Head of Permitting

Mesabi Metallics; Iowa; On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Mesabi Metallics seeks a senior Permitting and Regulatory Lead to drive all permitting activities for the Mesabi Integrated Steel Plant project from strategy through execution. You will coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies, environmental consultants, and legal teams to ensure timely, compliant approvals.

The role requires 25–30 years in environmental permitting for large industrial projects in the US, with strong stakeholder and leadership capabilities to guide multi-disciplinary

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher in Environmental Science, Engineering or related field.
• 25–30 years of experience in environmental permitting and regulatory affairs.
• Experience leading permitting for large-scale industrial projects in the US.
• Strong knowledge of NEPA, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and related frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy, planning, and execution of all federal, state, and local permitting for the Mesabi ISP Project.
• Develop and manage permitting roadmap aligned with engineering, construction, and commissioning schedules.
• Oversee preparation and submission of environmental impact assessments and air/water/wetlands permits.

Skills

Regulatory strategy

Stakeholder management

Environmental permitting

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Role Summary

Responsible for leading all permitting and regulatory approval activities for the Mesabi Integrated Steel Plant (ISP) Project, including environmental permitting, air/water/waste permits, and stakeholder and regulatory agency engagement. The role ensures timely and compliant permitting to support the project's development schedule.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of all federal, state, and local permitting activities required for the Mesabi ISP Project
• Develop and manage the overall permitting roadmap, ensuring alignment with project engineering, construction, and commissioning schedules
• Oversee preparation and submission of environmental impact assessments, air and water quality permits, wetlands and stormwater permits, and other regulatory approvals
• Engage and manage relationships with federal and state regulatory agencies including EPA, state environmental agencies, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other relevant bodies
• Coordinate with environmental consulting firms, legal counsel, and engineering teams to ensure permit applications meet regulatory requirements
• Lead public engagement, stakeholder consultation, and community relations activities related to permitting processes
• Identify and mitigate permitting risks, proactively addressing potential delays or regulatory challenges
• Monitor changes in environmental regulations, policies, and compliance requirements affecting the project
• Manage permitting budgets, schedules, and consultant/contractor performance
• Prepare permitting status reports, risk assessments, and regulatory strategy updates for project leadership and senior management
• Ensure post-permit compliance planning, including monitoring, reporting, and mitigation commitments
• Build and lead a permitting team, providing technical guidance and mentorship

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred
• 25-30 years of experience in environmental permitting and regulatory affairs, preferably for large industrial or manufacturing projects
• Proven track record of leading permitting for large-scale greenfield industrial projects in the United States
• Strong knowledge of federal and state environmental regulations, including NEPA, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and related permitting frameworks
• Established relationships with regulatory agencies and experience navigating complex, multi-jurisdictional permitting processes
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent permitting workstreams under demanding project timelines

Working Conditions

• Based in the United States, leading permitting activities for the Mesabi ISP Project
• Regular travel to project sites, regulatory agency offices, and consultant locations as required

Preferred Experience

• Direct experience permitting greenfield integrated steel plant or heavy industrial projects
• Familiarity with tribal consultation, cultural resource assessments, and community engagement processes for major infrastructure projects