About the Role
The Director of External Affairs will be a member of the leadership team at C0280, responsible for building and executing the company’s public engagement, policy, and strategic communications efforts in support of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects nationwide. With initial focus on Louisiana, this position will be instrumental in creating and executing a blueprint for how C0280 engages with federal, state and local governments, industrial partners, local communities, and other key stakeholders to ensure community acceptance and accelerate permitting and deployment of carbon storage projects.
This individual will lead the company’s external affairs strategy, working to shape public policy, influence public opinion, secure political support, and ensure that C0280’s CCS initiatives are understood as both environmentally beneficial and economically transformative—particularly when there is local opposition or misunderstandings about CO₂ transportation and storage.
About the Company
CO280 develops large-scale, carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects in
partnership with legacy industries. Beginning in pulp and paper, we develop, finance, own
and operate CCS projects located at pulp and paper mills across the Gulf Coast. Our
projects are revenue generating and profitable. They are financed with private capital and
backed by the sale of carbon removal credits (CDR) under long term offtake agreements
plus 45Q tax credits.
By investing billions to retrofit pulp and paper mills with CCS, our projects are transforming
the economics of the industry by increasing revenue and profitability, enhancing mill
competitiveness, and securing jobs for thousands of manufacturing employees in rural
forest communities at a time when the industry is facing increasing pressure from offshore
competitors, rising costs, and changing market dynamics.
CO280 has assembled a high-powered team that has established a network of partnerships
including North America’s leading pulp and paper companies, CDR buyers, carbon capture
technology suppliers, engineering firms, CO2 pipeline and sequestration providers, and
project investors. Backed by top equity funds and industry leaders such as Frontier, JP
Morgan, Microsoft, and SLB Capturi, we are well-funded and ready to scale. We are
positioned at the forefront of an emerging new industry poised to deliver significant gains in
productivity and competitiveness for American manufacturing.
Responsibilities
Public Affairs & Government Relations
• Build and execute a multi-state external affairs strategy, beginning in Louisiana, to secure community support and political alignment for CCS projects.
• Cultivate strong relationships with local officials, state lawmakers, tribal leaders, federal delegations, and regulatory agencies.
• Monitor and influence legislative and regulatory developments relevant to CCS at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Represent C0280 in policy coalitions, industry associations, and public forums.
Strategic Communications & Branding
• Develop and implement a cohesive communications plan to promote the environmental, economic, and technological benefits of CCS.
• Support CO280’s leadership with media and public settings; oversee message development and media engagement strategies in collaboration with marketing and leadership.
• Craft targeted messaging that resonates with diverse audiences, particularly in rural and energy-producing communities.
Community & Stakeholder Engagement
• Design and lead targeted outreach campaigns to earn the trust and support of local communities, including efforts to dispel misinformation, overcome NIMBY opposition, and address public concerns about underground CO₂ storage.
• Partner with community leaders, business groups, and economic development organizations to highlight the local benefits for job creation and economic growth tied to CCS projects.
• Support local partnerships and philanthropic efforts that align with C0280’s values and stakeholder priorities.
Political & Regulatory Strategy
• Coordinate with legal and technical teams to support permitting, licensing, and regulatory compliance strategies.
• Anticipate and mitigate potential political and public perception risks to CCS projects.
• Lead political engagement efforts including supporting key elected officials at the local, state, and federal level; and representing the company at political events when appropriate.
• Engage directly in legislative processes, providing testimony, drafting comment letters, and supporting grassroots/grasstops advocacy as needed.
Executive Leadership & Strategic Counsel
• Serve as a key advisor to the CEO and executive team, providing strategic insights on external dynamics, emerging policy risks, and stakeholder sentiment that could impact project success.
• Lead or contribute to cross-functional teams responsible for market expansion and public-private partnership development.
• Help shape C0280’s long-term vision as a national leader in carbon management and climate-focused infrastructure.
Qualifications
• 10+ years of senior-level experience in government affairs, public policy, communications, or external relations—ideally within the energy, infrastructure, or environmental sectors.
• Demonstrated success influencing policy and public opinion in complex, technically nuanced, or controversial issue areas.
• Strong network of political and community relationships in Louisiana and/or other energy-producing regions.
• Deep understanding of regulatory and political landscapes in energy-producing states.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust across diverse constituencies.
• Strategic thinker and team player, capable of balancing mission, political realities, and public perception.
• Ability to effectively plan and execute on stakeholder affairs strategies directly and in conjunction with external consulting firms or partners.
• Willingness to travel regularly to project sites and engage in on-the-ground relationship-building.