Senior Environmental Permitting Lead – Electric Transmission

Jacobs; Cary (NC); Hybrid; USD 92,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) plan

Stock purchase enroll

PPTO

7 holidays

Caregiver leave

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking an Environmental Permitting Lead to plan, permit, and deliver electric transmission projects, securing environmental approvals and maintaining regulatory compliance across all phases from routing through closeout.

The role requires leading permitting strategies, coordinating with regulators, clients, and project teams, and ensuring safe, compliant execution with a focus on NEPA and related environmental programs. Travel up to 20% is anticipated.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental planning, natural resources, geology, biology, engineering, planning, public policy, or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience leading strategic environmental permitting, complex agency coordination, and multidisciplinary project teams on linear infrastructure projects.
• Proven ability to independently drive project-level permitting strategy and compile complex environmental filings.
• Advanced expertise interpreting complex environmental regulations, permit conditions, technical studies, and regulatory correspondence.
• Executive-level written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated experience presenting to regulatory bodies, clients, and public stakeholders.
• Strong track record of managing competing priorities, project schedules, risk mitigation, and stakeholder negotiations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and common project-documentation tools.
• Ability and willingness to participate in site visits, field activities, public hearings, and high-level agency meetings.

Responsibilities

• Establish overall permitting strategy, project schedules, and risk-management approaches for major electric transmission projects.
• Lead complex or high-risk environmental permitting matters involving multiple jurisdictions, agencies, or regulatory programs.
• Advise executive project leadership on routing, design, schedule, cost, public involvement, and compliance implications.
• Direct agency engagement and lead negotiations involving significant regulatory, environmental, or stakeholder issues.
• Provide authoritative review of permit applications, environmental analyses, alternative evaluations, and project commitments.
• Anticipate regulatory developments and emerging risks, recommending proactive strategic responses.
• Resolve complex conflicts among technical disciplines, agencies, consultants, and project stakeholders.
• Coach and develop permitting staff, establish consistent practice standards, and promote knowledge sharing.
• Support proposal preparation, project strategy, client/agency presentations, and business development initiatives.
• Represent the organization in high-visibility meetings, public hearings, agency inspections, and professional forums.

Skills

Environmental permitting

Regulatory coordination

Project leadership

Executive communication

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental science or related field

Tools

GIS

Document management

Job description

Jacobs is seeking an Environmental Permitting Lead to plan, permit, and deliver electric transmission projects, securing environmental approvals and maintaining regulatory compliance across all phases from routing through closeout.

The role requires leading permitting strategies, coordinating with regulators, clients, and project teams, and ensuring safe, compliant execution with a focus on NEPA and related environmental programs. Travel up to 20% is anticipated.