Chief Operating & Strategy Officer

Background Fusion energy promises clean, abundant power by recreating the process that fuels the sun. The science is maturing, and the bottleneck is now building the machines: thousands of precision components that only a few suppliers worldwide can make. Our client is an early, well-funded fusion startup built to close that gap. It connects global fusion developers with world-class manufacturers as a single point of contact, while expanding into adjacent businesses such as fusion AI, superconducting materials and fuel supply. The Chief Operating & Strategy Officer will join as the CEO's closest counterpart, building Finance, HR and Legal to scale ahead of the business while shaping strategy on partnerships, M&A and capital allocation. Key Responsibilities Back Office Leadership Lead and integrate Finance, HR and Legal operations, building scalable processes, systems and governance that support rapid growth. Partner with the CFO on budgeting, financial planning and operational controls, ensuring the back office enables rather than slows the business. Build the talent strategy, organization design and culture needed to scale the team, including senior hiring and leadership development. Oversee contracts, corporate legal matters, compliance and risk management across multiple jurisdictions. Corporate and Business Strategy Define and drive company strategy together with the CEO, including market and segment prioritization, long-term planning and annual objectives. Lead s