Statewide Permit Manager

United Trading Group; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The Statewide Permit Manager at Utah Department of Transportation oversees statewide permitting programs across ROW and regional divisions, directing staff, budgets, training, software implementations, and standards of care for permits such as Encroachment, CAP, and Outdoor Advertising Control. Reporting to the ROW Real Estate Manager, you will drive process improvements and regional alignment.

This role is open to engineers and non-engineers; salary is based on qualifications.

Qualifications

• Registered as a professional engineer (PE) in Utah and at least four years of engineering experience after licensure.
• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in a related field and at least eight years of professional rights-of-way experience.
• Experience managing rights-of-way, access management programs, and encroachment permitting in public entities.

Responsibilities

• Direct statewide permitting operations and supervise staff across regions and programs.
• Manage budgets, fee collection, bonding, insurance, and portal technology.
• Ensure compliance with federal/state regulations and FHWA standards in collaboration with regional staff.
• Coordinate with Utah AG's Office on appeals and rule reviews.
• Align activities across Regions 1–4, utilities, and local governments.
• Lead outreach meetings with each region for policy updates and training.
• Provide subject-matter expertise on ROW permitting and related guidelines.
• Prepare legal documentation and special provisions; defend determinations in proceedings.
• Identify and implement operational improvements and digital permit portal upgrades.

Skills

Permitting program management

Stakeholder coordination

Team leadership

Education

PE license (Utah)

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Job description

Statewide Permit Manager

The Statewide Permit Manager oversees and proactively participates in the management, administration, and execution of the Department's statewide permitting programs within the Right of Way (ROW) and Regional Divisions. Reporting directly to the ROW Real Estate Manager and periodically to the Director of ROW, responsibilities include the overall improvement of UDOT permit programs, regional permit staffing, permit training, permit software implementations, and permitting-related standards of care. Key focus areas include special projects, disposition and application processes, customer support, Encroachment Permitting, Conditional Access Permits (CAP), Outdoor Advertising Control (OAC), Small Wireless Facilities (5G), Fiber Optics ROW support, Special Events, GIS permit records and data management, and third-party inspection oversight as needed.

About the Role

This position is open to both engineers and non-engineers.

Salary Range: Based on qualifications

Employment Status: Full Time

Background Check: You must successfully pass a criminal history check.

Schedule Code: AX – Career Service exempt (at-will)

Location: Calvin Rampton Building – 4501 South 2700 West, Taylorsville, Utah

Application Deadline: 11/2/2026*

Responsibilities and Duties

• Direct statewide permitting operations, programs (Encroachment, Conditional Access, Small Wireless, Outdoor Advertising), and team staff, including supervisory duties such as hiring, workload assignment, and performance evaluations.
• Manage program budgets, fee collection, bonding ($100,000 continuous), liability insurance ($1M/$3M), and online permit portal technology, conducting fee evaluations at least every 5 years to maintain a break-even model.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, Utah Administrative Codes (UAC R930-6 and UAC R930-7), stormwater requirements (SWPPP/MS4), and FHWA standards in collaboration with regional staff and leadership.
• Partner with the Utah Attorney General's Office on permit appeals, administrative hearings, rule reviews, and final order drafts.
• Coordinate workflow and align activities across regional permit offices (Regions 1–4), utilities, developers, and local government entities.
• Manage legacy permit reviews, limited access modifications, Outdoor Advertising Control (OAC) compliance, constituent signage notifications, and variance requests.
• Lead quarterly outreach meetings (at least two in-person, one remote annually) with each region for strategic alignment, policy updates, and training.
• Serve as the primary statewide subject matter expert on ROW permitting, technical access guidelines, median toolkits, traffic control plans, and excavation standards for internal divisions, local governments, utilities, and legislative entities.
• Prepare legal documentation, SULAs, drainage agreements, specifications, and special provisions.
• Exercise final authority for permit approvals, denials, and revocations, defending determinations in administrative or legal proceedings.
• Analyze complex access issues and lead operational enhancements, including digital permit portal upgrades.

Minimum Qualifications

• Engineer Candidates ($48.10 - $76.27)
  • Registered as a professional engineer (PE) in Utah.
  • At least four (4) years of engineering experience following licensure as a PE.
• Non-engineer Candidates ($45.53 - $72.25)
  • A Bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited institution in a related field AND at least eight (8) years of professional relevant experience in Rights-Of-Way or a closely related field.
  • Note: Directly related professional experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis (e.g., 12 years of total related experience if no degree is held).
• Demonstrated experience managing rights-of-way, access management programs, utility accommodation, or encroachment permitting in public entities, including knowledge of real estate principles and property management standards in transportation environments.
• Thorough knowledge of Utah Administrative Code (UAC R930-6 Access Management, UAC R930-7 Utility Accommodation), UDOT standard specifications, traffic control standards, and bonding/insurance practices.
• Proven ability to thrive and manage effectively in a high-volume public sector or transportation environment.

Why You Should Join Our Team

A Mission That Matters – At the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), our mission is to “Enhance quality of life through transportation.