversee Zap's website, digital platforms, and social channels as strategic publishing platforms. Stakeholder Relations Build trusted relationships across the broader ecosystem supporting advanced nuclear deployment. Develop engagement strategies for utilities, industrial customers, local communities, tribal governments, labor organizations, universities, NGOs, national laboratories, and strategic partners. Partner with project development teams to support community engagement and stakeholder outreach for future deployment sites. Build coalitions that strengthen public support for advanced nuclear technologies. Crisis Communications & Issues Management Lead with transparency, discipline, and credibility when unexpected issues arise. Maintain Zap's crisis communications and issues management framework. Coordinate responses to incidents, regulatory developments, litigation, policy challenges, or reputational issues. Advise executive leadership on communications and government affairs implications of strategic decisions. Build relationships with regulators, elected officials, community leaders, and media before issues emerge. Defining the Category: The Integrated Nuclear Company Zap is not simply building fusion technology or developing advanced fission reactors. We are creating a new category, an integrated nuclear company that combines complementary technologies to deliver reliable, scalable, carbon-free energy. You will lead the effort to establish this category across government, industry, media, investment, and scientific communities. Develop and champion the narrative for the integrated nuclear company. Build support among policymakers, think tanks, industry associations, research institutions, and strategic partners. Help shape public policy discussions that recognize integrated nuclear platforms as essential to energy security, AI infrastructure, industrial competitiveness, and national security. Establish Zap as the defining voice and trusted reference for integrated nuclear through congressional engagement, executive branch relationships, industry leadership, and public discourse. Coordinate internal experts and external government affairs partners to ensure consistent, credible advocacy across every stakeholder audience. Qualifications Required Experience 15+ years of experience in public affairs, communications, or external relations in a nascent or high-stakes industry — including at least one of the following relevant areas: commercial space, biotechnology, advanced energy, deep tech, semiconductors, or other sectors where public perception and policy environment had to be actively built, not inherited Demonstrated track record of scaling a communications and public relations function and executing communications strategies that shaped public understanding of a new technology or category Experience managing communications through regulatory scrutiny, public controversy, or fast-moving media environments Prior experience as a primary media spokesperson or executive communications advisor Proven ability to write and edit at a high level across formats — long-form, executive voice, and technical translation What Sets the Strongest Candidates Apart Experience in energy, nuclear, or climate-adjacent industries, with understanding of the NRC regulatory environment and public discourse around nuclear History of driving category creation — not just brand building, but the work of making a new type of company or technology legible and desirable Deep existing relationships with energy, climate, and national security media Comfort operating at the intersection of science, policy, and commerce — credible to physicists and senators alike Experience standing up a public affairs function from an early or formative stage Employment may be conditioned upon the ability to obtain export authorization. Estimated salary range: $240,000-310,000 annually. 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. About Zap Energy 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.