Environmental Specialist

Endurance Energy•Washington, DC

5d•Remote

About The Position

Endurance is building the world's first modular subsea geothermal power plants, converting vast thermal resources under the ocean into gigawatts of baseload power. Backed by First Round Capital and Point72 Ventures, our founding team includes veterans from SpaceX, Helion, and Robinhood. We have completed multiple deep ocean deployments and are launching our generation pilot this year. By leveraging manufacturing scale, efficient drilling, and latent cooling on the seafloor, we are pioneering a new category of energy that outperforms traditional sources on both environmental impact and cost. As an Environmental Specialist at Endurance, you will lead the environmental strategy for our offshore geothermal portfolio — from initial site assessment through construction permitting and into operations. Core responsibilities include directing environmental impact assessments (EIAs) under NEPA and applicable international frameworks, managing complex multi-agency permitting processes, and serving as a company representative to regulators, environmental agencies, and coastal stakeholders across the United States and internationally. This position falls within Endurance's External Affairs Team, though you will collaborate closely with the engineering and business development teams to ensure that environmental considerations are integrated into project design from inception. This role requires the ability to manage multiple regulatory processes simultaneously across jurisdictions, exercise sound professional judgment under conditions of uncertainty, and maintain rigorous standards while operating within the pace of an early-stage company. Because offshore geothermal energy has no established regulatory precedent in most jurisdictions, a significant dimension of this role involves shaping policy rather than simply navigating it. You will engage with regulatory bodies and government agencies in markets where no permitting framework yet exists for this technology, working to develop pathways that are both scientifically sound and practically achievable. Internally, you will be responsible for establishing Endurance's environmental compliance policies, monitoring and reporting standards, and the company's broader approach to environmental stewardship — helping to define what responsible offshore geothermal development looks like as an industry standard. This position will also require periodic time at sea, supporting environmental monitoring activities during field deployments and ensuring that operational practices meet the standards established during the permitting process.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Natural Resources, Marine Science, or a related field; Advanced degrees strongly preferred (MS, MBA, JD, PhD)
7+ years of progressive experience in environmental impact assessment and/or permitting, with direct experience in offshore or marine environments
Demonstrated expertise with NEPA and BOEM offshore regulatory processes, plus at least one additional major statute (ESA, MMPA, Clean Water Act, or CZMA)
Experience managing EIA processes subject to international standards (IFC Performance Standards, World Bank Environmental and Social Framework, or country-specific EIA regimes)
Track record of managing complex, multi-jurisdiction regulatory processes simultaneously under real time pressure
Strong written communication skills is a must; can draft clear, persuasive regulatory documents and crisp executive memos
Comfortable making sound environmental judgments with incomplete information and tight deadlines
Willingness and ability to travel internationally; comfortable with being at sea for extended periods of time

Nice To Haves

Experience with geothermal energy, offshore renewable energy, or deep-sea resource development
Familiarity with Asian/Pacific Islands, Caribbean, or European offshore regulatory environments
Professional certification
Proficiency in a second language relevant to Endurance's international project areas
Experience supporting public utility or energy regulatory proceedings

Responsibilities

Lead preparation and coordination of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Environmental Assessments (EA), and international EIA documentation, managing the full permitting lifecycle across federal, state, and international jurisdictions
Engage with regulatory agencies and government ministries in markets where no established permitting pathway exists for offshore geothermal, developing scientifically sound and operationally viable regulatory frameworks from the ground up
Develop and implement Endurance's internal environmental compliance policies, monitoring protocols, and reporting standards, helping to define industry best practices for responsible offshore geothermal development
Monitor changes to domestic and international environmental regulations and translate them into actionable strategy for engineering, legal, and business development teams
Serve as Endurance's primary representative to federal and state agencies (BOEM, EPA, USACE, NOAA) and equivalent international bodies, including participation in public comment processes, scoping sessions, and regulatory forums
Build and sustain relationships with environmental NGOs, fishing communities, indigenous groups, and coastal stakeholders to support project social license across multiple geographies
Identify, pursue, and manage grants through their full lifecycle — from application and award through milestone tracking, reporting, and funder compliance
Participate in offshore field deployments to conduct and oversee environmental monitoring, ensuring operational practices are consistent with permitted conditions and Endurance's internal standards
Oversee third-party environmental consultants and maintain a permitting tracking system to manage deadlines, agency correspondence, and permit conditions across all active projects
Draft regulatory submissions, mitigation plans, environmental management plans, technical field reports, and executive briefings for senior leadership and external audiences