Permitting Lead

Description

The Permitting Lead – Data Centers and Land Division leads land development permitting efforts across data center, residential, commercial, and industrial projects, with a primary focus on data center clients and projects in the Midwest. Reporting to the National Director, Permitting, this role serves as the primary client and agency liaison, directs environmental review and regulatory strategy, leads multidisciplinary project teams, and drives business development for the Environmental service line within the Land Division.

Requirements

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The primary focus of this position will be supporting data center clients and projects in the Midwest.
• Coordinate land development permitting projects such as data centers, residential, commercial, and industrial, applying regulatory frameworks of various regions for approvals.
• Manage and prepare federal, state, and local permit applications and facilitate approvals.
• Direct environmental review under NEPA and equivalent state programs and oversee environmental and cultural resource investigations.
• Serve as the primary client and agency liaison — representing clients at public hearings and meetings, providing testimony, and maintaining direct communication with regulatory agencies as needed.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams, coordinating design professionals, subject matter experts, and internal staff while holding quality, schedule, and budget.
• Drive business development with land developer clients, developing scopes, budgets, and proposals with market and service leaders and growing a client following.
• Build and maintain industry relationships to monitor market trends, regulatory initiatives, and evolving permitting requirements.
• Mentor and coach permitting and environmental staff on technical writing, agency coordination, regulatory approval processes, and client engagement.
• Lead and provide QA/QC for permitting and environmental tasks.

Required Qualifications:

• 10–15+ years of experience in federal, state, and local land development permitting and associated environmental studies, particularly in the Midwest and Upper Midwest.
• Bachelor’s degree in natural resources, policy/permitting, earth sciences, engineering, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of land development permitting, including data centers.
• Strong working knowledge of federal and state regulatory structure and processes, including EA and EIS, and equivalent state-level environmental review processes.
• Ability to represent your service within the organization and to external stakeholders.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills.
• Capability to work independently and collaboratively across multiple services and offices.
• Strong proficiency in technical writing, including proposals, subject matter reports, and permit applications.
• Proficiency with business development, project budgeting, invoicing, and cost tracking.
• Ability to travel to stakeholder and project meetings, open houses, and public hearings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Data center and generation (wind, solar, BESS, natural gas, diesel, backup and primary) permitting experience.

Competencies Required:

Permitting & Regulatory Navigation – Navigates zoning, land use, and permitting processes efficiently to maintain project momentum and minimize delays.

Technical Proficiency – Applies discipline-specific knowledge, codes, and engineering principles to produce accurate, high-quality work.

Client Relationship Management – Builds trusted, long-term client relationships by serving as a reliable advisor who anticipates needs and exceeds expectations.

Business Development – Identifies and pursues new opportunities, maintains a strong professional network, and contributes to the firm's revenue growth.

Communication & Presentation – Communicates clearly in written, verbal, and visual formats — translating technical content effectively for any audience.

Team Leadership & Motivation – Leads project and functional teams with clarity, accountability, and a commitment to creating environments where people thrive.

Mentoring & Talent Development – Invests in colleagues' growth through coaching, feedback, stretch assignments, and active sponsorship of emerging leaders.

Quality Assurance & Control – Takes ownership of deliverable accuracy and completeness through disciplined review processes and adherence to Westwood’s QA/QC standards.

Subconsultant & Team Coordination – Coordinates effectively with subconsultants, contractors, and agencies to produce integrated, conflict-free deliverables.

Problem Solving & Decision Making – Approaches complex problems analytically, balances competing priorities, and makes sound, timely decisions under uncertainty.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision.

We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2024, Zweig Group ranked Westwood nationally at #13 and #40, respectively, on its Hot Firms and Best Firms to Work for lists. Zweig also awarded Westwood one national 1st place award for Marketing Excellence. Westwood was recently recognized as #83 in the ENR Top 500 Firms in 2024. The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.