Permitting & Regulatory Manager

Role purpose (outcome-based):

• Own the permitting and regulatory delivery for Capture, Plant Modifications and WWTP work packages, from pre-FEED through FEED, ensuring permits are managed as a critical-path workstream.
• Translate project engineering scope into a permitting strategy, roadmap and execution plan, with clear dependencies, lead times, and readiness gates.
• Coordinate all inputs required for permitting (studies, baseline data, technical narratives, drawings, HSE documentation) and ensure submission-quality and auditability. 
• Maintain a rigorous permit register, regulatory risk register, and action tracking system, integrated with project planning and reporting.
• Build and lead a small specialist team and manage external consultants and contracts supporting permitting deliverables.
• Provide structured reporting to the Work Stream Lead (APO) and coordinate with PMO (who owns authority relationships) to keep decisions timely and risks
  controlled.

Role & responsibilities:

1) Permitting strategy & roadmap (pre-FEED foundation)

• Develop the Permitting Strategy for Capture, Plant Modifications and WWTP. 
• Build a Permit Matrix (asset/package level) incl. authority, expected pathway, lead times, dependencies and required inputs (confirm legal basis where needed).
• Produce an Integrated Permitting Schedule aligned with engineering milestones (pre-FEED/FEED deliverables, design freezes, tender packages).

2) Permit execution management (pre-FEED → FEED)

• Maintain and drive the Permit Register: status, next actions, owners, deadlines, blockers, escalation triggers.
• Coordinate drafting and assembly of permit documentation packages with engineering disciplines, HSE, legal, and consultants.
• Set and enforce submission QA/QC (completeness, traceability, document control, versioning, alignment with studies).

3) Studies and technical inputs coordination

• Define the Permitting Study Plan: baseline data needs and specialist studies (e.g.,air/noise, water, ecology, traffic, soil, waste, safety interfaces, construction impacts).
• Coordinate scope, timing, and integration of studies into permit dossiers and EIA/ESIA readiness (as applicable).
• Ensure consistency between engineering design evolution and regulatory narratives (no “design drift” in submissions).

4) Regulatory risk management & decision support

• Own the Regulatory Risk Register: likelihood, impact, mitigations, owners, decision points.
• Create a decision log and escalation notes to Work Stream Lead/PMO when regulatory choices affect schedule/cost.
• Proactively identify long-lead or high-uncertainty approvals and drive early resolution options.

5) Governance, interfaces & reporting

• Implement an operating cadence (weekly internal execution review; biweekly integration with PMO as required).
• Provide a concise weekly dashboard to the Work Stream Lead: status, upcoming milestones, critical risks, decisions needed.
• Coordinate closely with PMO to ensure engagements are purposeful and supported by complete technical inputs.

6) Team build, leadership & capability

• Build the team and define roles (permit register owner, studies lead, document control/QA, package coordinators).
• Set ways of working, templates, checklists, and performance expectations.
• Manage external resources effectively while retaining internal ownership of critical knowledge.

7) Contracting for permitting/regulatory support

• Define contracting needs and create SOWs for permitting/EIA consultants, 1 specialist studies, regulatory advisory and support services.
• Coordinate procurement processes, technical evaluation, deliverable acceptance and performance management for these contracts.
• Ensure contracts are aligned with schedule criticality and have clear acceptance criteria and reporting.

Job holder profile:

Must-have experience:

• Senior permitting/regulatory delivery role on large industrial projects (process industry, energy, cement, chemicals, waste/water infrastructure).
• Demonstrated ownership of permit strategy + permit register + schedule integration as a critical-path discipline.
• Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary inputs (engineering, HSE, legal, consultants) with strong document control.
• Proven ability to manage consultants: scoping, contracting inputs, acceptance criteria, performance management.
• Experience operating in complex stakeholder environments with multi-authority requirements (even if engagement is led by PMO).

Nice-to-have experience:

• Experience with cement plant modifications, large utilities upgrades, wastewater treatment projects.
• Familiarity with CCS-adjacent facilities and emissions-related regulatory contexts (without needing to be a CCS expert).
• Exposure to Innovation Fund / EU-funded project governance (reporting awareness beneficial, but CINEA interface is via PMO).

Education & certifications:

• Engineering, environmental science, or equivalent technical degree.
• Project management certification (PMP/PRINCE2) is beneficial.
• Specialized environmental/permitting certifications are a plus.

Hard skills: 

• Permit matrix/register design and execution discipline.
• Critical-path thinking; schedule integration and milestone control.
• Technical writing and submission package assembly.
• QA/QC routines for regulatory dossiers; audit trail design.
• Contract scope drafting (SOW), deliverables definition, acceptance criteria.

Soft skills / leadership behaviors:

• High ownership with low ego: drives delivery through others without formal sign-off power.
• Structured communicator: escalates early, frames decisions clearly, keeps stakeholders aligned.
• Resilient and detail-driven: handles ambiguity, long lead times, and evolving designs without losing control.
• Team builder: can stand up a small function and make it operational fast.