Director of Project Management Office

Company Overview

Zeno Power is the leading developer of nuclear batteries – compact power systems that provide reliable, clean energy in frontier environments. By harnessing the heat from radioisotopes, Zeno’s batteries power critical missions on Earth, in space, and at sea. To bring this technology to market by 2027, Zeno is seeking out purpose-driven and innovative professionals who are comfortable working in a startup environment. Team members will have a direct impact in enabling commercial and national security missions from the depths of our oceans, to the surface of the moon, and in austere environments here on Earth. Zeno is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Director of the Project Management Office (PMO)

Zeno Power is seeking a Director of the Project Management Office to bring the rigor, structure, and execution discipline required to deliver mission-critical nuclear power systems on time and on budget - for customers who cannot afford failure. This is a senior leadership role for a disciplined and operationally rigorous leader who has built program management systems from the ground up, knows how to drive execution in complex, high-reliability engineering environments, and is energized by the challenge of bringing frontier technology from development to market. You will own program governance, cost and schedule integrity, and cross-functional execution — ensuring Zeno's programs and projects are delivered with the precision and accountability that mission-critical work demands as we approach our 2027 delivery to market.

In this role you will:

Team Leadership & Development

• Build, lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Technical Project Managers (TPMs) supporting design and development, fabrication, and test programs.
• Drive hiring and team growth as Zeno scales its program portfolio toward market deployment.
• Establish clear roles, performance expectations, and career development pathways for TPMs.
• Partner with functional leaders across Engineering, Operations, Finance, and Quality to align program execution priorities and resolve cross-functional dependencies.

Program Governance & Process

• Establish, govern, and continuously improve program and project management practices across the organization.
• Own and maintain all PMO Quality Procedures, Work Instructions, and PMO Guidance documentation.
• Ensure consistent application of project lifecycle processes across all programs.
• Ensure alignment with regulatory, quality, and compliance frameworks including nuclear, aerospace, and DOD/NASA standards.
• Lead continuous improvement of PMO processes, tools, and templates.

Cost, Schedule & Performance

• Establish and enforce processes for program and project cost and schedule baselining, including review and approval of scope, schedule, resource plans, and budgets.
• Govern re-baselining processes with defined entry criteria including scope change and cost/schedule variance thresholds.
• Define, implement, and maintain program performance metrics including CPI, SPI, milestone adherence, and risk burndown.
• Define thresholds and triggers for performance intervention.
• Ensure integration between scheduling tools, financial systems, and resource planning.
• Partner with Finance to align program budgets with organizational financial targets and support forecasting and financial performance analysis across the portfolio.
• Serve as PMO Budget Manager, including annual planning and ongoing budget tracking.

Reporting, Risk & Stakeholder Management

• Own and lead monthly Program and Project Status Review meetings.
• Provide clear, actionable executive-level reporting and insights on program portfolio performance, risks, and issues.
• Facilitate decision-making by escalating critical risks and trade-offs with recommended courses of action.
• Manage enterprise-wide risk and issue management frameworks, ensuring proactive identification, tracking, and mitigation of program risks.
• Serve as a key external-facing PMO representative with government customers, DOE/NASA program offices, and commercial partners.

Portfolio & Resource Management

• Oversee prioritization and alignment of the program portfolio with strategic objectives.
• Develop and manage resource planning and capacity management across programs.
• Identify and resolve resource conflicts across engineering and program teams.
• Own and evolve the PMO toolset for scheduling, cost tracking, and performance reporting, maintaining data consistency across systems.

Key Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience in program or project management within a highly technical environment such as aerospace, nuclear, energy, or defense.
• 2+ years of leadership experience managing a team of TPMs or equivalent program management professionals.
• Demonstrated experience building or scaling PMO functions in a startup or high-growth environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, complex development programs with full cost and schedule accountability.
• Strong knowledge of program management methodologies and performance measurement frameworks.
• Experience with cost and schedule baselining, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Comfort operating with ambiguity and building structure in a fast-moving environment.

Preferred

• Experience in nuclear systems, space systems, or radioisotope power systems.
• Familiarity with DOE, NASA, or other federal program requirements.
• PMP or equivalent certification.
• Experience managing external stakeholder relationships with government program offices or commercial partners.

Job Functions

• Position requires in-office presence in Seattle (South Lake Union) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, remote work is optional on Mondays and Fridays
• Travel: Travel is required, 20%-25%
• Motor Abilities: Sitting and/or standing for extended periods, bending/stooping, grasping/gripping, fine motor control (hands)
• Physical exertion and/or requirements: Minimal, with ability to safely lift up to 15 pounds
• Repetitive work: Prolonged
• Special Senses: Visual and audio focused work
• Work Conditions: Stairs, typing/keyboard, standard and/or sitting working environment of >8 hrs./day

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated salary band for this position is $190,000-$225,000. The final job level and compensation will be determined by various factors such as a candidate's relevant work experience, years of relevant experience, skills, qualifications, certifications, and other business considerations. In addition to competitive compensation, we also offer a generous benefits package, which includes:

• Stock options
• Flexible paid time off
• 401k plan with employer match
• 16 weeks of paid family leave
• Employer HSA contributions
• Transit benefits to put toward commuting expenses
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Relocation assistance
• Dog friendly office

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Note

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

Export Control

Applicants for employment at Zeno Power must be a U.S. person. The term “U.S. Person” means (i) a U.S citizen or U.S. national; or (ii) any natural person who is a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e., holds a Green Card), as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) or as a “protected individual” defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., admitted as a refugee or is granted asylum).