Permitting Specialist

Permitting Specialist

Columbia, SC or Washington D.C

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing AI tech-enabled startup in the nuclear and energy space, pioneering a fleet-scale approach to building the next generation of nuclear reactors. Through our design-once, build-many model, we're accelerating the deployment of safe, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy.

We operate with an AI-first mindset. Every employee is expected to leverage AI, technology, and the Nuclear Operating System (NOS) as integral components of their role to improve the quality, speed, and impact of their work. We expect every team member to continuously identify opportunities to automate workflows, enhance decision-making, improve processes, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of NOS as a strategic operating capability that enables The Nuclear Company to scale with excellence.

We hire people who are driven by purpose, thrive in ambiguity, and are energized by building what has never been built before. Our team combines intellectual curiosity with high agency, embraces candid feedback and continuous learning, and holds themselves and others to exceptional standards. Our values—Transparency, Responsibility, Unity, Scrappiness, and Tenacity—guide how we hire, collaborate, and make decisions every day. They are not words on a wall; they are the standard by which we operate. TRUST is the foundation of our safety culture, fostering intellectual honesty, accountability, and open communication, while our values challenge every team member to execute with urgency, humility, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to our mission.

About the role

The Permitting Specialist supports The Nuclear Company's Development organization by coordinating and managing environmental, construction, land use, and infrastructure permitting activities across the project lifecycle from Front-End Loading (FEL) 0 through FEL 3. This role is responsible for planning, tracking, and advancing the permits and regulatory approvals necessary to support project development, helping ensure critical milestones are achieved on schedule.

The Permitting Specialist manages permit applications, maintains permitting schedules, coordinates with regulatory agencies, tracks permit conditions and compliance requirements, and proactively identifies permitting risks that could impact project execution. Success in this role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple permitting activities across a portfolio of complex infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

Permitting & Regulatory Coordination

• Support permitting activities for nuclear development projects from FEL 0 through FEL 3.
• Coordinate the preparation, submission, tracking, and maintenance of federal, state, and local permit applications and approvals.
• Maintain permitting schedules and ensure permit milestones remain aligned with overall project development schedules.
• Coordinate responses to agency requests for additional information and support permit modifications as projects evolve.
• Track permit conditions, commitments, and expiration dates to ensure ongoing compliance.

Project Development Support

• Partner with Development Managers to identify permitting requirements, risks, and critical path activities during early project development.
• Coordinate permitting activities supporting environmental studies, geotechnical investigations, site characterization, utility coordination, and construction planning.
• Assist with permitting strategies that support project schedules and reduce regulatory risk.
• Support project budgeting and forecasting related to permitting activities and consultant services.

Agency & Stakeholder Coordination

• Serve as a point of coordination with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.
• Coordinate activities with environmental consultants, engineering firms, surveyors, and permitting specialists.
• Support meetings, permit review discussions, and regulatory agency communications.
• Collaborate with External Affairs and Community Engagement teams to support permitting-related public outreach and stakeholder engagement activities.

Technology, Data & AI

• Utilize AI-enabled tools, GIS platforms, and digital permitting systems to streamline permit tracking, document review, regulatory research, and workflow management.
• Maintain permitting data, schedules, and regulatory documentation within the Nuclear Operating System (NOS).
• Leverage AI tools to summarize regulatory requirements, identify permitting risks, prepare draft permit documentation, and improve reporting efficiency.

Desired Traits

• Meticulous tracker. Nothing falls through: every deadline, expiration, and open item is visible and owned.
• Self-starting closer. Runs down open items without being prompted.
• Clear documenter. Writes and files so that anyone can find and trust the record.
• Quick study. Ranges across wetlands, species, cultural resources, and air/water programs with confidence.
• Team-oriented. Responsive across workstreams; makes the land, engineering, and licensing interfaces easy.
• Identify opportunities to automate permitting workflows, improve document management, and enhance collaboration across development teams through AI and digital technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Natural Resources, Geography, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• 3+ years of experience supporting permitting, environmental compliance, land development, infrastructure projects, utilities, energy, or industrial development.
• Experience coordinating permit applications and regulatory approvals with government agencies.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple permits, projects, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and document management systems.
• Willingness to travel periodically to project locations and regulatory agency meetings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting large-scale infrastructure, energy, utility, nuclear, transmission, renewable energy, or industrial development projects.
• Familiarity with environmental permitting requirements, including NEPA, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, wetlands permitting, stormwater permitting, and state/local land use approvals.
• Experience working with federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, NRC, DOE, or state environmental agencies.
• Experience with GIS platforms (ArcGIS or similar), permitting databases, and project management software.
• Experience utilizing AI-powered tools or digital platforms to improve permitting workflows, regulatory document review, project coordination, or compliance tracking.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT Enterprise, or other large language model (LLM)-based productivity tools to accelerate regulatory research, summarize permitting requirements, draft correspondence, and improve project coordination.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation packages
• 401k with company match
• Medical, dental, vision plans
• Generous vacation policy, plus holidays

Estimated Starting Salary Range The estimated starting salary range for this role is $88,000 - $109,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi-weekly basis. The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company's discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role.

EEO Statement The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.

Export Control Certain positions at The Nuclear Company may involve access to information and technology subject to export controls under U.S. law. Compliance with these export controls may result in The Nuclear Company limiting its consideration of certain applicants.

Recruiting Fraud Alert Your safety is our priority. We want to ensure your job search stays secure. Please note that the team at The Nuclear Company only communicates through official @thenuclearcompany.com email addresses. We will never ask for payments or sensitive financial information at any stage of our recruitment process. For your peace of mind, please verify all openings and submit your applications directly through our official careers page.