Vice President of Public Affairs

Vision & Story

Translate Zap’s scientific and strategic vision into a clear, compelling public narrative that resonates across audiences — from policymakers and institutional investors to engineers and energy journalists. You will be a trusted thought partner to the CEO and executive team, helping the company articulate not just what it does, but why it matters at this moment in history. Own the company's overarching narrative and ensure consistency across all touchpoints.

Lead the development of executive communications, speeches, op-eds, and published perspectives for senior leadership. Build and maintain the editorial voice of Zap Energy — rigorous, ambitious, and grounded. Lead your team to partner with the science and engineering teams to translate technical progress into accessible, accurate public milestones.

Messaging & Brand

Define and steward the messaging architecture that positions Zap as a category-defining company. Every word matters — from a press release to a recruiting page to a congressional testimony. You will build the systems and discipline that keep Zap's brand sharp and coherent as the company scales.

• Develop and maintain the company's core messaging framework, value propositions, and audience-specific variations.
• Oversee brand voice guidelines and ensure alignment across marketing, recruiting, business development, and government affairs.
• Continuously refine messaging in response to competitive landscape, regulatory environment, and public conversation around nuclear energy.

Events & Conference Presence

Ensure Zap is represented by internal technical experts at the events that shape the future of energy — not just attending, but leading conversations. Build a deliberate presence strategy that puts Zap's leaders on the right stages and in the right rooms.

• Work with your team and internal leaders to identify, prioritize, and secure Zap's participation in high-impact industry, policy, and technology events globally.
• Prepare and coach executives for keynotes, panels, and media appearances.
• Oversee conference and event strategy with clear objectives — policy influence, talent, media, investor, and partner goals.
• Host strategic delegations and site visits, including government, academic, and media tours of Zap facilities.

Publishing & Content

Oversee a publishing capability that positions Zap as the authoritative voice on the future of nuclear energy. This includes peer-reviewed science communication, long-form perspectives, and earned media — not content marketing.

• Provide clear guidance on a proactive publishing calendar for white papers, op-eds, and research communications aligned with scientific milestones.
• Partner your team with science and policy teams to produce rigorous, credible content for technical and general audiences.
• Drive earned media strategy — guiding relationships with key journalists, editors, and media organizations covering energy, climate, and national security.
• Oversee the company's web presence, blog, and social channels as publishing platforms, ensuring quality and consistency.

Crisis Communications

Lead with transparency and speed when the unexpected happens, protecting Zap's reputation while upholding the trust the industry depends on. Partner with the executive team to maintain Zap's crisis communications playbook, protocols, and escalation procedures.

• Serve as primary communications lead in the event of an incident, regulatory challenge, or reputational issue.
• Help build relationships with regulators, community stakeholders, and media in advance of any crisis.
• Advisory leadership on reputational risk across strategic decisions, partnerships, and public positions.

Defining the Category: The Integrated Nuclear Company

This may be the most consequential aspect of the role. Zap is not just another fusion startup, and not just another fission developer. It is something new: an integrated nuclear company that will invent, build, and deploy the full spectrum of advanced nuclear energy systems.

• You will lead the work of the communications team in making that category real in the public imagination — a category that Zap defines and others will one day compete to join.
• Align the category narrative for the integrated nuclear company and socialize it across media, policy, and investment audiences.
• Engage with think tanks, energy transition coalitions, and policy bodies to advance the case for integrated nuclear as a national and global priority.
• Aprove the language, frameworks, and proof points that make the category legible, credible, and compelling.
• Position Zap as the defining reference point for this category in congressional testimony, public discourse, and industry dialogue utilizing internal and third-party government relations experts.

Qualifications

• 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.