Permit & Communications Lead

Title:

Permit & Communications Lead

KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS) provides holistic and value-added solutions across the entire asset life cycle. These include world-class licensed process technologies, differentiated advisory services, deep technical domain expertise, energy transition solutions, high-end design capabilities, and smart solutions to optimize planned and operating assets. 

KBR is seeking a Permit & Communications Lead to provide overall leadership of the permitting, communications, and stakeholder engagement function for a multi-billion-dollar GMP manufacturing program in the Greater Richmond, VA area, serving as the Client's primary regulatory, governmental, and external stakeholder interface within the PMC team. As a senior pharmaceutical PMC/Owner's Representative role, this position is responsible for establishing permitting and communications governance, overseeing regulatory approvals and permit compliance, directing stakeholder and community engagement strategies, managing contractor performance within the assigned scope, and ensuring alignment between project objectives and external requirements. The Permit & Communications Lead provides strategic guidance to PMC leadership on permitting status, regulatory and stakeholder risks, communications priorities, mitigation strategies, and project readiness, while supporting successful project execution, GMP compliance, startup readiness, and long-term operational success.

Functional job responsibilities will include but are not limited to: 

• Lead the development and execution of permitting, regulatory engagement, stakeholder management, and communications strategies to support all phases of project delivery.
• Serve as the primary interface between the Client, regulatory agencies, local authorities, community organizations, utility providers, and other external stakeholders.
• Oversee the identification, tracking, submission, and approval of all required permits, licenses, environmental authorizations, and regulatory approvals necessary for project execution.
• Establish and maintain permitting governance processes, schedules, and reporting systems to ensure timely approvals and compliance with project milestones.
• Coordinate closely with engineering, environmental, construction, commissioning, and operations teams to ensure permitting requirements are integrated into project planning and execution.
• Direct public relations, community outreach, and stakeholder engagement initiatives to foster positive relationships and maintain the project's social license to operate.
• Manage communications consultants, permitting contractors, and external advisors to ensure consistent, effective, and compliant execution of project objectives.
• Monitor regulatory developments, policy changes, and external factors that may impact project execution, and develop mitigation strategies to address emerging risks.
• Lead the preparation and delivery of executive-level communications, presentations, stakeholder briefings, and regulatory submissions.
• Develop and maintain stakeholder engagement plans, communications matrices, and issue management processes to ensure proactive and transparent communications.
• Identify, assess, and manage permitting, regulatory, and stakeholder risks, implementing mitigation and recovery plans to minimize project impacts.
• Support project leadership in development and execution of incident communications, issue management, and crisis communication strategies.
• Collaborate with project controls and project management teams to ensure permitting activities, approvals, and stakeholder commitments are incorporated into the overall project schedule and execution strategy.
• Coordinate permitting activities associated with GMP manufacturing facilities, laboratories, utilities, warehousing, and support infrastructure.
• Support project readiness activities related to regulatory inspections and occupancy approvals.
• Coordinate with Quality, Validation, and Operations teams regarding regulatory commitments.
• Oversee environmental permitting and compliance activities including air permits, stormwater permits, wastewater permits, hazardous materials requirements, and agency reporting obligations.
• Ensure permit conditions and environmental commitments are incorporated into project execution plans and contractor requirements.
• Provide regular performance reporting and strategic recommendations to PMC and Client leadership regarding permitting status, regulatory compliance, stakeholder concerns, and communications effectiveness.
• Promote a culture of safety, compliance, transparency, and accountability in all interactions with regulatory agencies, stakeholders, and project teams.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Public Policy, Communications, Planning, Construction Management, or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of experience supporting permitting, stakeholder engagement, environmental compliance, communications, or project management on major capital projects, including projects exceeding $500 million TIC.
• Experience managing permitting, regulatory affairs, environmental compliance, stakeholder engagement, communications, or infrastructure delivery teams on major capital projects Strong knowledge of engineering governance, design management, and project delivery processes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical decision-making and stakeholder alignment.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Experience directing and evaluating performance of permitting consultants, communications consultants, stakeholder engagement firms, and regulatory support contractors, including review and approval of deliverables.

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills: 

• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other GMP-regulated facilities.
• Prior experience in an Owner’s Representative or PMC role for major capital projects in excess of $1B TIC.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license and/or PMP certification.
• Experience supporting FDA inspections, commissioning, startup, and operational readiness activities.

Decarbonization – Energy Transition – Sustainability  

KBR Benefits​ 

KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule. We support career advancement through professional training and development.​ 

Click here to learn more:  KBR Benefits 

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR

At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture.  These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company.  That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together. 

KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.