Permit Coordinator

Position Summary:

The Senior Network Permitting Specialist holds a critical role in ensuring the timely and efficient acquisition of necessary permits, access rights, and agreements for infrastructure development. This role requires expertise in navigating regulatory environments, engaging with local authorities, negotiating access agreements, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, codes, and ordinances. The ideal candidate will demonstrate proven experience in network permitting, right-of-way access, and external government affairs, coupled with a deep understanding of construction plans and the permitting process.

Essential Job Functions:

• Entitlement and Agreement Management:
• Lead and manage the submission and acquisition of all required entitlements and agreements for the installation of infrastructure.
• Negotiate right-of-way access agreements, securing the necessary legal and regulatory approvals to support network deployment.
• Collaborate with local and state agencies to acquire and process permits that allow for timely and efficient network development.
• Public Representation:
• Act as the primary representative for at public hearings, city council meetings, and before jurisdictional planning authorities.
• Present and advocate for projects, ensuring alignment with local laws, codes, and ordinances.
• Engage with local government officials and regulatory bodies to ensure successful navigation of regulatory hurdles and successful permitting of infrastructure.
• Collaboration and Coordination:
• Work closely with internal functional teams (e.g., Engineering, Construction, Legal, etc.) to resolve issues and facilitate progress on network development projects.
• Coordinate permitting efforts to meet project milestones, ensuring that deployments are completed on-time and within budget.
• Act as the single point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, providing guidance and resolving any issues related to network entitlement deliverables.
• Regulatory and Code Compliance:
• Interface with jurisdictional staff on matters related to applicable laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations governing telecommunications infrastructure.
• Ensure that Crown Castle's projects comply with all federal, state, and local regulations governing telecommunications network deployment.
• Project Tracking and Reporting:
• Maintain accurate project tracking information, ensuring that all data entered into Crown Castle’s proprietary systems is correct and up to date.
• Review project reports, identify discrepancies or issues in reporting or task completion, and take corrective actions as needed.
• Provide accurate project forecasting and ensure adherence to permitting cycle times.
• Issue Resolution:
• Serve as the escalation point for issues and complaints related to network permitting and deployment, working with the Network Operations Center to address and resolve customer or resident complaints.
• Collaborate with internal teams to quickly resolve permitting-related issues and mitigate any delays.

Education/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience required.
• Juris Doctor (JD) or legal background is preferred, but not required.

Experience/Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum of five (5) years of proven experience in a related role, such as working for a wireless carrier, wireless services or site acquisition firm, external/regulatory/governmental affairs consulting firm, utility, or within a jurisdictional or planning/zoning capacity.
• Equivalent experience in a comparable industry or relevant military background may be considered.

Other Skills/Abilities:

• Public Speaking and Presentation:
• Strong experience in presenting and speaking before public bodies, government entities, and community stakeholders.
• Ability to represent at public hearings, city councils, and regulatory meetings.
• Technical Knowledge:
• Experience working with engineering teams, reviewing and preparing permit applications, construction documents, and network construction plans.
• Strong understanding of construction plans/drawings related to network installation.
• Regulatory Knowledge:
• Familiarity with Public Utility Code and Public Utilities/Public Service Commission guidelines.
• Knowledge of federal Telecommunications Act, state statutes, and local ordinances governing telecommunications networks deployed in the public right of way is highly desirable.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
• Proven experience in working within goal-driven, cross-functional teams to achieve permitting and deployment objectives.
• Telecommunications Network Deployment:
• Experience deploying telecommunications network systems within the public right of way is highly preferred.