Permitting Policy Director

tl;dr Co-lead Permit Power’s policy development to simplify and streamline permitting, inspection, HOAs, building codes, and product standards to dramatically lower the cost and accelerate the adoption of residential rooftop solar, plug-in solar, and home batteries.

Permit Power is an energy affordability non-profit on a mission to make it cheap and easy for American families to power their lives by cutting the red tape that makes home solar and batteries so expensive.

We are a small but ambitious team that advances common-sense policy fixes in states around the country to modernize processes like permitting and utility interconnection to allow tens of millions more American families to produce their own affordable electricity.

We are looking for a Permitting Policy Director to co-lead our agenda to remove bureaucratic barriers for residential rooftop solar, plug-in solar, and home batteries including streamlining permitting, inspection, homeowner association approvals, and codes and standards. In partnership with Permit Power’s advocacy staff, you’ll serve as a core part of our team to drive legislative change, lead and participate in coalition efforts, and be an internal expert and external thought leader on permit streamlining.

A significant portion of your work will likely focus on policies derived from the values of property rights, small government, and consumer choice in conservative and purple states. The specific policies and states will be divided with Permit Power’s current Permitting Policy Director based on existing expertise, geography, and other factors. You will report to the Chief of Policy.

Formulate and execute a comprehensive policy plan to simplify and streamline permitting and inspection processes for home solar and batteries, with a focus on states with the largest home solar and battery potential, as well as simplifying and streamlining building codes and product safety standards for home solar products such as plug-in solar.

Conduct preliminary research for, draft, and vet permitting bill language. Produce advocacy materials, such as talking points, fact sheets, graphics, and reports. In coordination with Permit Power’s advocacy team and outside lobbyists, lobby legislators, their staff, and executive branch officials. Negotiate with opposition.

Develop and manage relationships with partners such as home builders, the solar industry, think tanks, and others to broaden support for a permitting reform agenda and to collaboratively refine and update our state policy priorities.

Act as the organization’s authority on permitting rules, regulations, and cutting-edge policies like third-party permitting and inspection, HOA overreach, and simplified building codes and product standards.

Investigate whether jurisdictions are following the bills we pass, whether installers are actively taking advantage of them, and why. Then analyze where implementation is hitting friction points and refine solutions to remove further and persistent barriers to affordable home solar and batteries.

Scope external policy research and identify, onboard, and direct consultants to secure high-quality products supporting our permitting policy agenda.

7+ years of experience in policy development, legislative advocacy, and/or regulatory affairs related to solar, construction, permitting, or government efficiency.

Track record of successfully developing and executing policy agendas that lead to tangible outcomes,…