Senior Director Government Engagement

Overview: 

The Senior Director of Government Engagement leads Lightbridge Corporation’s federal, state, and public policy engagement strategy and serves as a principal interface between the Company and policymakers and government stakeholders. The position is responsible for developing and maintaining productive relationships with the U.S. Congress, congressional committee and staff, the Executive Branch, federal agencies, state governments, national laboratories, industry associations, and other public-sector stakeholders whose policies, programs, funding, and decisions affect advanced nuclear energy, nuclear fuel, and Lightbridge’s commercialization objectives.

Working closely with executive leadership, Legal, Regulatory Affairs, Business Development, Engineering, Finance, and Corporate Communications, the Senior Director advances policy priorities that support Lightbridge Fuel™, government partnerships, research and development, fuel qualification, manufacturing readiness, infrastructure development, and commercial deployment. Lightbridge is an advanced nuclear fuel technology company developing a proprietary next-generation fuel technology for existing and future water-cooled reactors.

The position will have particular responsibility for congressional and federal executive-branch engagement, federal appropriations and authorization processes, government funding and public-private partnership opportunities, and strategic policy advocacy affecting advanced nuclear energy and nuclear fuel commercialization.

This is a highly hands-on leadership position. The successful candidate will personally develop and maintain relationships with key policymakers and government officials, develop advocacy strategies, prepare executive-level materials, coordinate senior-level government engagements, and represent Lightbridge before Congress, federal agencies, and other stakeholders.

The Senior Director will also ensure that all government engagement activities comply with applicable lobbying, ethics, disclosure, registration, and reporting requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive federal, state, and public policy strategy and engagement aligned with Lightbridge’s business, technology, government partnership, and commercialization objectives.
• Serve as a primary Company representative with Members of Congress, congressional committee leadership and staff, the Executive Branch, federal agencies, state governments, national laboratories, and other public-sector stakeholders.
• Build and maintain bipartisan relationships with policymakers and educate stakeholders on Lightbridge Fuel™, advanced nuclear technology, domestic nuclear fuel capability, energy security, and nuclear fuel innovation.
• Develop and execute legislative and administrative advocacy strategies supporting nuclear fuel research, qualification, manufacturing, deployment, and commercialization.
• Lead Congressional engagement related to federal appropriations, authorization legislation, agency programs, and government funding opportunities relevant to Lightbridge.
• Monitor and analyze legislative, regulatory, budgetary, appropriations, authorization, and administrative developments affecting Lightbridge and the broader nuclear energy industry.
• Advise executive leadership on government policy developments, political and regulatory risks, funding opportunities, congressional priorities, and stakeholder considerations.
• Identify, develop, and support federal funding, research, infrastructure, public-private partnership, and economic-development opportunities aligned with Company objectives.
• Support Lightbridge's engagement with the U.S. Department of Energy, Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, national laboratories, Department of Defense, and other relevant federal organizations.
• Develop and maintain relationships with relevant Congressional committees, including the Senate and House committees responsible for energy, nuclear energy, appropriations, science and technology, and national security matters.
• Prepare executive briefings, policy papers, testimony, talking points, comment letters, presentations, Congressional briefing materials, and other government engagement materials.
• Plan and coordinate meetings, briefings, agency engagements, site visits, hearings, conferences, and other engagements involving government officials and Company leadership.
• Work with executive leadership and relevant Company functions to prepare for and execute high-level Congressional and Administration engagements.
• Represent Lightbridge in relevant industry associations, coalitions, policy forums, and nuclear energy advocacy organizations.
• Develop and coordinate coalitions and advocacy initiatives involving nuclear companies, utilities, national laboratories, research organizations, industry associations, and other strategic stakeholders.
• Manage external lobbying firms, government affairs consultants, policy advisors, and other government engagement service providers, establishing clear objectives, deliverables, and performance expectations.
• Coordinate with Legal and Regulatory Affairs to ensure government engagement activities align with regulatory strategy, corporate policies, and legal requirements.
• Manage external lobbying firms, government affairs consultants, policy advisors, and other government engagement service providers.
• Oversee compliance with applicable federal and state lobbying registration, disclosure, ethics, gift, and reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with Corporate Communications, Investor Relations, Business Development, and other functions to maintain consistent policy, stakeholder, and external messaging.

Required Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Government, International Relations, Communications, Business, Law, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• At least 12 years of progressive experience in government affairs, public policy, legislative affairs, federal relations, public policy, or a related field.
• Substantial experience working for the U.S. Congress, a Congressional committee, federal agency, Executive Branch office, or in a government affairs/public policy role requiring extensive Congressional engagement.
• Strong preference for 8-10 or more years of experience working on Capitol Hill (or regular engagement therewith), particularly with the Senate or House committees responsible for energy, natural resources, appropriations/Energy & Water, science and technology, national security, or other matters relevant to nuclear energy.
• Demonstrated experience engaging Congress, congressional committees, federal agencies, presidential administrations, and senior government officials.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing government affairs, legislative, appropriations, authorization, or public policy strategies.
• Strong understanding of federal legislative, regulatory, administrative, appropriations, authorization, and budget processes.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain credible, bipartisan relationships with Members of Congress, congressional staff, federal officials, policymakers, industry representatives, and other stakeholders.
• Experience translating complex technical, scientific, regulatory, or business matters into clear and persuasive policy communications.
• Experience preparing executive briefings, policy analyses, testimony, presentations, talking points, and advocacy materials.
• Knowledge of federal and state lobbying compliance, ethics, disclosure, registration, and reporting requirements.
• Experience managing government affairs consultants, lobbying firms, trade association relationships, or external policy advisors.
• Strong executive communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential, politically sensitive, or strategically important matters.
• Ability to manage multiple policy priorities and respond effectively to changing legislative and administrative developments.
• Ability to commute regularly to Washington, D.C. for in-person meetings, and periodically travel to government facilities, national laboratories, state capitals, conferences, and other stakeholder locations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience in the nuclear energy industry, nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear utility industry, nuclear fuel vendor, nuclear technology, advanced reactors, nuclear trade associations, or a nuclear-focused NGO.
• Prior service on or substantial experience working with the Senate or House Energy & Natural Resources, Energy & Commerce, Appropriations/Energy & Water, Science/Technology, Armed Services, or other committees with jurisdiction relevant to nuclear energy.
• Experience working with the U.S. Department of Energy, particularly the Office of Nuclear Energy, national laboratories, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Department of Defense, or other energy and national-security organizations.
• Experience with federal appropriations, authorization legislation, agency budget processes, grant programs, cooperative agreements, public-private partnerships, or government-funded research and development.
• Knowledge of policies affecting nuclear fuel supply, advanced reactor deployment, HALEU, research infrastructure, energy security, domestic manufacturing, fuel qualification, and technology commercialization.
• Established bipartisan relationships across Congress, federal agencies, state governments, industry associations, and the nuclear energy policy community.
• Experience developing coalitions and coordinating advocacy initiatives with industry associations, research organizations, utilities, laboratories, and commercial partners.
• Experience advising executive leadership on political, legislative, regulatory, policy, and stakeholder matters.
• Familiarity with government engagement involving public companies, emerging technology companies, or development-stage businesses.
• Experience supporting state-level economic development, manufacturing incentives, workforce programs, permitting initiatives, or facility-location strategies.
• Experience coordinating government affairs messaging with Legal, Communications, Investor Relations, Regulatory Affairs, Business Development, and technical organizations.
• Familiarity with government ethics rules, lobbying disclosure requirements, campaign finance considerations, and interaction protocols for government officials.
• Demonstrated success securing government support, advancing legislative or administrative objectives, obtaining government funding or partnerships, or influencing public policy related to complex technology, infrastructure, or commercialization initiatives.