Head of Utah Site, Emergency Management and Security

Valar Atomics is a nuclear energy company focused on scaling high-temperature gas reactors (HTGRs) for grid-independent industrial applications. The company is developing what it calls gigasites, large-scale facilities housing hundreds of nuclear reactors intended to power heavy industry, data centers, hydrogen production, and clean hydrocarbon fuel synthesis. Their reactor design uses TRISO fuel, a graphite moderator, and helium coolant, a combination the company highlights for its strong safety profile and proliferation resistance. By operating outside the traditional electricity grid, Valar Atomics aims to unlock economies of scale that have historically eluded the nuclear industry. Valar Atomics' mission centers on making nuclear energy the cheapest and most reliable energy source in the world, with a particular emphasis on decarbonizing industrial processes and enabling clean fuel production. Their hydrogen output, generated via a sulfur-iodine thermochemical cycle, can be combined with captured CO2 to produce synthetic hydrocarbons through a modified Fischer-Tropsch process, offering a pathway to drop-in clean fuels. The company also targets the surging power demands of AI data centers, which are projected to require over 200 additional terawatt-hours of grid power by 2030. The company is currently advancing its Ward 250 project, a test reactor being developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, the San Rafael Energy Research Center, and the State of Utah, with a target go-live date of July 4, 2026, America's 250th birthday. The reactor has already been physically transported to Emery County, Utah, with logistical support from the U.S. military. Four executive orders issued under the Trump administration provided a mandate supporting the project's accelerated deployment timeline.

About Valar Atomics

At Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable—unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future. Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level.

The Team

As part of the Business organization, Physical Security protects Valar's people, facilities, assets, and information through comprehensive security programs and risk management. The team develops and maintains secure environments that support safe and uninterrupted operations. 

The Role

The Emergency Management and Security Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating the organization’s all-hazard emergency management program and physical security strategies. This position proactively plans for natural, technological, and man-made disasters, while ensuring daily operational security, risk mitigation, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. The specialist takes a lead role in training, drills, and active incident response.

Key Responsibilities 

• Emergency Planning & Mitigation: Draft, update, and maintain comprehensive Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs), Business Continuity Plans (BCP), and evacuation procedures.
• Security Operations Oversight: Monitor on-site security surveillance, access control systems, and conduct risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities.
• Training & Drills: Organize, conduct, and evaluate regular emergency drills (e.g., chemical spill, radiological release, active shooter, fire, natural disasters) and training sessions for staff and first responders.
• Incident Response & Coordination: Serve as a primary point of contact during emergencies, coordinating with local law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical services.
• Communication & Technology: Manage notification systems and emergency communication networks to ensure rapid, accurate information dissemination during a crisis.
• Compliance & Reporting: Ensure all safety plans adhere to federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., OSHA, FEMA, DOE, NIMS).
• After-Action Reporting: Lead post-incident evaluations to analyze response effectiveness and recommend improvements to procedures.

You Will Be Successful in This Role if:

• Build Proactive Relationships: Successfully establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external emergency agencies (police, fire, EMS, public health, local hospital) to ensure a cohesive response.
• Translate Plans into Action: Go beyond paperwork by designing realistic, engaging drills that prepare employees to act, rather than just complying with regulations.
• Show Obsessive Attention to Detail: Ensure all security equipment, evacuation routes, and contact lists are functional, up-to-date, and thoroughly vetted before a crisis occurs.
• Achieve High Compliance Rates: Ensure that 100% of employees complete required safety training and that the organization meets or exceeds all mandated security standards.

Basic Qualifications 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Experience: A minimum of 2-5 years of direct experience in emergency management, security, law enforcement, or fire services.
• Certifications: Incident Command System (ICS) Certification (100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800) strongly preferred.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and familiarity with emergency management and security software.

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Strong knowledge of the four phases of emergency management (Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, Recovery).
• Ability to remain calm and decisive under intense pressure and in high-stress situations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for creating reports and delivering training.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks, often under tight deadlines.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Valar Atomics is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment and will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).