Permitting Program Manager

The posting, as Quaise Energy, Inc wrote it

Quaise Energy is unlocking Earth’s deep heat to deliver clean, reliable, baseload energy at scale – almost anywhere in the world. As both a technology innovator and project developer, Quaise builds and operates solutions that harness superhot geothermal energy far below the surface, enabling power generation that can rival the output of today’s most efficient fossil fuel and nuclear plants. Leveraging millimeter wave drilling, developed after more than a decade of research at MIT, Quaise’s mission is to make superhot geothermal a backbone of the modern energy system, offering affordable, zero-carbon power and true energy independence for communities and nations everywhere.

Work Location: Remote or Hybrid (Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Bend, OR; Portland, OR; or Seattle, WA)

The Permitting Program Manager is a senior individual contributor role responsible for planning, securing, and maintaining the environmental studies, permits, and authorizations required to develop, construct, and operate Quaise’s geothermal projects. This role owns the integrated federal, state, and local permitting program in partnership with the Origination, Development, Construction, and Operations teams, and serves as a primary point of contact with regulators, land managers, and environmental consultants.

This position will play a key role in advancing Project Obsidian, Quaise’s first commercial superhot geothermal power plant in Central Oregon, and in building the repeatable permitting framework that supports Quaise’s transition from technology development to commercial deployment.

Additional responsibilities include maintaining a positive corporate culture, promoting a safe and creative work environment, identifying and supporting opportunities for external collaborations, and other activities designed to improve Quaise.

Essential functions (Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.)

Permitting Strategy & Regulatory Approvals

Own the integrated permitting program for Quaise’s geothermal projects, spanning exploration, drilling, wellfield, power plant, and interconnection and linear facility scopes from early-stage screening through construction and operations.

Collaborate with regulator counsel to develop project-specific permitting strategies that identify required federal, state, and local authorizations, critical-path approvals, and key risks, and align them with the project development and construction schedule.

Lead preparation, submittal, and agency review of federal geothermal authorizations under the Geothermal Steam Act and 43 CFR 3200, including exploration notices of intent, geothermal drilling permits and operations plans, sundry notices, utilization plans, facility construction permits, site licenses, and commercial use permits.

Manage state and local permitting, including geothermal well permits, energy facility siting, water rights and water quality, air quality,
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elated field is required.

10+ years of experience with environmental and ecological permitting and compliance for energy or infrastructure projects.

Experience with geothermal, oil and gas, mining, solar, wind, or transmission permitting preferred; NEPA permitting experience strongly valued.

Experience permitting on federal lands in the western U.S., including managing interagency consultations (Section 7, Section 106) in support of NEPA, preferred.

Advanced degree or certification in environmental science, natural resource management, environmental law or policy, civil engineering, or infrastructure planning preferred.

GIS or data management skills related to environmental resource investigation and tracking preferred.

Physical requirements

This role requires prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

The employee is regularly required to stand, sit, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, as well as use hands to feel, reach, grasp, handle, or operate objects, tools and/or controls.

The employee must be able to lift, push, pull, transfer, or move items up 20 pounds at times for departmental needs.

Ability to move from one worksite to another or travel to various job sites and locations to complete tasks. Travel up to 25%.

The vision requirement includes reviewing written and electronic materials in digital and physical format.

Other duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Management reserves the right to change, rescind, add, or delete the duties and responsibilities of positions within this job classification at any time.

Affirmative Action/EEO statement

Quaise Energy is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetic information, disability, military status or age.