Permitting Lead

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Stock purchase option

Unlimited PPTO

Hybrid work policy

Job summary

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. is seeking a Permitting Lead to guide environmental permitting for major projects across Wyoming and the Western United States. The role offers hybrid work with base in Denver, CO or nearby locations and requires senior-level permitting experience.

You'll lead strategies, engage stakeholders, coordinate with agencies, and support business development while mentoring teams and managing complex permitting packages.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in environmental-related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in environmental planning, permitting, consulting, or project management.
• Experience permitting in Wyoming and/or managing complex state/federal processes.
• Strong technical writing, communication, facilitation and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental permitting efforts for energy, infrastructure, water and other projects across WY and the Western U.S.
• Develop and implement permitting strategies aligned with client objectives, schedules and regulations.
• Prepare, review and oversee large permit applications and environmental docs.
• Coordinate with federal, state, tribal and local agencies for project approvals.
• Mentor environmental professionals and manage multidisciplinary project teams.
• Represent clients in public meetings, hearings and regulatory proceedings.

Skills

Environmental Permitting

Regulatory Coordination

Stakeholder Engagement

Project Management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science or related field

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Our Environmental team delivers innovative solutions that help clients navigate complex regulatory environments while advancing critical infrastructure, energy, water, transportation, and community development projects. We're seeking an experienced Permitting Lead to support and lead environmental permitting efforts throughout Wyoming and the Western United States.

In this role, you'll serve as a trusted advisor to clients, leading permitting strategies for large and complex projects while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across Jacobs. You'll help clients solve challenging regulatory issues, build stakeholder support, and successfully obtain permits needed to advance important projects.

Our position can be based in Denver, Colorado; Wyoming; Salt Lake City, Utah; or within a three-hour drive of Cheyenne, Wyoming, with flexibility for a hybrid work arrangement.

What You’ll Do

As a Permitting Lead, you will:

• Lead environmental permitting efforts for energy, infrastructure, transportation, water, and other development projects throughout Wyoming and the Western U.S.
• Develop and implement permitting strategies that align with client objectives, project schedules, and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare, review, and oversee large and complex permit applications and environmental documentation.
• Coordinate with federal, state, tribal, and local regulatory agencies to support successful project approvals.
• Manage multidisciplinary project teams and mentor environmental professionals at various stages of their careers.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, providing strategic guidance and creative solutions to complex permitting challenges.
• Support business development efforts through proposal preparation, scope development, fee estimates, and client engagement activities.
• Lead stakeholder and community engagement efforts, including public meetings, agency coordination meetings, and project presentations.
• Conduct final QA/QC reviews of technical documents to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, project objectives, and Jacobs quality standards.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, risks, and deliverables while maintaining strong client relationships.
• Support project positioning efforts by representing clients and Jacobs in public forums, hearings, and regulatory proceedings.

Key Responsibilities

• Environmental permitting strategy development and execution.
• State and federal regulatory compliance.
• Stakeholder and community engagement.
• Proposal development and business development support.
• Staff leadership, mentoring, and resource management.
• Project schedule, budget, and risk management.
• Agency consultation and regulatory negotiations.
• Technical review and quality assurance.
• Public presentations and hearing support.

Why Jacobs

At Jacobs, you'll join a collaborative team of environmental professionals who are helping clients solve some of the nation's most complex permitting and regulatory challenges. You'll have opportunities to work across markets, mentor emerging talent, strengthen client relationships, and contribute to projects that positively impact communities and the environment.

Together, we'll build a more connected, sustainable future.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Planning, Natural Resources, Ecology, Biology, Sociology, Economics, Political Science, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in environmental planning, permitting, consulting, and/or project management.
• Experience with environmental permitting in Wyoming and/or managing complex state and federal environmental permitting processes.
• Demonstrated experience managing environmental projects and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of environmental regulations, permitting frameworks, and regulatory agency coordination.
• Excellent technical writing, communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to build strong working relationships with clients, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies.
• Must reside in Denver, Colorado; Wyoming; Salt Lake City, Utah; or within a three-hour drive of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Ideally, you’ll also have:

• 10 to 20+ years of environmental planning, permitting, and/or consulting experience.
• Five or more years of environmental permitting experience in Wyoming.
• Experience supporting energy industry projects, including oil and gas, renewable energy, transmission, mining, or related sectors.
• Experience developing successful proposals, scopes of work, and fee estimates.
• Experience managing and developing staff.
• Proven ability to prepare and manage large, complex environmental permitting packages.
• Experience providing expert witness testimony and supporting regulatory hearings.
• Demonstrated success managing projects to client expectations, permitting milestones, and regulatory schedules.
• Experience conducting final document reviews with a focus on QA/QC, client objectives, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills.
• Experience leading stakeholder outreach and community engagement programs.
• Environmental or socioeconomic planning background.
• Proven ability to develop flexible, innovative, and practical solutions to complex client challenges.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $125,000.00 to $150,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.