Environmental and Permitting SME
$182k - $195k USD
We’re a team of friends bound together by a mission to preserve our planet for future generations through innovative energy solutions and modern infrastructure. In December 2025, Google announced an agreement to acquire Intersect, to enable more data center and generation capacity to come online faster while accelerating energy development and innovation. After close, we’ll continue doing exactly what we were built to do - develop, construct, and operate the most ambitious power and data infrastructure in the country.
Intersect’s operations will remain separate from Alphabet and Google under the Intersect brand. We’re on an aggressive growth trajectory and looking for people hungry to tackle the largest energy challenges on the planet.
Location & Team Gatherings
Intersect has been a fully flexible workplace since its founding in 2016. We’ve been very intentional about the way we do things. We are not work-from-home, hybrid, or in-office - we are any and all of those options! Deepening social connections and offering shared experiences is a cornerstone of the way we work. We connect as a team at our Team Week experiences four times a year and at our recently established Hub locations - SF Bay Area, NYC Metro Area, NY; Denver, CO; Austin, TX; Calgary, AB; and Toronto, ON.
We are currently looking for candidates located within 60 miles of any of the listed hubs to foster more in-person connections while maintaining our flexible remote culture.
About This Role
As part of Intersect’s Environmental Permitting team, you’ll help advance gigawatt-scale wind, solar PV, BESS, gas, and data center projects from early-stage development through operations. Your work will shape environmental and land use strategy, secure critical permits, and guide projects through complex regulatory landscapes across the U.S. You’ll collaborate closely with development, engineering, GIS, community engagement, real estate, legal, construction, and M&A teams to identify risks early, unlock opportunities, and ensure projects are positioned for long-term success.
Team Overview
This team plays a critical role in advancing Intersect’s mission to accelerate the renewable energy transition by securing the land use and environmental approvals that make large-scale infrastructure possible. Partnering across development, engineering, legal, and community engagement, the Environmental Permitting team navigates complex regulatory frameworks, builds durable stakeholder relationships, and removes barriers to project execution. Joining this team means working on high-impact projects at meaningful scale while developing deep expertise in permitting strategy, environmental diligence, and cross-functional leadership.
What You’ll Do
Lead Environmental and Permitting Strategy
•Develop and execute environmental and permitting strategies for multi-technology projects, ensuring alignment from early-stage development through construction and operations
•Evaluate site-specific environmental and land use constraints and guide design reviews to ensure compliance and reduce risk
•Approach complex regulatory challenges with creative, forward-thinking solutions that support long-term project and company success
Secure Permits and Advance Project Approvals
• Prepare, coordinate, and secure required federal, state, and local permits and approvals, tracking status and proactively identifying risks to execution
• Review permit requirements, implementation costs, and logistics, and prepare project-specific permitting exhibits to support EPC contracting
• Research and summarize land use, environmental review, and permitting requirements in early-stage jurisdictions to inform go/no-go decisions
• Attend land use planning, zoning meetings, and industry forums as needed to support project advancement
Drive Environmental Diligence and M&A Support
• Lead environmental and permitting due diligence for potential M&A projects, identifying risks and opportunities and delivering strategic recommendations
• Oversee external consultants conducting biological, cultural, and other resource studies, ensuring high-quality technical documentation and regulatory alignment
• Provide clear, actionable insights to internal stakeholders with minimal oversight, leveraging consultant expertise effectively
Manage Execution, Risk, and Cross-Functional Alignment
• Maintain permitting schedules, budgets, and risk trackers in alignment with broader development timelines
• Coordinate cross-functionally with engineering, development, real estate, legal, and construction teams to gather inputs and refine permitting strategies
• Develop stakeholder materials and participate in meetings with agencies, elected officials, communities, NGOs, and Tribal representatives
• Prepare internal project approval materials for executive leadership, coordinating inputs and securing alignment across team leads
• Partner with the internal permitting team to share lessons learned, standardize approaches, and drive continuous process improvement
• Monitor regulatory and policy changes and clearly communicate potential impacts to project teams and leadership
What You’ll Bring
• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Urban or Regional Planning, Natural Resources, Environmental Policy, Political Science, Geography, Geology, Hydrology, Economics, or a related field (Master’s degree or MBA is a plus)
• 5+ years of experience in environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, or development of power, energy, transmission, or other large-scale infrastructure projects
• Demonstrated experience advancing land use, environmental, and development approvals across multiple jurisdictions
• Familiarity with key environmental laws and regulatory frameworks such as NEPA, ESA, MBTA, BGEPA, and CWA
• Experience working with local, state, and federal agencies, environmental NGOs, or Tribal representatives
• Working knowledge of mapping and spatial tools such as Google Earth and ArcGIS Online
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and strategic thinking skills, with a disciplined approach to identifying and mitigating risk
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory issues into clear, actionable next steps
• Willingness and ability to travel within the United States approximately twice per quarter, or as needed
Total Rewards
At Intersect, we support your well-being, growth, and balance with a comprehensive rewards package:
Compensation: USD $182,000- $195,000 (total compensation includes base salary AND bonus)
Health & Wellness: 100% premium coverage for you and your dependents on medical, dental, and vision
Time to Recharge: Unlimited PTO, plus two company-wide breaks (Fourth of July & end of year)
Family Support: Up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, plus 6 additional weeks for birth parents; access to family planning support via Carrot and Maven
Mental Health: Free access to Spring Health which includes 5 free Therapy & psychiatry sessions, plus a Headspace account for mindfulness and meditation through our physical health vendor, Wellhub+
Retirement: 3% non-elective employer contribution to your 401k or RRSP, ensuring your financial future is on the right track
Perks & Extras:$150 monthly food stipend, $150 monthly reimbursement for cell phone/ internet, pet insurance allowance, full home office setup and free access to UrbanSitter with $625 in quarterly paid company credits, ActiveHero, and One Medical
Ready to help shape the future of responsible energy development? Apply now and build a career with lasting impact.
Intersect maintains a work environment free from discrimination, one where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling Intersect's commitment to equal employment opportunity. Intersect does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by and consistent with applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline.