Strategic Permitting & Environmental Approvals Lead

KBR; Newark (DE); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company match

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

AD&D

Flexible spending account

Paid time off

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

KBR seeks a Permit & Environmental Approvals Manager to lead and coordinate all permitting within the PMC team for a multi-billion-dollar GMP manufacturing program. This role serves as the primary contact with regulatory agencies, local authorities, environmental organizations, and utilities to secure and maintain permits and compliance on schedule.

The successful candidate will work with client, engineering, construction, environmental, quality, EHS, legal, and project controls teams to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Planning, Environmental Management, Public Policy, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience managing permitting and regulatory approvals for large industrial, pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, life sciences, or advanced manufacturing projects.
• Experience supporting greenfield capital projects exceeding $500 million in total installed cost.
• Strong knowledge of environmental regulations, land development processes, utility coordination, and construction permitting requirements.
• Experience working with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.
• Excellent project management, stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple permits and agency interfaces simultaneously within aggressive project schedules.
• Familiarity with EPC/EPCM project delivery models is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the project permitting strategy, identifying all permits, licenses, approvals, reviews, and regulatory requirements necessary for site development, construction, commissioning, and operational readiness.
• Lead permitting efforts with regulatory agencies, including local municipalities, state environmental departments, federal agencies, utility providers, and other authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs).
• Manage permit application preparation and submission, ensuring required technical documentation, engineering studies, environmental assessments, and supporting materials are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Establish and maintain a comprehensive permitting register, tracking permit status, approval milestones, submission timelines, permit conditions, and regulatory commitments throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate closely with engineering, design, and construction teams to ensure project designs incorporate permitting requirements and regulatory constraints early in the project development process.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate permitting and regulatory risks that could impact project cost, schedule, constructability, or operational compliance.
• Facilitate meetings, presentations, and communications with regulatory agencies and stakeholders, maintaining positive working relationships and representing the project professionally.
• Monitor compliance with permit conditions and regulatory commitments, supporting audits, inspections, agency inquiries, and construction compliance activities.
• Provide permitting status and environmental approvals reporting and forecasting to project leadership, highlighting critical path approvals, emerging issues, and recommended mitigation strategies to ensure project milestones are achieved.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation

Communication

Regulatory coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Planning, Environmental Management, Public Policy, or related discipline

Job description

KBR seeks a Permit & Environmental Approvals Manager to lead and coordinate all permitting within the PMC team for a multi-billion-dollar GMP manufacturing program. This role serves as the primary contact with regulatory agencies, local authorities, environmental organizations, and utilities to secure and maintain permits and compliance on schedule.

The successful candidate will work with client, engineering, construction, environmental, quality, EHS, legal, and project controls teams to