Renewable Energy Permitting Lead

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.; Minnetonka (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. seeks a Renewable Energy Permitting Lead to drive permitting for utility-scale renewables and transmission projects, with a strong Midwest focus on business development and client acquisition.

The role manages site/route permitting, oversees NEPA and state reviews, and coordinates approvals. You will lead teams, mentor staff, and shape scopes, budgets, and proposals for ongoing and future projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in natural resources, policy/permitting, earth sciences, engineering or related field.
• Experience with state-level route and site permits and NEPA processes.
• Strong writing and client engagement for regulatory filings and proposals.

Responsibilities

• Lead site and route permitting for utility-scale renewables and HVTL projects in the Midwest.
• Prepare state-level permit applications for wind, solar, storage, and transmission.
• Direct environmental reviews under NEPA and state programs; coordinate approvals.
• Serve as primary client and agency liaison, provide testimony at hearings, and maintain regulatory communication.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams; mentor staff; ensure quality, schedule, and budget performance.
• Collaborate to pursue new work, develop scopes/budgets/proposals, and support marketing for permitting and environmental services.
• Build industry relationships to monitor market trends and evolving permitting requirements.

Skills

Permitting

HVTL

Regulatory

Business development

Client liaison

Project management

Regulatory approvals

Environmental studies

Technical writing

Mentoring

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in natural resources

Master’s Degree preferred

Tools

Vision

Job description

Description

Renewable Energy Permitting Lead

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

Serve as a Senior Permitting Lead for renewable energy and transmission projects. The key focus of this position will be business development for utility and renewable energy developers and requires that the applicant bring clients to Westwood. The position also requires management of permitting efforts for renewable energy generation and transmission projects.

Requirements

• Lead site and route permitting for utility-scale renewable energy and high-voltage transmission projects, with a primary focus on Midwest regulatory processes including PSC, MPUC, MPSC, ND PSC, and OPSB approvals.
• Manage and prepare state-level site, route, and construction permit applications for wind, solar, energy storage, and transmission projects, including collocated and data center–related developments.
• Direct environmental reviews under NEPA and equivalent state programs, oversee environmental and cultural resource investigations, and coordinate associated federal, state, and local regulatory approvals.
• Serve as the primary client and agency liaison, representing clients at public hearings and meetings, providing testimony, and maintaining direct communication with regulatory agencies.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams by coordinating design professionals, subject matter experts, and internal staff, while mentoring junior team members and ensuring quality, schedule, and budget performance.
• Collaborate with market and service leaders to pursue new work, develop scopes, budgets, and proposals, and support marketing efforts for permitting, environmental, and related consulting services.
• Build and maintain industry relationships to monitor renewable energy and transmission market trends, regulatory initiatives, and evolving permitting requirements.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Knowledge of renewable energy and HVTL transmission line project permitting, federal and state environmental studies, agency guidelines for energy development.
• Experience and knowledge of key energy-producing-state regulatory processes, energy developer and utility operating procedures, industry trends and regulatory initiatives.
• Approximately 10-15 years of experience in federal, state and local energy facility permitting, permitting processes, and associated environmental studies.
• Working knowledge of federal and state regulatory structures, existing renewable energy and HVTL transmission projects and key developers in these markets and industries.
• Proficiency in technical writing including proposals, subject matter reports and permit applications.
• Proficiency with business development and client tracking software, such as Vision.
• Proficiency with project management, budgeting, invoicing, and cost-tracking, including multiple-service projects and cost management.
• Effective written and verbal communication is necessary and independent judgment is essential.
• Mentor and coach permitting and environmental staff on technical writing, agency coordination, regulatory approval processes, and client engagement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in natural resources, policy/permitting, earth sciences, engineering or related field (Master’s Degree preferred).
• Experience with state-level route and site permits in multiple states, federal NEPA process including EA and EIS, and equivalent state-level environmental review processes.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision.

We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide. .

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.