The Director of Land, Environmental Permitting and Stakeholder Consultation will be responsible for:
Securing land for greenfield projects, ensuring the successful acquisition of necessary sites for development
Managing the day-to-day aspects of real estate operations related to renewable energy projects.
Leading the regulatory and environmental approval processes for the development, construction, and operation of large-scale renewable energy projects, including solar, wind, and battery storage initiatives across the United States. This involves ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations while minimizing environmental impacts.
Building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, managing communications, and addressing concerns to ensure project alignment with community interests.
This role is vital to the successful development of renewable energy projects, ensuring the acquisition of land, securing regulatory approvals, fostering community support, and facilitating smooth project execution.
The Director will report directly to the Vice President of Development and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams across the organization.
Responsibilities and Duties
Lead the Land Acquisition team, accountable for:
Securing land leases required for renewable energy projects
Performing ALTA surveys
Securing pre-construction agreements
Managing existing land leases and payments.
Lead the Environmental, Permitting and Stakeholder engagement team:
Manage the preparation, submission, and coordination of federal, state, and local permits and approvals for greenfield renewable energy projects in the U.S. Engage with regulatory authorities and stakeholders to facilitate permitting, compliance, and mitigation negotiations.
Oversee external consultants conducting environmental assessments (e.g., biological, cultural, wetland delineations, species studies) and manage environmental permitting plans, schedules, and budgets.
Conduct environmental and permitting due diligence for potential M&A projects, providing strategic recommendations regarding risks and opportunities.
Develop and manage RFP scopes, environmental diligence processes, and permitting exhibits for project contractors.
Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., Development, Engineering, Origination) to ensure understanding of permitting implications, mitigation negotiations, and resource studies for development, acquisition, and financing opportunities.
Lead the development of strategies for environmental regulatory authorizations and manage responses to public, regulatory, and legislative scrutiny.
Represent UKA in regulatory and environmental industry groups and attend land use planning, zoning meetings, and industry discussions.
Review and oversee presentation materials for external stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, elected officials, communities, and NGOs, and lead presentations on project mitigation measures.
Qualifications and Skills
Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Political Science, Geography, Geology, Hydrology, Economics, or related field.
10-15 years of experience in land development, environmental consulting, permitting, renewable energy, real estate, planning, or policy.
Strong leadership skills with experience leading cross functional teams
Deductive reasoning, quantitative analysis, and strategic thinking skills.
Experience working with local, state, and federal agencies, environmental NGOs, or Native American tribes.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
High attention to detail with a commitment to quality.
Proven ability to independently prioritize, plan, and execute tasks in a fast-paced, cross-disciplinary environment.
Ability to summarize complex issues, identify opportunities, and propose next steps with minimal guidance.
Passion for learning and contributing to the clean energy transition.
Familiarity with land/environmental policies (NEPA, ESA, MBTA, BGEPA, CWA).