Residential Permit Coordinator

GRID ALTERNATIVES•Oakland, CA

21h•Onsite

About The Position

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. 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. 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).

Requirements

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.
Must hold a valid driver’s license and have a good driving record.

Nice To Haves

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).

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.
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.
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.