Senior Permitting Lead - Utility-Scale Power & Data Centers

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.; Brownsville (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. seeks a Permitting Manager to lead permitting and entitlement processes for utility-scale power projects serving hyperscale data center clients, initially focusing on Texas and adjacent locations.

The role drives day-to-day permitting execution from site selection through construction readiness, coordinating internal teams, authorities, and external advisors. The candidate will manage complex, multi-jurisdictional permitting programs, align schedules with business

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, environmental science, engineering, public administration, environmental policy, law, or related discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in permitting, environmental approvals, land-use entitlements, or infrastructure project development.
• Experience managing permitting activities for large-scale infrastructure, energy, industrial, or data center developments.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, county, and municipal permitting requirements applicable to power generation and energy infrastructure projects.
• Experience coordinating complex permitting and entitlement processes across multiple jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, stakeholders, consultants, and permitting processes simultaneously.
• Ability to travel regularly to project sites and permitting authorities as required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage project-specific permitting plans, approval schedules, and budgets for power generation and energy infrastructure projects.
• Assess permitting feasibility during site selection, identifying land-use restrictions, required approvals, anticipated timelines, and jurisdiction-specific risks.
• Coordinate the preparation, review, submission, and follow-up of complete and compliant permit applications, including supporting technical studies and responses to agency comments and requests for additional information.
• Monitor permitting progress, identify approval delays and schedule risks, and coordinate mitigation actions with project teams and external advisors.
• Identify applicable federal, state, county, and municipal permitting requirements; monitor changes in requirements and agency procedures and assess their impact on project approvals.
• Support land-use approvals, rezoning applications, conditional use permits, variances, and development agreements.
• Build and maintain productive technical and procedural relationships with permitting authorities, including planning departments, environmental agencies, and zoning boards; coordinate agency consultations and represent the company in application reviews, permitting meetings, and public hearings on technical and application matters, in coordination with the External Affairs & Community Relations Manager.
• Provide technical permitting input to the External Affairs & Community Relations Manager, who leads community engagement, public messaging, and broader government relationships, to support engagement related to permitting and project approvals.
• Coordinate environmental permitting activities including air quality, water, wetlands, stormwater, endangered species, and other environmental approvals where applicable.
• Maintain permit registers, application records, approval documentation, and permit conditions; coordinate renewals, amendments, and the handover of ongoing permit obligations to construction and operations teams.
• Select, engage, and manage environmental and permitting consultants, land-use attorneys, and technical advisors across relevant U.S. jurisdictions, maintaining access to suitable expertise; review deliverables and manage scope, schedule, quality, performance, and budget in coordination with internal project teams.
• Support commercial and customer-facing discussions by translating permitting requirements, approval constraints, and schedule risks into clear business implications.
• Prepare permitting status reports, risk assessments, and approval scenarios to support senior management decisions on project development opportunities and constraints.
• Ensure permitting activities and engagement with permitting authorities comply with applicable laws, ethics standards, and agency rules, coordinating with Legal as needed.
• Collaborate with Development, Commercial, Engineering, Grid & Interconnection, Project Management, External Affairs & Community Relations, and Legal teams to incorporate permit requirements, conditions, and approval milestones into project planning and execution.

Skills

Planning and Prioritization

Stakeholder Management

Analytical Thinking

Ownership and Follow-through

Communication

Attention to Detail

Adaptability and Results Orientation

Travel Willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in related discipline

Job description

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. seeks a Permitting Manager to lead permitting and entitlement processes for utility-scale power projects serving hyperscale data center clients, initially focusing on Texas and adjacent locations.

The role drives day-to-day permitting execution from site selection through construction readiness, coordinating internal teams, authorities, and external advisors. The candidate will manage complex, multi-jurisdictional permitting programs, align schedules with business