Senior Associate, Strategy

About the Company

We are a renewable energy and ocean technology company committed to rapidly developing and deploying technologies that will ensure a sustainable future for Earth by unlocking the vast energy potential of its oceans. Our focus is on capturing civilizational levels of ultra-low-cost renewable energy for applications including computing and affordable renewable fuels delivered to shore.

The company is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon and backed by leading venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, university endowments, and private investment offices. We operate as an idea meritocracy in which the best ideas change the company’s direction on a regular basis.

Our staff have worked at organizations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Tesla, Apple, Virgin Orbit, Astra, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, New Relic, Bridgewater, Raytheon, Disney Imagineering, and the US Army and Air Force, as well as research universities, startups, and small companies across a range of industries.

About the Job

Reporting directly to the EVP, Strategy, you will support and contribute to the company’s work across capital formation, investor relations, communications, and commercial partnerships. The EVP covers a lot of ground - fundraising, PR, and customer and partner engagement - and you will be embedded in all of it, learning fast and producing real work from day one. This includes but is not limited to:

• Manage the EVP’s calendar, travel, and meeting logistics - and handle personal administrative tasks as needed. This is a high-trust, no-task-too-small role, and keeping the EVP’s day running smoothly is foundational to everything else
• Prepare briefing documents, talking points, and background materials ahead of meetings so the EVP walks into every room fully up to speed
• Draft presentations, one-pagers, and pitch materials in PowerPoint, Keynote, or Figma, translating complex ideas into clear, compelling decks
• Update and collaborate on financial models in Excel and Google Sheets (unit economics, scenario analyses, financing structures) and produce clean data visualizations that simplify complex information
• Draft high volumes of written communications: follow-up emails, investor updates, partner correspondence, and internal memos that keep workflows moving across many relationships
• Maintain and organize the EVP’s CRM of investors, partners, and key contacts - track engagement, flag priorities, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks
• Support PR and communications efforts alongside internal and external communications teams, including drafting content, coordinating media and partner outreach, and contributing to social media strategy and execution
• Help with preparation, logistics, and follow-up for board meetings, investor touchpoints, and commercial partner engagements
• Attend select meetings, conferences, and events - initially in a support capacity, and increasingly as a representative of the company as you grow into the role

This is a high-agency, high-trust position on a lean team commercializing a once-in-a-generation technology. You’ll start as a hands-on contributor, doing the work yourself across a wide range of tasks -- some glamorous, some not. As the company scales, if you are excelling in your role, you will help hire another associate to whom you hand off the scheduling and personal assistance work, and step into a more senior role with real ownership of strategic relationships and initiatives. There is no upper limit on your advancement within this company.

About You

You are organized, resourceful, and reliable under pressure. You take ownership of your work, follow through without being chased, and move quickly when the situation calls for it. You're comfortable operating across a wide range of tasks - from building a financial model to coordinating doctor’s appointments - because you understand that on a small team, range matters more than title.

You are an excellent communicator: clear and concise in writing, confident in conversation, and able to distill complex ideas into compelling narratives for investors, partners, and the press. You have strong analytical instincts - you can build a model, catch an error in someone else's, and tell a clear story with data. You're discreet and trustworthy with sensitive information, and you navigate organizational dynamics with good judgment and emotional intelligence.

You are genuinely curious and motivated to develop expertise across new domains, tools, and markets. You handle ambiguity and shifting priorities well, and you bring energy and a bias toward action to your work. You value directness and transparency, and you hold yourself to a high standard without needing to be managed closely.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of experience in management consulting, investment banking, venture capital, or a high-growth startup in an operational or strategic role
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MS, or equivalent) is a strong plus
• Expert-level Excel/Google Sheets and investor-grade presentation skills (PowerPoint, Keynote, Figma)
• Exceptional written communication; able to condense complex ideas into crisp bullets and headlines, and flex style for various audiences
• Strong affinity for, and facility with, technology, including but not limited to AI tools, CRMs, productivity software, and whatever comes next
• Demonstrated “extreme ownership” and comfort with tight deadlines, incomplete information, and senior-level scrutiny
• Experience in or strong affinity for technology-oriented, engineering-driven companies
• Bonus: familiarity with energy, AI infrastructure, data center, and/or climate tech markets

Additional Requirements

• Hybrid role based in Portland, OR. Must be willing to spend significant time in Portland (relocation assistance provided).
• Nonstandard hours, including evenings and weekends, are required. We move fast and our partners span time zones.
• Some travel on short notice to meetings, conferences, and events.

Compensation and Benefits

If hired for this full-time role, you will receive:

• Cash compensation of $125,000 - $175,000, depending on experience.
• Equity in the company. We’re all owners and if we’re successful, this equity should be far and away the most valuable component of your compensation.
• A benefits package that helps you take care of yourself and your family, including:
  • Flexible paid time off
  • Health insurance (the company pays 100% of gold-level PPO plan for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Dental insurance (the company pays 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Vision insurance (the company pays 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Disability insurance (the company pays 100% for a policy to provide long-term financial support if you become disabled)
  • Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA
• Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).