Permit & Environmental Approvals Manager

KBR, Inc.•Richmond, VA

About The Position

KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions is seeking a Permit & Environmental Approvals Manager to lead and coordinate permitting for the PMC team on a multi-billion-dollar GMP manufacturing program. The role is the primary point of contact among the project team, regulatory agencies, local authorities, environmental organizations, and utility providers, ensuring permits, approvals, and compliance requirements are obtained and maintained in line with project schedules. The manager works with the client and engineering, construction, environmental, quality, EHS, legal, and project controls teams to identify permitting requirements, evaluate regulatory risks, and develop strategies that support project execution while maintaining compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Planning, Environmental Management, Public Policy, or a related discipline.
Minimum 10 years of experience managing permitting and regulatory approvals for large industrial, pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical, life sciences, or advanced manufacturing projects.
Demonstrated 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.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with EPC/EPCM project delivery models.
Professional certifications or advanced degrees.
Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or other GMP-regulated facilities.
Prior experience in an Owner’s Representative or PMC role for major capital projects exceeding $1 billion TIC.
Experience with environmental permitting, site development approvals, wastewater permits, air permits, stormwater management permits, and utility infrastructure approvals.
Experience supporting FDA inspections, commissioning, startup, and operational readiness activities.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the project permitting strategy, identifying permits, licenses, approvals, reviews, and regulatory requirements for site development, construction, commissioning, and operational readiness.
Lead permitting efforts with regulatory agencies, municipalities, state environmental departments, federal agencies, utility providers, and other authorities having jurisdiction.
Manage preparation and submission of permit applications, ensuring technical documentation, engineering studies, environmental assessments, and supporting materials are accurate and submitted on schedule.
Establish and maintain a permitting register tracking status, approval milestones, submission timelines, permit conditions, and regulatory commitments throughout the project lifecycle.
Coordinate with engineering, design, and construction teams to incorporate permitting requirements and regulatory constraints into project designs early in development.
Identify, assess, and mitigate permitting and regulatory risks affecting project cost, schedule, constructability, or operational compliance.
Facilitate meetings, presentations, and communications with agencies and stakeholders, maintaining positive relationships and representing the project professionally.
Monitor compliance with permit conditions and regulatory commitments, supporting audits, inspections, agency inquiries, and construction compliance activities.
Report and forecast permitting status and environmental approvals to project leadership, highlighting critical-path approvals, emerging issues, and recommended mitigation strategies.