Permitting Manager

The Permitting Manager is responsible for planning and overseeing discretionary land use and natural resources permitting in support of Strata’s development portfolio. This position will work in close coordination with various other cross-functional teams including, but not limited to, Development, Land, Origination, Engineering, Transmission & Interconnection, and Project Finance.

The Manager, Permitting oversees natural resources surveys, land use applications, environmental impact disclosure reports and processes, and the preparation of technical studies and reports in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations for utility-scale solar and energy storage projects. The Manager, Permitting, will work in close coordination with the lead developer and other members of each project team to help them understanding the practical implications of existing permits as well as proposed permitting strategies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain a deep understanding of discretionary permitting requirements for utility scale solar and battery energy storage projects in assigned region.
• Develop a customized permitting strategy including comprehensive schedule and budget for each project by considering local regional, state, and federal requirements, site constraints, bankability, and other risks.
• Source and manage a team of external consultants including environmental, technical, public relations, legal resources.
• Directly manage the permitting process throughout the project lifecycle.
• Engage with and manage relationships with local, state and federal regulatory authorities for each project.
• Represent the project company at public hearings, community meetings, and other local events, and prepare high-quality presentation materials and documents to support project approval.
• Negotiate with local officials regarding permit conditions and economic terms of entitlement agreements.
• Oversee and support transition to EPC, O&M, and others to ensure a smooth handoff and compliance with issued permits and conditions of approval.
• Advise on permitting risks, cost, and schedule for potential new sites, both self-developed and M&A.
• Work collaboratively with and be responsive to requests from internal colleagues.
• Develop and successfully deliver to meet aggressive project schedules and budgets.
• Build effective relationships with regulators, service providers and other relevant stakeholders.
• Travel nationally, as needed, to effectively carry out Strata’s business goals and objectives.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, biology, land use planning, geography, or other relevant field; master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience obtaining discretionary permits and land entitlements; Virginia experience strongly preferred.
• Experience obtaining discretionary land use permits (including conditional use permits, special use permits, zone changes/amendments, and general/comprehensive plan amendments, BLM/BOR/BIA/DOE Rights-of-Way) and natural resource permits.
• The ability to manage multiple time-sensitive projects simultaneously.
• The ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, analytical and planning abilities, and sound judgement.
• The ability to work as part of a team in a dynamic and fast-paced environment and field questions from internal team members on environmental and other topics pertaining to discretionary approvals.