Director of Permitting

Position Overview:The Head of Permitting at Essentia is a leadership role responsible for directing,managing, and optimizing the entire permitting process for fiber-to-the-home projects.This role is critical to our success in delivering compliant, on-time telecommunicationsinfrastructure solutions. As a leader, you will work closely with internal teams, externalstakeholders, regulatory agencies, and clients to ensure seamless project execution whilemaintaining the highest standards of regulatory compliance and client satisfaction.Key Responsibilities:
• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a comprehensive permitting strategythat aligns with Essentia's business goals. Set clear objectives, performance metrics,and strategic priorities for the permitting team.
• US Telecom Permitting Expertise: Leverage your 3-5 years of experience in the USmainland telecommunications market to navigate complex federal, state, and localpermitting requirements. Ensure compliance with FCC, state public utilitycommissions, and local zoning ordinances.
• Permit Acquisition: Lead the identification, preparation, submission, and acquisitionof all necessary permits from local, state, and federal authorities. Conduct feasibilitystudies and risk assessments to determine permit requirements, including in highlyregulated jurisdictions.
• Project Management: Oversee the entire permitting lifecycle, ensuring all projectrequirements are met on time and within budget. Manage project timelines, resourceallocation, milestone tracking, and issue resolution, particularly in US telecomenvironments.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Build and maintain strong relationships with clients,regulatory agencies, municipalities, utilities, and other stakeholders. Proactivelyaddress concerns, negotiate requirements, and resolve conflicts. Navigate US-specificregulatory bodies, including local planning commissions and state-level telecomauthorities.
• Regulatory Compliance: Stay up-to-date with industry regulations, zoning codes,environmental standards, and permitting requirements. Ensure all permits meet USlegal and environmental standards, minimizing regulatory risks.
• Documentation and Reporting: Maintain accurate records of permits, approvals,correspondence, and project documentation. Generate detailed reports for clients,regulatory bodies, and internal management, providing insights on permitting statusand performance metrics.
• Risk Management: Identify potential permitting challenges, assess their impact onproject timelines, and develop proactive solutions. Implement contingency plans toaddress unforeseen obstacles, particularly in US telecom projects.
• Process Improvement: Continuously enhance permitting processes, adoptingindustry best practices, digital tools, and automation solutions to optimize efficiency.Conduct regular process audits and training sessions for the team.
• Team Leadership: Mentor, train, and guide permitting team members, fostering aculture of accountability, growth, and excellence. Conduct performance evaluations,set career development goals, and recognize outstanding achievements.The Successful Candidate Will Possess:Experience:
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in permitting and project management, with atleast 3-5 years of experience directly in the US mainland telecommunicationsmarket (excluding Alaska, Guam, Hawaii) with US-based companies / principals.
• Proven track record of successfully obtaining permits for complex projects in UStelecommunications.
• Extensive experience working with regulatory bodies such as FCC, state publicutility commissions, and local municipalities.Technical Skills:
• Proficiency in project management tools (MS Project, AutoCAD, GIS tools,permitting management systems).
• Strong understanding of telecom permitting requirements, including federal, state,and local regulations.Education and Certification:
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Urban Planning, Environmental Science,Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Professional certifications in Project Management (PMP), Environmental Planning,or related fields are a plus.Leadership and Strategic Skills:
• Exceptional leadership abilities with a track record of managing and developingteams.
• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to presentcomplex information clearly.
• Proactive, solution-oriented, and highly adaptable to a fast-paced environment.

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