diff --git a/scripts/build-unit-test-docker b/scripts/build-unit-test-docker
index 0ee4fda..8b0740c 100755
--- a/scripts/build-unit-test-docker
+++ b/scripts/build-unit-test-docker
@@ -847,6 +847,10 @@
 RUN sed -i '1iDefaults umask=000' /etc/sudoers
 RUN echo "{username} ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL" >>/etc/sudoers
 
+# Ensure user has ability to write to /usr/local for different tool
+# and data installs
+RUN chown -R {username}:{username} /usr/local
+
 {proxy_cmd}
 
 RUN /bin/bash