Renewable Energy Permitting Lead

Renewable Energy Permitting Lead

Westwood Professional Services Inc.

Westwood Professional Services Inc.is seeking a Permitting LEad to join our Renewables team in our Minneapolis MN or Madison WIoffice. Westwood has a highly experienced and dynamic team of individuals dedicated to providing high-level professional services to our clients.

• Westwood Professional Services Inc. (Westwood) is seeking a Permitting Lead for our Minneapolis office to assist clients in obtaining regulatory approvals for wind solar transmission and energy storage projects.
• The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in leading site and route permitting projects in the Midwest.
• Applicants should possess expertise with permitting processes such as Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) Minnesota Public Utility Commission (MPUC) Site and Route Permitting North Dakota Public Services Commission (PSC) Certificate of Site or Route Compatibility Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) Certificate and the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (CECPN).
• The candidate will have considerable experience in renewable energy project development and permitting utility-scale wind solar and/or energy storage facilities as well as high-voltage transmission lines. Experience with data center and collocated project permitting and approvals is a plus.
• Demonstrated knowledge of environmental reviews (federal NEPA and equivalent state programs) state site and route permit processes and applications associated federal state and local regulatory programs and permits directing and managing environmental and cultural resources desktop and field investigations and construction-related federal state and local approvals is essential as well as having familiarity with specific application filing requirements rules and guidance for various Midwest states. Additionally the candidate should have experience attending public hearings and meetings on behalf of clients and providing testimony.
• The successful candidate will be highly organized possess effective communication skills and demonstrate superior project management writing research time management project scheduling quality assurance and related project skills. Responsibilities include managing projects leading teams drafting and reviewing permit applications attending client meetings interacting with design professionals directing subject matter experts and administrative staff mentoring junior staff and developing work scopes and budget proposals for expanding business opportunities with new and existing clients.

• A Bachelors degree in environmental science environmental engineering or related earth science; a masters degree is preferred.
• 5 years of experience in the renewable energy permitting field.
• Excellent communication and writing skills are essential along with the ability to edit and conduct quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) on various reports studies and application documents prepared by others.
• The candidate must be a self-starter resourceful and capable of working productively on multiple projects simultaneously under strict deadlines.
• A proven ability to work with and manage developer and utility clients in the wind solar and/or energy storage and electric transmission industries is required.

At Westwood our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid design resilient infrastructure and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation we stand at the forefront of our industry dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts retains and develops high performers. Our team values relationships innovation dedication initiative and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative One Team mentality yields superior outcomes
in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients success driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety sustainability and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives we enrich the lives of those we serve engage others within our industry and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2024 Zweig Group ranked Westwood nationally at #13 and #40 respectively on its Hot Firms and Best Firms to Work for lists. Zweig also awarded Westwood one national 1st place award for Marketing Excellence. Westwood was recently recognized as #83 in the ENR Top 500 Firms in 2024. The firm consistently ranks on the industrys top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.