Diligence Manager

LMK Recruiting Solutions; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

LMK Recruiting Solutions is seeking a Permitting and Due Diligence Manager in Los Angeles to own the permit lifecycle across multiple projects. You will coordinate with LADBS and other agencies, manage consultants, prepare applications, and drive inspections to ensure timely project starts.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience pulling permits for LA-area projects, strong organizational skills, and the ability to read architectural and structural drawings.

Qualifications

• Experience pulling permits in Los Angeles for contractors or developers.
• Direct LADBS and 2–3 surrounding jurisdictions experience.
• Knowledge of California Building Code and Title 24.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural/structural drawings.

Responsibilities

• Own the full permit lifecycle from application to final sign-off.
• Secure permits for walls, driveways, grading, and structural work.
• Prepare and submit complete permit applications with drawings and forms.
• Manage plan checks and coordinate revisions with engineers.
• Represent client at building and safety counters and with public agencies.
• Schedule inspections and drive resolution of correction notices.
• Monitor permit expirations and manage extensions.
• Coordinate with soils/geologists/engineers and manage timelines.

Skills

Permitting

LA LADBS coordination

Project coordination

Communication

Job description

Type: Full Time

Compensation: $80,000 per year

ABOUT OUR CLIENT

Our client is a premier 4th-generation construction company based in Los Angeles, specializing in masonry, concrete, hardscape, hillside, and structural work across residential and commercial projects. Building retaining walls, foundations, driveways, and complex hillside structures throughout Los Angeles County, our client holds themselves to a standard of craftsmanship and compliance that sets them apart in the market.

Permitting and pre-construction due diligence sit at the center of that standard. Every project must be thoroughly researched, engineered, permitted, and inspected correctly. Our client is bringing this function fully in-house and hiring a dedicated leader to own it.

THE ROLE

The Permitting and Due Diligence Manager owns everything required before a crew breaks ground and maintains full compliance with governing agencies throughout construction. This encompasses feasibility research, agency coordination, consultant management, permit applications, plan checks, inspections, and final sign-offs.

This is not a runner position. You will serve as the company's definitive expert to determine if a project is permittable, what it requires, the expected cost, and the realistic timeline—and then execute. Sales, estimating, and production teams will look to you for authoritative code and permitting guidance. You will manage a high volume of concurrent permits across various Los Angeles jurisdictions, requiring exceptional organization and proactive follow-through.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the full permit lifecycle for every project, from initial application through final inspection and sign-off.
• Secure permits for retaining walls, sidewalk/driveway approaches, structural/concrete work, grading, demolition, and all other required scopes.
• Prepare and submit complete permit applications, including drawings, structural calculations, agency forms, owner authorizations, and supporting documentation.
• Manage plan checks from submittal through approval: track review cycles, address correction notices, coordinate revisions with engineers/architects, and resubmit through issuance.
• Represent our client in person at building and safety counters, public works, planning, zoning, and engineering departments.
• Schedule and coordinate inspections, attend on-site visits when necessary, and drive the resolution of correction notices or failed inspections.
• Monitor permit expiration dates across all active projects and file extensions or renewals proactively.
• Resolve open code enforcement cases, notices of violation, and orders to comply, including legalizing existing unpermitted work.
• Track, reconcile, and document all permit fees, plan check fees, school fees, bonds, and deposits for client reimbursement.
• Conduct feasibility research on prospective and sold projects to determine path to approval, constraints, and cost structure.
• Research property records, zoning, setbacks, easements, right-of-way, height/grading limits, hillside ordinance rules, historic designations, and prior permit history.
• Pull and review as-built drawings, certificates of occupancy, and archived agency records.
• Identify early requirements for third-party reports (soils, geology, structural engineering, surveys) and scope them prior to schedule impacts.
• Review architectural and structural drawings for permit readiness prior to submittal to prevent preventable corrections.
• Establish reliable permitting timelines and cost estimates for sales and production planning.
• Identify and flag high-risk permitting scenarios early to prevent unachievable schedule commitments.
• Maintain working relationships with key jurisdictions, including the City of Los Angeles (LADBS), LA County, Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and surrounding municipalities.
• Coordinate soils engineers, geologists, structural engineers, surveyors, and architects; manage their scopes, timelines, and deliverables.
• Stay current on the California Building Code, Title 24, local ordinances, and jurisdiction-specific hillside, grading, and structural regulations.
• Serve as the internal subject matter expert on code and permitting questions for sales, estimating, and production teams.

Documentation, Reporting, & Support

• Maintain a live permit and due diligence tracker showing status, jurisdiction, submittal date, expected approval, next action, and blockers for every active project.
• Provide clear, realistic written status updates to production teams and clients.
• Participate in site visits with the sales team to provide initial feasibility reads for accurate project quoting.
• Define the scope, cost, and timeline for due diligence services sold to clients.
• Maintain organized filing systems for all permits, plan sets, reports, correction notices, and approvals.

HOW SUCCESS IS MEASURED

• Percentage of permits approved on the first plan check submittal.
• Average duration from job sale to permit issuance.
• Zero job starts delayed by permitting or due diligence oversights.
• High first-attempt inspection pass rate.
• Accuracy of permitting timelines and cost estimates compared to actual outcomes.
• Reduction in external expediting and third-party consultant spend.
• Zero expired permits, lapsed approvals, or unresolved code enforcement items on active projects.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Experience: 5+ years pulling permits in Los Angeles for a contractor, permit expediting firm, architecture firm, or developer. Direct experience with LADBS and at least 2–3 surrounding jurisdictions.
• Technical Scope: Proven track record permitting retaining walls, sidewalk/driveway approaches, and structural/concrete projects.
• Codes & Plans: Working knowledge of the California Building Code, Title 24, and LA hillside, grading, and setback requirements. Ability to read and interpret architectural and structural drawings.
• Consultant Management: Experience coordinating soils engineers, geologists, and structural engineers to strict project deadlines.
• Key Skills: Exceptional organizational skills managing 20+ concurrent permits; strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Logistics: Located in Greater Los Angeles with a valid driver's license and reliable transportation to split time between remote work, agency counters, and job sites.

Preferred:

• Background in masonry, concrete, hardscape, or hillside structural construction.
• Experience resolving code enforcement cases and legalizing unpermitted structures.
• Established working relationships with plan checkers and inspectors across LA jurisdictions.
• Previous experience within a high-volume residential specialty trade company.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish.

WHY JOIN OUR CLIENT?

• Complete Ownership: Fully own the permitting and due diligence department without bureaucratic oversight.
• Dynamic Projects: Work on complex hillside structural projects, deep foundations, and large retaining walls across diverse LA jurisdictions.
• Uncompromised Quality: Join a company committed to doing things right—fully permitted, documented, and executed without cutting corners.
• Agile Culture: Work directly with a lean leadership team where decisions are made quickly and your contributions directly impact business success.