Permitting Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Permitting Manager is responsible for managing permitting and entitlement processes for utility-scale power generation projects serving hyperscale data center clients across multiple U.S. jurisdictions, with an initial focus on Texas and other target project locations.

The role leads day-to-day permitting execution from site selection through construction readiness, coordinating internal teams, permitting authorities, and external advisors to secure approvals in line with project schedules, applicable requirements, and commercial objectives. 

Key Responsibilities

1. Develop and manage project-specific permitting plans, approval schedules, and budgets for power generation and energy infrastructure projects.

2. Assess permitting feasibility during site selection, identifying land-use restrictions, required approvals, anticipated timelines, and jurisdiction-specific risks.

3. Coordinate the preparation, review, submission, and follow-up of complete and compliant permit applications, including supporting technical studies and responses to agency comments and requests for additional information.

4. Monitor permitting progress, identify approval delays and schedule risks, and coordinate mitigation actions with project teams and external advisors.

5. Identify applicable federal, state, county, and municipal permitting requirements; monitor changes in requirements and agency procedures and assess their impact on project approvals.

6. Support land-use approvals, rezoning applications, conditional use permits, variances, and development agreements.

7. Build and maintain productive technical and procedural relationships with permitting authorities, including planning departments, environmental agencies, and zoning boards; coordinate agency consultations and represent the company in application reviews, permitting meetings, and public hearings on technical and application matters, in coordination with the External Affairs & Community Relations Manager.

8. Provide technical permitting input to the External Affairs & Community Relations Manager, who leads community engagement, public messaging, and broader government relationships, to support engagement related to permitting and project approvals.

9. Coordinate environmental permitting activities including air quality, water, wetlands, stormwater, endangered species, and other environmental approvals where applicable.

10. Maintain permit registers, application records, approval documentation, and permit conditions; coordinate renewals, amendments, and the handover of ongoing permit obligations to construction and operations teams.

11. Select, engage, and manage environmental and permitting consultants, land-use attorneys, and technical advisors across relevant U.S. jurisdictions, maintaining access to suitable expertise; review deliverables and manage scope, schedule, quality, performance, and budget in coordination with internal project teams.

12. Support commercial and customer-facing discussions by translating permitting requirements, approval constraints, and schedule risks into clear business implications.

13. Prepare permitting status reports, risk assessments, and approval scenarios to support senior management decisions on project development opportunities and constraints.

14. Ensure permitting activities and engagement with permitting authorities comply with applicable laws, ethics standards, and agency rules, coordinating with Legal as needed.

15. Collaborate with Development, Commercial, Engineering, Grid & Interconnection, Project Management, External Affairs & Community Relations, and Legal teams to incorporate permit requirements, conditions, and approval milestones into project planning and execution.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Science, Engineering, Public Administration, Environmental Policy, Law, or a related discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in permitting, environmental approvals, land-use entitlements, or infrastructure project development, with direct responsibility for securing project permits.
• Experience managing permitting activities for large-scale infrastructure, energy, industrial, or data center developments.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, county, and municipal permitting requirements applicable to power generation and energy infrastructure projects.
• Experience coordinating complex permitting and entitlement processes across multiple jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, stakeholders, consultants, and permitting processes simultaneously.
• Ability to travel regularly to project sites and permitting authorities as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience securing environmental and land-use permits for power generation projects in Texas and/or other target U.S. jurisdictions.
• Familiarity with the ERCOT market and its implications for project development is preferred.
• Background within Independent Power Producers (IPPs), infrastructure developers, utilities, hyperscale data center developers, or energy-focused law firms.
• Existing relationships with permitting agencies, planning authorities, and environmental consultants are considered an advantage.
• Professional certification such as AICP, PMP, or similar.

Key Competencies

• Planning and Prioritization: Organizes parallel permitting workstreams, manages dependencies, and prioritizes activities against critical project milestones.
• Stakeholder Management and Influence: Builds productive relationships with authorities, consultants, and internal teams; gains alignment and resolves issues constructively.
• Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving: Evaluates complex requirements, anticipates approval risks, and develops practical solutions.
• Ownership and Follow-through: Takes accountability for deliverables, follows up consistently, and escalates issues promptly.
• Communication: Explains technical permitting matters and their business implications clearly to different audiences.
• Attention to Detail: Maintains accuracy and consistency in applications, supporting documentation, and permit records.
• Adaptability and Results Orientation: Responds effectively to changing requirements and project priorities while maintaining progress in a fast-paced environment.

 

Why Join Us?

 

Joining our group at this pivotal stage offers a rare opportunity to contribute to the commercialization of a large scale 20 GW power portfolio, supporting the development of utility-scale energy solutions serving hyperscale data center clients across the United States.

This role offers the opportunity to lead permitting execution at the core of project development, helping advance large-scale power infrastructure projects from site assessment through construction readiness.

As a key member of the project development team, you will work closely with technical and commercial colleagues, permitting authorities, and external advisors to resolve permitting challenges and support timely project delivery.

The position offers meaningful ownership of permitting activities and project approvals, together with the opportunity to help build and scale a rapidly growing power platform across multiple U.S. regions. You will work closely with senior leadership, development teams, and external stakeholders to manage permitting risks and contribute to the long-term growth of the company's presence within the U.S. energy market.