Environmental Permitting and Community Engagement Specialist

About This Role

We are seeking an ambitious, passionate, detail-oriented and dedicated professional to join our growing team. This role will work across multiple functions supporting both Environmental Permitting and Community Engagement while also interfacing frequently with Project Development, Real Estate Acquisition, and other teams of subject matter experts.

The Environmental Permitting and Community Engagement teams are both core parts of IPX Power’s Development team; a group of renewable energy experts committed to building some of the largest clean energy infrastructure projects in the country.

This role will play a key part in advancing IPX Power’s project execution and bringing new projects to market. You will facilitate environmental diligence, discretionary permit processing, and pre-construction phase permit implementation. You will also be a primary contributor in developing, managing, and providing thoughtful and strategic community engagement support in the communities where we work.

Team Overview

The Environmental and Permitting team supports the advancement of IPX Power’s renewable energy projects by managing environmental diligence, permitting strategies, and regulatory compliance throughout the project development lifecycle. The team works closely with Development, Real Estate, Community Engagement, Engineering, and Construction groups to evaluate environmental constraints, secure necessary approvals, and ensure projects are positioned for successful financing and construction. By coordinating consultants, regulatory agencies, and internal stakeholders, the team helps move projects efficiently through the development process while managing environmental risks and permitting timelines.

What You’ll Do

• Assist in the preparation, submittal, and coordination of discretionary permit applications and other entitlements critical to project viability and success
• Analyze draft permit requirements, maintain project obligation trackers, and complete permitting exhibits for contracts with project engineering, procurement, and construction contractors 
• Review zoning, floodplain, biological resources, wetlands, cultural resources, permitting fees, entitlement processes, design requirements, community attributes and other site-specific considerations to support early-stage project development
• Attend local, state and federal land-use planning and zoning meetings as well as industry association discussions to guide development in accordance with regulatory requirements
• Conduct careful assessment of documents critical to successful permitting and financing

Community Engagement

• Manage community relationships, social investments, volunteer events, and community outreach throughout all project phases
• Represent IPX Power and our projects with external stakeholders including at landowner meetings, community events, conferences, and local government hearings
• Conduct desktop research, analysis, and reporting on community sentiment towards development to help guide successful project development
• Work with internal and external experts to identify opportunities for creative, impactful and collaborative community engagement
• Develop both internal and external presentations, communication, and approval materials for project stakeholders and internal leadership

What You’ll Bring

• A strong desire to learn, grow, and be a part of a team that’s passionate about shaping our clean energy future and making an impact
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with meticulous attention to detail
• Clear mastery of Google suite; working across word documents, spreadsheets and decks
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic, transparent and cross-disciplinary environment
• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences including community leaders, residents, service providers and elected officials
• Creativity and curiosity for finding novel solutions to complex challenges
• Ability clearly summarize and articulate complex issues to a variety of audiences and colleagues
• Familiarity with land use planning, environmental laws, regulations, and guidelines, including CEQA, NEPA, ESA, MBTA, BGEPA, Clean Water Act, and Clean Air Act a plus
• Familiarity with Google Earth and/or ArcGIS a plus
• Ability and willingness to travel within the United States up to 40%

Experience & Education

The successful candidate will gain experience and exposure to a variety of topics, and will work with diverse teams internally and externally. As such, candidates from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and professional knowledge will be considered. If you do not possess all of the following experiences and/or education listed below we still encourage you to apply. 

• Bachelor’s Degree in applicable field, including Environmental Science, Engineering, Earth Sciences, Communications, Public Relations, or related work experience.
• Renewable energy experience a strong plus
• Experience in development of collateral, messaging, one-pagers, press releases, etc.
• Two (2) or more years of work experience in one or both of the following tracks:
  • Environmental consulting, permitting, renewable energy, real estate, planning, public utilities, ecology, or other related fields
  • Public affairs, communications, community engagement, or similar client services or project management related field