Permit and Communications Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Talascend is seeking a professional, skilled individual for our Permit and Communications Lead position located in Richmond, VA. 

Functional job responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Lead the development and execution of permitting, regulatory engagement, stakeholder management, and communications strategies to support all phases of project delivery. 

• Serve as the primary interface between the Client, regulatory agencies, local authorities, community organizations, utility providers, and other external stakeholders. 

• Oversee the identification, tracking, submission, and approval of all required permits, licenses, environmental authorizations, and regulatory approvals necessary for project execution. 

• Establish and maintain permitting governance processes, schedules, and reporting systems to ensure timely approvals and compliance with project milestones. 

• Coordinate closely with engineering, environmental, construction, commissioning, and operations teams to ensure permitting requirements are integrated into project planning and execution. 

• Direct public relations, community outreach, and stakeholder engagement initiatives to foster positive relationships and maintain the project's social license to operate. 

• Manage communications consultants, permitting contractors, and external advisors to ensure consistent, effective, and compliant execution of project objectives. 

• Monitor regulatory developments, policy changes, and external factors that may impact project execution, and develop mitigation strategies to address emerging risks. 

• Lead the preparation and delivery of executive-level communications, presentations, stakeholder briefings, and regulatory submissions. 

• Develop and maintain stakeholder engagement plans, communications matrices, and issue management processes to ensure proactive and transparent communications. 

• Identify, assess, and manage permitting, regulatory, and stakeholder risks, implementing mitigation and recovery plans to minimize project impacts. 

• Support project leadership in development and execution of incident communications, issue management, and crisis communication strategies. 

• Collaborate with project controls and project management teams to ensure permitting activities, approvals, and stakeholder commitments are incorporated into the overall project schedule and execution strategy. 

• Coordinate permitting activities associated with GMP manufacturing facilities, laboratories, utilities, warehousing, and support infrastructure. 

• Support project readiness activities related to regulatory inspections and occupancy approvals. 

• Coordinate with Quality, Validation, and Operations teams regarding regulatory commitments. 

• Oversee environmental permitting and compliance activities including air permits, stormwater permits, wastewater permits, hazardous materials requirements, and agency reporting obligations. 

• Ensure permit conditions and environmental commitments are incorporated into project execution plans and contractor requirements. 

• Provide regular performance reporting and strategic recommendations to PMC and Client leadership regarding permitting status, regulatory compliance, stakeholder concerns, and communications effectiveness. 

• Promote a culture of safety, compliance, transparency, and accountability in all interactions with regulatory agencies, stakeholders, and project teams. 

Required Education, Experience, & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Public Policy, Communications, Planning, Construction Management, or related discipline. 

• Minimum 10 years of experience supporting permitting, stakeholder engagement, environmental compliance, communications, or project management on major capital projects, including projects exceeding $500 million TIC. 

• Experience managing permitting, regulatory affairs, environmental compliance, stakeholder engagement, communications, or infrastructure delivery teams on major capital projects Strong knowledge of engineering governance, design management, and project delivery processes. 

• Demonstrated ability to lead technical decision-making and stakeholder alignment. 

• Strong leadership and stakeholder management capabilities. 

• Experience directing and evaluating performance of permitting consultants, communications consultants, stakeholder engagement firms, and regulatory support contractors, including review and approval of deliverables. 

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills: ? 

• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other GMP-regulated facilities. 

• Prior experience in an Owner’s Representative or PMC role for major capital projects in excess of $1B TIC. 

• Professional Engineer (PE) license and/or PMP certification. 

• Experience supporting FDA inspections, commissioning, startup, and operational readiness activities. 

#ZR \nCompany Description

For over 65 years, Talascend has been at the leading edge of recruiting in the technical sector. From our global offices on four continents, we match first class talent with the best job opportunities in Engineering, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare and IT. In a market where demand for skills is high and supply low, we're helping our customers to connect with the right people and companies for them - bringing together hiring managers, HR strategists and technical professionals to help complete projects on time and on budget.
We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those qualified individuals who closely meet the qualifications of the position will be contacted. The details of the position are only a summary, other duties may be assigned as necessary.

Talascend is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation

Company Description

For over 65 years, Talascend has been at the leading edge of recruiting in the technical sector. From our global offices on four continents, we match first class talent with the best job opportunities in Engineering, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare and IT. In a market where demand for skills is high and supply low, we're helping our customers to connect with the right people and companies for them - bringing together hiring managers, HR strategists and technical professionals to help complete projects on time and on budget. \r\nWe thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those qualified individuals who closely meet the qualifications of the position will be contacted. The details of the position are only a summary, other duties may be assigned as necessary. \r\n\r\nTalascend is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation