Manager of Permitting-Power

At Williams, we’re powering a cleaner, more connected future, and that starts with you. Here, your work fuels communities, drives innovation, and helps deliver reliable energy the world depends on. Join a Fortune 500 team that invests in your growth, values your contributions, and challenges you to make a lasting impact every day. The Permitting Manager – Power Innovation is responsible for providing mentorship and proactive leadership to a team of environmental and permitting professionals supporting Williams’ Power Innovation portfolio, including gas-fired power generation, battery storage, pipeline, interconnection, water, land, and site development workstreams. This role leads permitting strategy and execution for fast-paced, large-scale projects serving data center and other strategic customers, and requires an effective leader who can align cross-functional teams, manage regulatory and stakeholder risk, and advance compliant, constructible projects on accelerated timelines. Responsibilities/Expectations: Establishes consistent permitting processes, accountabilities, and decision records for Power Innovation projects from screening through development, construction, commissioning, and operational handoff Manages work plans, methods, schedules, and procedures to ensure permitting support aligns with Project Development, Engineering, Construction, Operations, Commercial, Legal, Land, Government Affairs, and customer commitments Ensures priorities and performance of the permitting team are aligned with Power Innovation portfolio goals, including schedule certainty, risk mitigation, constructability, compliance, and speed-to-market objectives Develops and delivers training, permitting playbooks, and lessons learned for internal project teams, contractors, consultants, and external business partners Leads, supports, and participates in environmental incident response, permit compliance reviews, and corrective-action planning for project-related construction and operational issues Coordinates internal resources and external consultants for air permitting/modeling, water, wetlands, cultural resources, threatened and endangered species, noise, zoning, building permits, utility/PUC matters, and construction compliance Provides technical support and interpretation of federal, state, and local environmental, land use, utility, and construction-related requirements affecting power generation, battery storage, pipelines, water sourcing, and site development Collaborates with land, government affairs, public affairs, engineering, commercial, legal, project controls, and operations teams to establish key performance indicators, permitting milestones, risk registers, and compliance tracking tools Develops and leads high-performing teams capable of managing multiple complex Power Innovation projects across different states, regulatory regimes, customers, technologies, and development stages Leads early-stage permitting due diligence and siting evaluations, including air attainment status, PSD/NSR pathways, water availability, land entitlements, constructability constraints, community opposition, and critical-path schedule impacts Represents Power Innovation permitting priorities in customer, contractor, agency, community, and leadership forums; clearly communicates risks, options, mitigation plans, and decision needs Other duties as assigned Education/Years of Experience: Required: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, natural resources, planning, or related field; a minimum of eight (8) years’ experience in energy, infrastructure, power generation, environmental permitting, land development, or related project execution, including a minimum of five (5) years’ supervisory/management or project leadership experience Preferred: License, certification, or advanced training in engineering, project management, environmental permitting, air quality, land use planning, or construction compliance Other Requirements: Demonstrates excellent organizational/interpersonal skills and safety as the utmost priority Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications and PC skills Broad knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental, air quality, land use, zoning, building, water, cultural, and construction-related permitting requirements applicable to large-scale energy infrastructure Experience with air permitting and environmental review for natural gas-fired generation, combined-cycle or simple-cycle facilities, battery storage, compressor stations, pipelines, or other major industrial infrastructure Experience interacting with federal, state, and local officials, utility commissions, local authorities having jurisdiction, customers, landowners, community stakeholders, and permitting agencies related to permitting, land development, and compliance Excellent communication, negotiation, executive briefing, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory, technical, land, and community issues into clear recommendations for senior leaders Preferred: Experience with environmental due diligence, site screening, public affairs/community engagement, utility interconnection, PUC/PSC proceedings, data center-related infrastructure, or accelerated capital project execution #LI-AB1 Why Houston?   Big career opportunities in one of the world’s energy capitals, endless food spots and a diverse vibe—all without paying NYC or LA prices. Work hard, live better. Check out Houston.org to learn more. We invest in our people in ways that actually show up in your day-to-day, not just on paper. Our Total Rewards are built to support how you work, live, and plan for what’s next. Here’s a look at what that means: Strong pay plus an annual incentive program Hybrid work for most office roles, plus real flexibility in many field positions Medical, dental, and vision coverage with options that fit your life, not the other way aro