Residential Permit Coordinator in California, California at GRID ALTERNATIVES

About GRID Alternatives

GRID Alternatives is a national leader in making clean, affordable solar power and solar jobs accessible to low-income communities and communities of color. GRID is an entrepreneurial, high-growth non-profit organization that provides direct solar installation and project development; clean mobility options; workforce training and service-learning opportunities; and low-income solar policy advocacy.

Our Vision: a rapid, equitable transition to a world powered by renewable energy that benefits everyone.

Our Mission: to build community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy.

What it's like to work at GRID…

At GRID, we care about each other and know that each employee has a whole self that includes life outside of work. Our culture supports learning, growth and well-being of all of our team members.

Summary of the role:

At GRID Alternatives, the Residential Permit Specialist provides an outstanding chance to create a significant impact to the clients crucial This role is essential in coordinating and tracking the permitting process for residential photovoltaic (PV) solar and/or energy storage projects. As the primary owner of permit applications from build completion through permit issuance, you will ensure our projects move efficiently and compliantly towards installation and interconnection.

You will thrive in this position if you are diligent, organized, and skilled at handling multiple jurisdictions with different permitting rules. Your work will be critical to our mission of delivering clean, renewable energy to communities. You will collaborate closely with our Build, Construction, and Operations teams, along with local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs)

What you will be doing (essential responsibilities):

• Prepare, submit, and track permit applications for residential PV (and solar-plus-storage, when applicable) systems in accordance with established procedures and SOPs.
• Review residential solar build packages and plan sets for completeness, accuracy, and permit readiness prior to submission.
• Maintain continuous communication with AHJs regarding permit issuance, addressing comments, correction notices, and revision requests.
• Verify permit approvals, conditions, and inspection outcomes prior to project closeout.
• Coordination & Communication
• Serve as the primary point of contact between internal teams (Build, Construction, and Operations) and external agencies (building departments, inspectors, utilities) related to permitting.
• Clearly communicate permit status, timelines, and issues to internal collaborators.
• Advance permitting challenges or jurisdiction-specific issues as needed to ensure timely resolution.
• Assist and support the Build department with all other duties as needed and assigned.
• Tracking, Documentation & Systems
• Accurately track permit submissions, approvals, inspections, and statuses in Salesforce and other project tracking tools.
• Maintain organized digital project records.
• Assist with updating and maintaining permitting resources, SOPs, and AHJ-specific documentation and requirements.
• Support the development and maintenance of jurisdictional permitting knowledge, including fees, turnaround times, and submission preferences.

Your areas of knowledge and expertise...

• 1+ year of experience in solar permitting, construction administration, or project coordination (residential experience strongly preferred).
• Familiarity with residential PV system components and basic electrical concepts.
• Experience working with municipal permitting departments and inspection processes.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to handle multiple permits simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Google Drive and Microsoft Office.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Clear and professional written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across departments.
• Problem-solving approach passionate about process improvement.
• Dedication to safety, quality, sustainability, and environmental justice.

It would be great if you also had...

• Experience permitting residential solar PV or solar-plus-storage systems.
• Experience dealing directly with AHJ officials and inspectors.
• Experience with PV modeling and resource analysis tools (e.g., HelioScope, Aurora) and/or drafting platforms (e.g., AutoCAD, Sketchup).
• Familiarity with CRM and project tracking systems (e.g., Salesforce) and document management guidelines.
• NABCEP certification (or Associate) and/or OSHA 10 (or equivalent safety training).
• Bilingual English / Spanish (or other languages relevant to service territory).

Benefits and how we take care of you

Compensation:

The compensation range for this fulltime position is xxxxx. The base pay that will actually be offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, experience and take into account internal equity.

Benefits:

Medical, Dental, Vision/Eye Care insurance, 5 weeks paid time off (PTO),13 paid holidays, Commuter Checks, 403b Retirement Plan, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), STD, LTD, and AD&D insurance

Where you will sit & the places you may go…

The ideal candidate will sit in xxxxx. This position may require up to 25% out-of-town travel to regional offices and special projects such as org-wide celebrations, team building exercises, etc. Availability to work nights and weekends may very rarely be required. GRID Alternatives may provide vehicles for work travel and/or travel reimbursement for personal vehicle use. In this instance, applicants must hold a valid driver’s license and have a good driving record.

Important to note for California applicants:

**Hired CA candidates must be able to pass a screening for drugs that are illegal in the state of California, including: amphetamine, cocaine metabolite, opiates, and PCP.

Reasonable Accommodation for Job Seekers with a Disability:

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to: RECRUITING@GRIDALTERNATIVES.ORG

Ready to Apply?

Submit a resume describing your interest. Due to the high volume of inquiries, mailed and emailed applications are not accepted.

GRID Alternatives provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetics. Because we value EID at GRID Alternatives, we encourage folks from all backgrounds to apply, even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications. Every member of GRID Alternatives must be dedicated to participating in the organization's equity, inclusion, and diversity (EID) work.