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Permitting Specialist - Harbor, Marine & Coastal Waters
AltaSea at the Port Of Los Angeles
San Jose, CA, USA · San Pedro, Los Angeles, CA, USA · California, USA · United States
USD 75k-90k / year
Posted on Jul 2, 2025
AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging blue economy through business innovation and job creation, and inspiring the next generation, all for a more sustainable, just and equitable world.
SUMMARY
AltaSea is seeking a knowledgeable and proactive Permitting Specialist to help navigate the complex regulatory landscape of marine and coastal development. This role will be responsible for researching, interpreting, and organizing permitting requirements across agencies such as the Port of Los Angeles, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Coastal Commission, and others. Given the site’s historic designation, the role also includes ensuring compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards as outlined in AltaSea’s CEQA commitments, including coordination with SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office) as needed. The Permitting Specialist will develop a comprehensive regulatory roadmap to support AltaSea’s mission and provide guidance to our marine-based partners—ensuring that permitting processes are efficient, transparent, and fully compliant.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Research permitting processes across local, state, and federal marine/coastal agencies.
- Build step-by-step permit playbooks and timelines for various project types.
- Develop a “Regulatory Roadmap” for AltaSea and tenant use.
- Identify bottlenecks, gaps, and opportunities in the current permitting landscape.
- Liaise with agency reps, consultants, and stakeholders to streamline approvals.
- Support the permitting lifecycle—from application to tracking to compliance.
- Create templates, checklists, and repeatable workflows for future use.
- Stay current on changing laws, policies, and best practices in marine permitting.
Primary Interactions:
• Frequent contact with AltaSea colleagues and on-site partners.
• May have periodic interaction with AltaSea Trustees, and senior staff or contractors.
• Frequent contact with regulatory & permitting entities such as POLA, Water Board etc.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- We’re looking for someone who brings a mix of technical knowledge, strategic thinking, and a deep respect for process. The ideal candidate will have:
- A systems-oriented mindset with the ability to distill complex permitting requirements into clear, actionable steps.
- Demonstrated experience in coastal, environmental, or construction permitting (marine experience strongly preferred).
- Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with precision.
- Strong communication skills, particularly in translating regulatory or legal language into accessible terms.
- Comfort working across a range of stakeholders, from public agencies to early-stage marine innovators.
- A passion for sustainability, ocean innovation, and unlocking regulatory pathways for impact-driven projects.
- Familiarity with the Port of Los Angeles permitting process, including the Application Permit Process (APP).
- Experience working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the California Coastal Commission.
- Background in GIS, marine planning, or environmental sciences.
- Exposure to marine construction, aquaculture systems, or floating infrastructure projects.
- Experience supporting permitting for demonstration-scale or pilot marine projects.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Minimum Education Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields:
- Environmental Science
- Urban or Regional Planning
- Marine Science
- Public Policy
- Environmental or Civil Engineering
- Geography
- Natural Resources Management
Specialized coursework or certifications in:
- CEQA/NEPA compliance
- Coastal zone management
- Environmental permitting or regulatory affairs
- GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Works primarily in a warehouse setting at the AltaSea campus in San Pedro. The site is subject to noise, dust, temperature fluctuations as well as other warehouse conditions.
- The position involves working occasional evenings and weekends
- The candidate must have a valid driver’s license and be able to travel locally on occasion
- TO APPLY: Please send resume and cover letter to (Angie Reed, HR, areed@altasea.org). Competitive salary range of $75 to 90k commensurate with experience; benefits include paid vacation, medical/dental/vision insurance, 403B, life and long-term disability insurance.