Statewide Permit Manager
About The Position
The Statewide Permit Manager oversees and proactively participates in the management, administration, and execution of the Utah Department of Transportation's statewide permitting programs within the Right of Way (ROW) and Regional Divisions. The role reports directly to the ROW Real Estate Manager and periodically to the Director of ROW. It is responsible for improving statewide permit programs, regional permit staffing, permit training, permit software implementations, and permitting-related standards of care. Key areas include special projects; permit disposition and application processes; customer support; Encroachment Permitting; Conditional Access Permits (CAP); Outdoor Advertising Control (OAC); Small Wireless Facilities (5G); Fiber Optics ROW support; Special Events; GIS permit records and data management; and third-party inspection oversight as needed. The position is based at the Calvin Rampton Building in Taylorsville, Utah, and requires successfully passing a criminal history check.
Requirements
- Engineer candidates must be registered as a professional engineer (PE) in Utah and have at least four years of engineering experience following PE licensure.
- Non-engineer candidates must have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution in a related field and at least eight years of relevant professional experience in Rights-Of-Way or a closely related field. Directly related professional experience may substitute for the education requirement year for year; the posting gives 12 years of total related experience as an example for candidates without a degree.
- Demonstrated experience managing rights-of-way, access management programs, utility accommodation, or encroachment permitting in public entities.
- Knowledge of real estate principles and property management standards in transportation environments.
- Thorough knowledge of Utah Administrative Code UAC R930-6 (Access Management) and UAC R930-7 (Utility Accommodation), UDOT standard specifications, traffic control standards, and bonding and insurance practices.
- Proven ability to thrive and manage effectively in a high-volume public sector or transportation environment.
- Successfully pass a criminal history check.
Responsibilities
- Direct statewide permitting operations and programs, including Encroachment, Conditional Access, Small Wireless, and Outdoor Advertising, and oversee team staff, including hiring, workload assignment, and performance evaluations.
- Manage program budgets, fee collection, bonding, liability insurance, and online permit portal technology; conduct fee evaluations at least every five years to maintain a break-even model.
- Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, Utah Administrative Codes UAC R930-6 and UAC R930-7, stormwater requirements (SWPPP/MS4), and FHWA standards in collaboration with regional staff and leadership.
- Partner with the Utah Attorney General's Office on permit appeals, administrative hearings, rule reviews, and drafts of final orders.
- Coordinate workflow and align activities across regional permit offices (Regions 1–4), utilities, developers, and local government entities.
- Manage legacy permit reviews, limited access modifications, Outdoor Advertising Control compliance, constituent signage notifications, and variance requests.
- Lead quarterly outreach meetings with each region, including at least two in-person and one remote meeting annually, for strategic alignment, policy updates, and training.
- Serve as the primary statewide subject matter expert on ROW permitting, technical access guidelines, median toolkits, traffic control plans, and excavation standards for internal divisions, local governments, utilities, and legislative entities.
- Prepare legal documentation, SULAs, drainage agreements, specifications, and special provisions.
- Make final decisions on permit approvals, denials, and revocations, and defend determinations in administrative or legal proceedings.
- Analyze complex access issues and lead operational enhancements, including digital permit portal upgrades.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
