State Permitting Coordinator

State of Utah•Salt Lake City, UT

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) is establishing a new position to improve the efficiency, transparency, and predictability of state permitting, following the passage of H.B. 530 and the signing of the FAST-41 MOU. This role is for a strategic, experienced, collaborative leader to serve as the Permitting Coordinator. The goal is to demystify and streamline complex, multiagency regulatory processes that can hinder economic growth, infrastructure deployment, and local development, not to deregulate. The Permitting Coordinator will act as a central point of contact and an interagency bridge, fostering communication among project applicants, state divisions, federal entities, and tribal governments to ensure permit reviews are executed with maximum clarity and minimum unnecessary delay.

Requirements

Extensive experience in regulatory compliance, public administration, environmental law, economic development, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated ability to look at complex, multilayered regulatory frameworks and identify structural efficiencies.
Exceptional interpersonal skills; a proven track record of bringing disparate stakeholders (corporate, state, federal, tribal) to the table to solve complex friction points.
Strong technical writing skills to produce clear guidance documents for the public and formal administrative/legislative recommendations for state leadership.
Must successfully pass a criminal history check.

Responsibilities

Serve as a centralized resource for information regarding state or federal permitting requirements, procedures, and agency points of contact for project applicants, federal officers, and interested parties.
Create, publish, and update guidance materials to assist individuals and entities navigating state or federal application processes.
Help applicants early in the process to identify exactly which state permits they need and which agencies hold authority over their proposed activities.
Coordinate directly with various state departments and divisions to promote clarity, transparency, and timely permitting decisions.
Act as the state’s primary point of contact and liaison with federal agencies on overlapping permit matters, specifically FAST-41 projects, including engaging with federal partners such as the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council.
Partner with the Governor’s Office to engage with tribal governments and local entities regarding permitting matters.
Identify administrative and procedural bottlenecks within current frameworks and assist agencies in implementing internal workflow improvements, including the development and review of a FAST-41 Initiation Notice or FIN, in cooperation with federal partners.
Identify potential legislative changes to improve the predictability, timeliness, and efficiency of state reviews.
Compile data on assistance activities, track recurring administrative challenges, and author an annual summary to be included in the office’s official annual report.