Thorizon is a European deep-tech scale-up developing a new generation of small modular molten salt reactors. Its technology is designed to provide abundant, clean and affordable energy while contributing to a more circular nuclear fuel cycle. From its offices in the Netherlands and France, an international team combines scientific excellence, engineering rigour and entrepreneurial drive to turn pioneering reactor technology into an industrial reality.
The company is entering a decisive phase in which conceptual work must be translated into detailed engineering, licensing, supply-chain development, construction and commissioning. Ambitious timelines and increasing technical and organisational complexity require disciplined execution, clear governance and fast, well-founded decision-making. To lead one of its critical development programs and strengthen its project-delivery capability, Thorizon is looking for a Project Director.
As Project Director, you have end-to-end responsibility for delivering a technically complex, multidisciplinary program from detailed design towards construction and commissioning. You own scope, schedule, budget, quality and risk, translate strategic objectives into an integrated roadmap and ensure that dependencies, trade-offs and critical milestones are actively managed. You create the project controls, governance and decision-making rhythm that enable teams to move at pace without compromising engineering rigour, safety or compliance.
A central element of the role is structuring and driving the design process. Working in close partnership with the technical architect, the CTO, COO, and multidisciplinary engineering teams, you challenge assumptions, connect technical disciplines and turn architecture into clear requirements, work packages and executable plans. You manage decisions and trade-offs across safety, performance, reliability, manufacturability, constructability, cost and timing, making sure that technical excellence results in a licensable, buildable and competitive solution.
You orchestrate internal teams, engineering partners, suppliers, contractors and other stakeholders, establishing clear ownership and enforcing timely follow-through. You build robust planning and risk loops, anticipate long-lead items and prepare the transition from engineering into industrialisation and construction. You also help shape the contracting, procurement and delivery approach, including the effective management of EPC-related commercial and contractual risks. Regular presence at relevant Dutch project and partner locations is expected.
Beyond delivering the program, you professionalise Thorizon’s way of working. You introduce fit-for-purpose structure in a fast-growing engineering environment, build alignment across functions and foster a culture of ownership, transparency and delivery. You report to the COO and work closely with senior leadership and technical experts in an international organisation.
You are an accomplished project or program leader with a Master’s degree in Engineering or a comparable technical discipline and extensive experience delivering complex multidisciplinary systems or capital programs. Your background may be in semiconductors, aerospace, defence, energy, advanced manufacturing or another highly regulated, technology-intensive environment. Nuclear experience is not required; what matters is a proven ability to lead system integration, external partners and subcontractors against demanding milestones. Experience with construction, industrialisation and EPC models is valuable, provided it is combined with strong design-phase program leadership.
You are an accomplished project or program leader with extensive experience delivering complex multidisciplinary systems or capital programs in a highly regulated, technology-intensive environment
You combine technical depth with sharp business judgement and disciplined execution. You quickly get to the heart of complex issues, distinguish essentials from detail and convert complexity into clear priorities, responsibilities and action. Pragmatic, to-the-point and goal-oriented, you make sound decisions with incomplete information and maintain momentum towards tangible results. You challenge constructively, create cross-functional alignment and hold people accountable while enabling experts to perform at their best. You thrive in an entrepreneurial scale-up, prefer a low-hierarchy environment and understand how to operate effectively within Dutch culture and the Dutch supplier landscape. Excellent spoken and written English is essential. Proficiency in Dutch is a strong advantage. You are based in the Netherlands, or willing to relocate, and able to travel regularly between company and project locations.
Thorizon offers a rare opportunity to lead a defining program in Europe’s energy transition and to turn groundbreaking technology into an executable industrial project. You will work with high-calibre specialists and leading partners in an international deep-tech environment where initiative, clarity and ownership are valued. The position combines strategic influence with hands-on delivery and provides substantial scope to shape project-management standards, organisational capability and future programs as the company scales. Thorizon offers competitive remuneration and participation in its employee profit-sharing plan.
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