Chief of Staff (Permitting & Compliance)

Background

The Office of Permitting and Compliance (OPC) is responsible for leading all permitting and regulatory functions within the Department ensuring clarity consistency and regulatory integrity across all activities. The Office was established to consolidate and modernize Louisianas permitting framework into a centralized technically rigorous and transparent system that ensures compliance with state and federal law while supporting responsible economic development.

OPC integrates engineering geology ecology design and compliance functions into a unified workflow. Its structure encompasses integrity and production audits UIC and storage regulation groundwater protection coastal permitting and mitigation and reservoir and legacy site management. By aligning these technical functions OPC improves efficiency eliminates duplication enhances science-based decision-making and accelerates permitting timelines while maintaining environmental stewardship.

OPC is composed of five operating divisionsCompliance Ecology Engineering Geology and Permittingstaffed by engineers geologists environmental specialists and regulatory professionals who manage activities central to Louisianas ecological and economic sustainability.

Scope and Purpose

The mission of OPC is to ensure that permitting and compliance functions are executed with clarity consistency and integrity supporting the States obligation to protect natural resources and promote responsible economic activity. The Office oversees science-based permit approvals wetland mitigation regulatory oversight and environmentally sound operational practices ensuring that applicants experience a clear and efficient permitting pathway.

The Executive Director as the Offices chief executive is responsible for ensuring that OPC fulfills the Departments statutory mandates under R.S. 30:2 and R.S. 30:3 including preventing waste conserving natural resources and safeguarding both underground and surface environments. OPCs regulatory responsibilities extend to drilling activities well amendments work orders field orders unitization and intrastate pipeline infrastructure not regulated by FERC.

Through its centralized structure OPC delivers data-driven science-based regulatory outcomes that align economic development with environmental stewardship.

Position Summary

The Chief of Staff serves as a key advisor and strategic partner to the Executive Director of OPC supporting the operational administrative and strategic functions of the Office. This role is responsible for coordinating cross-divisional initiatives; aligning goals priorities and workflows across programs; and facilitating efficient communication and decision-making at all levels of the organization.

The Chief of Staff oversees planning and execution of major projects serves as a liaison to internal and external stakeholders and ensures effective management of daily operations as delegated by the Executive Director. The position requires a strong understanding of technical legal and regulatory considerations related to environmental permitting and compliance including the Departments statutory obligations and the Offices broad regulatory scope.

Success in this role requires strong strategic planning capabilities high-level communication skills effective personnel and time management sound judgment and the ability to synthesize legal technical and financial information into clear and actionable recommendations. The Chief of Staff ensures the Offices work remains aligned with its mission of scientifically sound regulation environmental stewardship and efficient transparent permitting processes.

• Bachelors degree or higher in Business Engineering Geoscience Communications or Political Science.
• At least three (3) years experience in energy-related development consulting policy or technical analysis; experience should include corporate or public organization management operations or strategy.

The Chief of Staffs primary responsibility will be to serve as an extension of the Executive Director in the execution of their duties. This role requires regular communication with the Executive Director and an active understanding of Office initiatives operations action items and other developments. Responsibilities may include the following as the Executive Director deems appropriate:

• Communicate Office initiatives policies and developments to internal staff executive leadership the Board legislators industry groups and partner agencies.
• Represent the Executive Director in meetings calls speaking engagements and public events effectively conveying information and reporting back key details.
• Maintain visibility across all OSTR functions to identify emerging operational needs risks and opportunities.
• Manage Executive Director workflows including priority setting briefing preparation sequencing of tasks and decision timelines.
• Support the Executive Director in developing priorities and executing tasks efficiently and on schedule.
• Provide administrative oversight by participating in staffing plans recruitment onboarding performance reviews and employee development efforts.
• Coordinate routine administrative and operational matters such as procurement travel contract correspondence and scheduling when delegated.
• Monitor and evaluate Office operations through performance metrics to identify gaps inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
• Support policymaking and advocacy efforts by maintaining knowledge of statutory and regulatory authorities and recommending updates to improve operations.
• Perform additional duties as assigned including legislative representation testimony before regulatory bodies interagency coordination and emergency response activities.

Position-Specific Details

Appointment Type: Unclassified

Work Schedule: Work hours are flexible.

Compensation:$120000 - $165000 annually

The final salary will be determined based on the selected candidates qualifications and experience.

How to Apply

To apply for this vacancy click on the Apply link above and complete an electronic application which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

For further information about this vacancy contact:
Email:
Human Resources Division
Department of Conservation and Energy
PO Box 94396
Baton Rouge LA 70804-9396

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