Permitting Lead

Vaulted Deep

Location: Houston, TX

About Vaulted

Vaulted is an emerging leader in permanent carbon removal. As a Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS) solution, Vaulted delivers permanent, high quality carbon removal at scale through the geologic sequestration of carbon-filled organic waste.

Vaulted’s approach is designed to be the lowest cost, gigaton scale, permanent carbon removal. We sequester sludgy organic wastes (biosolids, manure, agricultural, food waste, paper sludge, etc.) that today are sent to a landfill, dumped into an ocean/river, land applied, or otherwise left to decompose, releasing Green House Gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. Vaulted leverages a suite of patented, mature, geologic slurry sequestration technologies which allow us to sequester organic waste with minimal processing. We inject deep under the earth’s surface, where the carbon is permanently trapped under a layer of impermeable rock - the same formations that have kept hydrocarbons underground for millions of years. We have two permitted, operational, facilities allowing us to reach near-term meaningful scale.

Our carbon removal approach goes beyond vaulting carbon. It inherently improves local environmental and human health. In doing so, our operations redress historically unjust waste management practices and advance environmental justice.

Vaulted is backed by leading carbon removal and climate investors, including Lowercarbon Capital, Earthshot Ventures, and WovenEarth Ventures.

About the Role

At Vaulted, we have an aggressive development plan for new sites. The pace at which we can ramp up our Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) generation is directly tied to our ability to locate, permit, and develop new injection sites in different geographies. The Permitting Lead will play a pivotal role in spearheading the identification, targeting, and permitting of new well sites both within the US and on the international front.

As a Permitting Lead at Vaulted, your core responsibilities will include:

• Permitting & Compliance: Lead the permitting process for new injection sites, ensuring communication and compliance with local, state, federal, and international regulatory agencies, and standards.
• Site Identification & Evaluation: With the Head of Subsurface, identify, evaluate, and select potential sites suitable for organic waste injection.
• Collaboration with the Engineering Team: Work closely with the engineering team to identify new locations, design and optimize injection wells, ensuring the safe and efficient sequestration of organic waste.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders to address concerns and provide information about Vaulted's geologic sequestration activities.
• Safety Protocols: Ensure all activities adhere to the highest safety standards, minimizing risks to both the environment and personnel.
• Team Leadership: Mentor and guide junior geologists and other team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
• Project Management: Lead and oversee multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring they remain on schedule and within budget.

This is a unique opportunity to work in a fast-paced and rewarding environment where your contributions will directly lead to mitigating, and eventually reversing, the worst impacts of climate change.

What You Will Bring

To succeed in this role (and to help Vaulted carry out its mission), the Permitting Lead will need restlessness, drive, hustle, and a deep sense of urgency. They must be able to manage multiple threads at the same time, while delivering rapid results from an understaffed team, if for no other reason than the planet simply cannot wait. In addition, we seek a candidate with:

• BS degree or higher in Geology, Geological Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in geology, with a focus on subsurface analysis, geological modeling, and/or carbon sequestration in the US.
• Strong skills in geological software tools, databases and modeling applications.
• Over 3 years’ experience in the permitting process and regulations related to underground injection and carbon sequestration in the US and/or internationally.
• Ability to communicate complex geological concepts to non-experts, including stakeholders and senior management.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale geological projects from inception to completion.
• Experience in leading and collaborating with cross-functional teams, including engineers, environmental scientists, and regulatory specialists.
• Commitment to continual learning: staying updated with the latest advancements in the field of geology and carbon sequestration.
• Committed to sustainability with a deep understanding of the environmental, social, and economic benefits of carbon removal and/or climate change mitigation.