Permitting & Compliance Lead for Geothermal Projects

Fervo Energy; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Fervo Energy seeks a Site Permitting Specialist to lead permitting, compliance, and land-use activities across the western United States. You will develop strategies, manage schedules, and translate permit conditions into practical field guidance for diverse geothermal projects.

Collaborating with engineering, legal, land, and operations teams, you will ensure regulatory compliance, coordinate inspections, and support project execution while traveling to project sites up to 30% of the time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Land Use Planning, Land Management, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, or related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in permitting, environmental compliance, land management, or project development for geothermal, renewable energy, transmission, mining, or oil and gas projects.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local permitting processes and environmental regulations.
• Excellent organizational, communication, project management, and stakeholder coordination skills.
• Ability to interpret complex regulatory documents and translate requirements into practical implementation plans.
• Demonstrated problem-solving, conflict resolution, and relationship-building skills.
• Self-starter capable of managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Commitment to environmental stewardship, regulatory excellence, and responsible energy development.
• Ability to travel approximately 30% to project sites throughout the western United States.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute integrated permitting and compliance plans, including schedules, milestones, budgets, field implementation plans, and regulatory strategies.
• Research, identify, obtain, and maintain federal, state, and local permits, approvals, and land use authorizations required throughout project development and operations.
• Ensure compliance with permit conditions, land lease obligations, county zoning requirements, and environmental regulations, including NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and other applicable laws.
• Compile permit and lease conditions into practical compliance guides, field procedures, and training materials for employees and contractors.
• Prepare, review, and submit permit applications and supporting documentation while maintaining complete permitting and compliance records.
• Conduct regular field visits, internal inspections, regulatory inspections, and corrective action tracking; coordinate spill response documentation and other environmental compliance activities as required.
• Collaborate with engineering, geology, legal, environmental, land, project management, construction, and operations teams to resolve permitting challenges and support project execution.
• Serve as the primary liaison with federal, state, local, and tribal agencies; support stakeholder engagement and community outreach.
• Monitor regulatory changes and recommend updates to permitting strategies, compliance programs, and internal procedures.
• Provide regular status updates, risk assessments, and recommendations to project leadership.

Skills

Stakeholder coordination

Regulatory interpretation

Project management

Environmental compliance

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Land Use Planning or related technical discipline

Tools

ESRI GIS

CAD

Job description

Fervo Energy seeks a Site Permitting Specialist to lead permitting, compliance, and land-use activities across the western United States. You will develop strategies, manage schedules, and translate permit conditions into practical field guidance for diverse geothermal projects.

Collaborating with engineering, legal, land, and operations teams, you will ensure regulatory compliance, coordinate inspections, and support project execution while traveling to project sites up to 30% of the time.