Director of Government Affairs

The role

You will own relationships and policy engagement with defense programs and government stakeholders for Endurance Energy. You will track defense budgets and acquisition cycles, lead proposals to DoD funding opportunities, and brief senior leadership and the board.

What you will do

• Build relationships with OSD, ONR, NAVSEA Warfare Centers, DARPA, other DoD S&T enterprise, acquisition program offices, the Joint Staff, and the Military Departments
• Track PPBE, the NDAA, and defense appropriations, and brief leadership on funding opportunities and timing risks
• Engage Armed Services and Appropriations staff, draft talking points and white papers, and manage outside lobbyists and coalitions
• Support OTA agreements, SBIR/STTR programs, DIU efforts, and teaming pursuits
• Lead applications to DoD funding opportunities, from finding solicitations through submitting and following up on proposals
• Prepare presentations and briefing materials for senior leadership and external partners
• Work with legal to keep government engagement within lobbying, ethics, and procurement integrity rules
• Own an annual DoD engagement plan and report regularly to executives and the board

Required qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in government affairs, defense policy, or DoD-focused roles
• At least 5 years working directly with ONR, NAVSEA Warfare Centers, DARPA, other DoD S&T enterprise, acquisition program offices, or Military Departments
• Working knowledge of PPBE, the NDAA and appropriations cycle, and DoD acquisition pathways including FAR, DFARS, OTA agreements, and SBIR/STTR programs
• Established relationships with DoD, Service, or congressional defense stakeholders
• Ability to translate technical capabilities into policy and requirements language for non-technical audiences
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including senior-level briefings
• Active Secret clearance or higher, or eligibility to obtain a Top Secret clearance

Nice to have

• Master's degree in a related field such as MPA, MBA, or JD
• Prior service as a military officer, DoD civilian, or congressional staffer on a defense committee
• Experience in energy, power systems, or critical infrastructure
• Familiarity with DoD energy and installation programs such as OASD(EI&E), ESTCP, SERDP, or Service energy resilience offices
• Experience supporting capture efforts for DoD contracts or other transactions
• Active Top Secret clearance

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Flexible PTO including 12 paid company holidays
• Equity granted to every full-time employee
• Travel to deployment sites in the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, and the Azores
• Participation in sea trials and deployment operations with oceanographic institutions
• Work with high-power electronics, marine systems, and clean energy technology
• Company-sponsored recreational dive certification
• Access to the company boat
• Free meals and snacks

Before you apply

• A Secret clearance or higher, or eligibility to obtain a Top Secret clearance, is required

About the company

Endurance is building modular subsea geothermal power plants to produce baseload power. The company is backed by Founders Fund, Felicis, First Round Capital, and Point72 Ventures, and is preparing a long-term demonstration project this fall.