Site Permitting Specialist

Description

The Site Permitting Specialist is part of Fervo’s Land, Environment, and Permitting team, responsible for managing property acquisitions and leasing, environmental protection, and regulatory/permitting activities. The selected candidate will lead the planning, acquisition, implementation, and ongoing compliance of permits, land use authorizations, and regulatory commitments supporting Fervo Energy’s geothermal exploration, drilling, power generation, transmission, and related infrastructure projects throughout the western United States.

This position combines strategic permitting with field implementation. The successful candidate will develop permitting and compliance strategies, identify regulatory requirements, maintain permitting schedules, prepare and oversee permit applications, translate permit conditions into practical field guidance, coordinate inspections, and ensure compliance commitments are implemented throughout the full project lifecycle. The role works closely with engineering, geology, environmental, legal, construction, operations, land, consultants, contractors, and regulatory agencies.

Strong communication, project management, organizational, and leadership skills are required, as this position will regularly coordinate across internal and external stakeholders, present permitting initiatives to management, and help drive continuous improvement of Fervo’s permitting and compliance programs. 

Requirements

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute integrated permitting and compliance plans, including schedules, milestones, budgets, field implementation plans, and regulatory strategies.
• Research, identify, obtain, and maintain federal, state, and local permits, approvals, and land use authorizations required throughout project development and operations.
• Ensure compliance with permit conditions, land lease obligations, county zoning requirements, and environmental regulations, including NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and other applicable laws.
• Compile permit and lease conditions into practical compliance guides, field procedures, and training materials for employees and contractors.
• Prepare, review, and submit permit applications and supporting documentation while maintaining complete permitting and compliance records.
• Conduct regular field visits, internal inspections, regulatory inspections, and corrective action tracking; coordinate spill response documentation and other environmental compliance activities as required.
• Collaborate with engineering, geology, legal, environmental, land, project management, construction, and operations teams to resolve permitting challenges and support project execution.
• Serve as the primary liaison with federal, state, local, and tribal agencies; support stakeholder engagement and community outreach.
• Monitor regulatory changes and recommend updates to permitting strategies, compliance programs, and internal procedures.
• Provide regular status updates, risk assessments, and recommendations to project leadership.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Land Use Planning, Land Management, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, or related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in permitting, environmental compliance, land management, or project development for geothermal, renewable energy, transmission, mining, or oil and gas projects.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local permitting processes and environmental regulations.
• Excellent organizational, communication, project management, and stakeholder coordination skills.
• Ability to interpret complex regulatory documents and translate requirements into practical implementation plans.
• Demonstrated problem-solving, conflict resolution, and relationship-building skills.
• Self-starter capable of managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Commitment to environmental stewardship, regulatory excellence, and responsible energy development.
• Ability to travel approximately 30% to project sites throughout the western United States.

Preferred 

• Experience with ESRI GIS software and/or CAD.
• Experience developing compliance management systems, inspection programs, or environmental training.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and project management software.
• Knowledge of public land permitting, land rights, reclamation, SWPPP implementation, and geothermal development.

Location

Fervo has offices in Houston, TX; Golden, CO; Reno, NV; Oakland, CA; and Salt Lake City, UT. Reno, Nevada or Salt Lake City, Utah are the preferred locations for this position. Approximately 30% travel will be required to support field operations and regulatory engagement throughout the western United States.