Head of Project Development & Execution

About Us

Molten Industries advances how people live, build, and move through innovative materials, chemicals, and fuels. We are commercializing breakthrough technology to make battery-grade graphite and clean hydrogen using only methane and electricity as inputs. Graphite is a critical mineral that makes up as much as 25% of the mass of lithium-ion batteries used in phones, laptops, and electric vehicles. Molten has developed an entirely new method of graphite production with a fundamentally new supply chain and cost structure.

Molten started in 2021 out of a garage at Stanford and is backed by top-tier venture capital firms and a world-class advisory board. We believe in using our talents for the most meaningful work of our lives - mitigating the effects of climate change. We want to do the kind of work that you can write home about. The work that you’ll tell your grandkids about. Engineering feats, growth miracles, and rock-solid, real-world change. At Molten we believe in dreaming big, working with urgency, and getting our hands dirty. 

The Role

As we transition from our demo to full-scale project execution, we seek a dynamic and experienced Head of Projects to lead this transformation. You will be responsible for leading the development and delivery of major capital projects (typically $50M–$400M CAPEX), ensuring successful execution from conceptual design through construction, commissioning, and handover. You are a scrappy self-starter with a bias to action. This role requires strategic leadership, cross-functional coordination, and the ability to relentlessly drive projects through stage-gated development while managing cost, schedule, and risk. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in project management, engineering integration, procurement, and execution strategies within capital-intensive industries such as energy, chemicals, renewables, or infrastructure. 

What you will do

• Project Development & Stage-Gate Execution

• Lead projects from conceptual design through the Front-End Loading (FEL) process (FEL-1 to FEL-3), ensuring stage-gate readiness.

• Develop and manage FID-ready (Final Investment Decision) projects, ensuring cost, schedule, and risk profiles meet investment thresholds.

• Oversee feasibility studies, site selection, and regulatory compliance efforts, ensuring seamless project progression.

• Establish and manage the Project Execution Plan, including contracting strategy, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement.

• Interface with Company Executives and Board of Directors to shape development opportunities in alignment with corporate scaling and growth plans, ensuring project execution aligns with long-term business strategy.

• Site Selection, Permitting, Regulatory Compliance & Community Engagement

• Lead site feasibility assessments, including geotechnical, environmental, and infrastructure evaluations to determine the optimal project location.

• Oversee land acquisition and right-of-way (ROW) negotiations, ensuring alignment with strategic and regulatory requirements.

• Manage the permitting process at local, state, and federal levels, ensuring compliance with all regulatory and environmental requirements.

• Serve as the primary liaison with regulatory bodies, permitting agencies, and environmental authorities, securing necessary project approvals.

• Develop and execute community engagement strategies, proactively addressing stakeholder concerns and fostering positive relationships with local communities.

• Ensure the integration of sustainability and environmental stewardship into project planning and execution.

• Engineering, Procurement & Contracting

• Oversee all aspects of engineering design development from conceptual to detailed design.

• Work closely with EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) partners to ensure constructability and cost-effectiveness.

• Develop procurement and contracting strategies (EPC, EPCM, lump sum, reimbursable) aligned with project objectives.

• Negotiate and manage major contracts, ensuring alignment with project goals, risk mitigation, and value optimization.

• Project Controls, Risk & Stakeholder Management

• Implement project controls, cost tracking, earned value management (EVM), and progress forecasting to ensure financial and schedule discipline.

• Lead risk management efforts, identifying potential project risks and proactively implementing mitigation strategies.

• Provide regular updates and reporting to executive leadership, investors, and key stakeholders on project performance.

• Ensure proactive stakeholder engagement across project phases to align expectations and facilitate decision-making.

• Construction Execution & Commissioning

• Oversee construction management, ensuring adherence to safety, quality, and environmental compliance standards.

• Manage interface between construction, commissioning, and operations, ensuring seamless project transition.

• Drive startup, commissioning, and operational readiness efforts, working closely with operations teams to ensure long-term asset performance.

• Develop internal project management processes, tools, and governance frameworks to scale future projects.

• Foster a culture of excellence, safety, and collaboration within the project teams and across external partners.

What you will bring

• We are looking for candidates with different experience levels ranging from 5 to 15+ years of experience in major capital project development & execution ($50M–$400M+ CAPEX)

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field (or equivalent)

• Experience leading projects from conceptual design through FEED, EPC execution, and commissioning

• Strong background in site selection, permitting, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement

• Proven expertise in contract negotiation, procurement, and financial oversight of large-scale projects

• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams and interfacing with EPC partners

• Deep understanding of engineering disciplines (process, mechanical, civil, electrical, instrumentation, automation) and their interfaces

• Strong knowledge of project controls, cost estimating (Class V to Class I), and schedule management

• Extensive experience in regulatory permitting, land acquisition, and environmental compliance strategies

• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at executive levels

• Hands-on experience with construction oversight, safety programs, and commissioning/startup management

Bonus Points

• Experience in startups or scaling organizations transitioning from R&D to full-scale commercialization

• Familiarity with greenfield or brownfield industrial projects, energy transition technologies, or sustainability-focused industries

• Experience with hydrogen or graphite production processes

Perks and Benefits

Competitive salary

Meaningful equity compensation

Health, dental and vision insurance covered by Molten

Generous 401k matching program

Flexible time off