Senior Communications & Public Affairs Specialist

Job Description

Position Title:

Senior Communications & Public Affairs Specialist

Position Description:

Protingent Staffing has an exciting contract Senior Communications & Public Affairs Specialist opportunity.

Job Responsibilities:

Investor & Board Communications:

Own the development of quarterly board presentation materials, investor update memos, and narrative frameworks that translate complex technical and regulatory milestones into business context accessible to financial stakeholders
Support the Director of Marketing and CEO in preparing fundraising materials - narrative decks, executive summaries, and data room communications - for seed extension, Series A/B, and government grant processes (including DOE ARPA-E, Office of Clean
Energy Demonstrations, and loan program applications)
Maintain message consistency across board materials, ensuring alignment with current company strategy, regulatory positioning, and technology narrative

Government, Regulatory & Legislative Affairs Communications:

Serve as the primary communications resource for preparing executives ahead of meetings with the Department of Energy (DOE), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), and other relevant federal bodies - producing briefing
documents, talking points, Q&A preparation, and leave-behind materials
Develop and maintain materials supporting congressional engagement and lobbying firm coordination: member briefing packets, one-pagers, fact sheets, and regulatory status summaries written for non-technical audiences
Monitor nuclear energy policy, NRC rulemaking activity, and DOE program announcements; distill implications into timely summaries for leadership
Support NEPA comment processes, public meeting participation, and community siting communications as needed

Media Relations & Thought Leadership:

Build and manage proactive relationships with trade, energy, technology, and policy press; develop a media contact database and drive strategic placement of stories aligned with company milestones
Draft press releases, media advisories, op-eds, executive bylines, and executive talking points; prepare leadership for on-record interviews
Develop and maintain a crisis communications framework; serve as a first-responder resource for reactive media inquiries
Collaborate with the Visual Communications Specialist on multimedia content for thought leadership including podcast scripts, video narratives, and long-form explainers

Brand Messaging & Content:

Own and maintain the company's master messaging architecture - core narrative, value propositions, audience-specific message maps - ensuring consistency across all external touchpoints
Write and edit website copy, white papers, technical explainers, conference presentations, and executive speeches
Contribute to social media editorial strategy and review content for accuracy, tone, and messaging alignment.

Job Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Affairs, Political Science, or related field. 12+ years relevant experience in lieu of degree.
5+ years of professional experience in communications, PR, public affairs, or related function.
At least 2 years in a startup, deep-tech, advanced energy, or government-adjacent environment.
Demonstrated experience producing investor, board, or executive stakeholder materials.
Experience supporting or coordinating federal agency or legislative engagement (any agency).
Demonstrated media relations experience: pitching, placing, and supporting press activity.
Strong technical writing ability - comfort translating scientific or engineering concepts for lay audiences.
Proficiency with presentation tools (PowerPoint, Google Slides, Canva) and document production.
Ability to manage multiple high-priority workstreams independently without a large team support structure.
Familiarity with nuclear energy, advanced fission/fusion, or adjacent energy technology (preferred, not required).

Preferred Job Qualifications:

7-12+ years of progressive communications or public affairs experience, including in advanced energy or regulated technology sectors
Prior direct experience supporting NRC, DOE, ARPA-E, or congressional office engagement
Experience at or supporting a nuclear startup, national laboratory communications team, or advanced reactor developer
Existing media relationships in energy, climate, or science/technology press
Master's degree in Communications, Public Policy, Science Communication, or related field
Science communication training (e.g., AAAS Mass Media Fellow, Alan Alda Center, ComSciCon)
Experience drafting or supporting government grant applications, particularly DOE program announcements.
Travel Required: Approximately 15%.

Job Details:

Job Type: Contract-to-Hire
Pay Rate Range: $60-85/hr.
Location: Prescott, Arizona
Export control regulations require candidates to be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Legal Permanent Resident, or of a protected person status

Benefits Package:

Protingent offers competitive salaries, insurance plan options (HDHP plan or POS plan), education/certification reimbursement, pre-tax commuter benefits, Paid Time Off (PTO), and an administered 401k plan.

About Protingent:

Protingent is an

Award-Winning

provider of top-tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation - from

Software and Aerospace

to

AI, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, and Connected Technologies . We're passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.

Meet Your Recruiter

Magic Demirel

As a Technical Recruiter at Protingent, I am excited to leverage my diverse background in education, leadership, and technology to connect talented professionals with opportunities that align with their skills and aspirations. My experience as an accomplished classroom educator and EdTech specialist has honed my ability to understand complex skill sets and identify the right fit for various roles.

I am passionate about...
...Building meaningful relationships with both candidates and clients to ensure mutual success
...Staying ahead of industry trends and understanding the evolving needs of the tech industry
...Creating efficient, streamlined processes that enhance the recruitment experience for all parties involved
...Supporting diverse, equitable, and inclusive hiring practices to create a more inclusive workforce

mdemirel@protingent.com