Director of Marine Environmental Impact

The role

You will lead the internal environmental impact function and build a team to study how ocean energy technology interacts with marine ecosystems. You will develop environmental standards, collaborate with engineering teams, and build partnerships with scientific organizations.

What you will do

• Build and lead the internal environmental impact function
• Expand scientific research strategy around environmental impact
• Lead scientific evaluation of how technologies interact with marine ecosystems
• Develop and implement environmental assessment protocols and monitoring strategies
• Establish environmental metrics and standards
• Lead documentation and publication of environmental research
• Collaborate with engineering and design teams to integrate environmental considerations
• Build partnerships with universities, research institutions, and scientific organizations
• Create opportunities for independent researchers to study technologies
• Represent Panthalassa in the scientific community

Required qualifications

• A doctorate in marine science, oceanography, ecology, environmental science, or a related discipline
• Substantial record of scientific research and leadership
• At least five years of relevant postdoctoral professional experience
• Experience studying the effects of human activities or technologies on marine mammals, fish, seabirds, benthic ecosystems, or other marine organisms
• Experience leading scientific teams, research programs, or multidisciplinary initiatives
• Extensive experience designing, conducting, or leading rigorous scientific research in marine or offshore environments
• Strong scientific judgment and a willingness to communicate uncertainty and inconvenient findings clearly
• Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, operations, design, and manufacturing teams
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• A strong commitment to scientific integrity, ocean health, and the responsible development of technologies intended to operate at large scale
• Travel for fieldwork, partner visits, and conferences
• Ability to work occasional extended hours to support deployments

Nice to have

• Experience leading a significant research program, laboratory, scientific organization, or research institution, or building major scientific partnerships with research institutions
• Experience with ocean sensing and environmental monitoring systems, including technologies such as passive hydrophones, temperature and salinity sensors, underwater cameras, eDNA, or other marine sens
• Experience building, analyzing, and publishing large scientific datasets

Benefits

• Flexible paid time off
• Health insurance (company pays 100% of gold-level PPO plan for full-time employees, partners, and dependents)
• Dental insurance (company pays 100% for full-time employees, partners, and dependents)
• Vision insurance (company pays 100% for full-time employees, partners, and dependents)
• Disability insurance (company pays 100% for a policy to provide long-term financial support)
• Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA
• Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed)

Before you apply

• A cover letter is strongly recommended

About the company

Panthalassa is a renewable energy and ocean technology company and a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The company focuses on capturing renewable energy from oceans for applications including computing and affordable renewable fuels.