Project General Description
A major industrial redevelopment and expansion program involving the modernization of an existing manufacturing facility. The fast-track program encompasses facility engineering, construction management, process and equipment integration, BIM coordination, utilities, HSE, quality, cost management, commissioning and operational readiness. The project requires multidisciplinary coordination across engineering teams, specialist consultants, contractors, equipment suppliers and other key stakeholders.
Objective
The Permitting & Environmental Manager will be responsible for overseeing local compliance requirements related to construction and industrial project activities, ensuring alignment with applicable Brazilian labor legislation, environmental requirements, tax regulations, and local regulations throughout project execution. The role will work closely with project management, construction teams, HSE, contractors, and other stakeholders to identify compliance risks, support regulatory requirements, and ensure project activities are performed in accordance with applicable requirements.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the overall environmental and municipal permitting strategy, establishing approval requirements, responsibilities, submission sequences and critical dates.
- Coordinate environmental licensing and approvals with relevant state and local environmental authorities, including management of license conditions and associated technical studies.
- Manage municipal permits and approvals, including construction permits, land-use/zoning compliance, occupancy/operation approvals and other required municipal authorizations.
- Act as the primary interface with municipal authorities, environmental agencies and other regulatory bodies, coordinating meetings, submissions, technical responses and approval follow-up.
- Maintain an integrated Permit & Approval Register, tracking requirements, status, dependencies, conditions, expiry dates and risks against the master project schedule.
- Review design documentation to ensure Brazilian regulatory labor requirements compliance.
- Coordinate designers, environmental consultants, contractors and Client representatives to resolve authority comments, non-compliances and permitting constraints.
- Identify permitting risks early and implement mitigation/recovery actions to prevent design, construction, commissioning or operational delays.
- Ensure all permits, licenses, approvals and regulatory commitments are properly documented and maintained through construction, commissioning and handover.
Required Skills & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering.
- Professional with +15 years of experience in this field, including in leadership roles.
- Relevant professional qualification with applicable registration/credentials in Brazil, as required for the assigned compliance activities.
- Strong knowledge of environmental licensing and environmental control requirements applicable in the State of Rio de Janeiro, with at least 3 license processes approved by INEA/RJ.
- Demonstrated experience obtaining municipal permits and approvals for industrial developments, preferably automotive or large manufacturing facilities.
- Proven interface experience with municipalities, state environmental agencies, fire authorities and other Brazilian regulatory bodies.
- Experience managing permitting for brownfield expansions, facility modifications and/or industrial capacity increases.
- Strong understanding of the relationship between design development, environmental licensing, construction permits and operational approvals.
- Proven experience preparing and managing permit matrices, compliance registers, authority submissions and approval schedules.
- Fluent in Portuguese and English.
Preferred Skills
- Experience supporting large-scale industrial construction, redevelopment, or expansion projects.
- Tax compliance experience
- Experience working with international engineering and project teams.
