Fiber Permit Coordinator

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Permit Coordinator. The ideal candidate will be based in Illinois and possess strong knowledge of municipal permitting processes, jurisdictional coordination, and right-of-way (ROW) permitting activities. This role will serve as the primary liaison between design teams, local agencies, counties, cities, utilities, and project stakeholders to facilitate permit approvals and support network deployment activities.

The selected candidate will be expected to travel within Illinois and neighboring markets as required to engage with permitting authorities, gather jurisdictional information, attend meetings, resolve permit roadblocks, and expedite permit approvals.

Primary Responsibilities

Permit Management

• Prepare, submit, track, and manage permit applications through approval.
• Coordinate with counties, municipalities, townships, DOTs, utilities, and other governing agencies.
• Maintain permit status trackers and provide regular progress updates to project teams.
• Ensure all permit documentation is complete, accurate, and submitted in accordance with jurisdictional requirements.

Jurisdiction & Agency Coordination

• Develop and maintain relationships with city, county, and state permitting offices.
• Conduct meetings and follow-ups with local jurisdictions to expedite permit reviews.
• Travel to government offices as required to obtain permit status updates, documentation, or approvals.
• Research jurisdiction-specific requirements, standards, and permitting procedures.

Design & Engineering Support

• Support engineering and design teams by collecting permitting requirements during project planning stages.
• Review construction plans for permit compliance.
• Coordinate revisions and resubmittals when requested by agencies.
• Assist with ROW, utility, easement, and land-use permitting requirements.

Field & Research Activities

• Conduct permit-related field visits when necessary.
• Gather information from county, city, and utility offices to support project execution.
• Research utility ownership, road ownership, ROW requirements, jurisdiction contacts, permit fees, and local construction restrictions.

Stakeholder Communication

• Provide weekly permit status reports.
• Escalate aging permits and approval risks.
• Coordinate with project managers, engineers, construction managers, utilities, and permitting authorities.
• Serve as the primary permit point of contact for assigned Illinois projects.

Compliance & Documentation

• Maintain complete permit records and audit documentation.
• Ensure adherence to local, county, state, and customer permit requirements.
• Track permit expiration dates, conditions, and renewal requirements.

Required Qualifications

Mandatory

• Minimum 3 years of experience in telecommunications permitting, utility permitting, construction permitting, or ROW coordination.
• Experience working directly with city, county, or state agencies.
• Knowledge of permitting processes within Illinois.
• Strong understanding of municipal approval procedures.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple permit projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and permit tracking tools.

Preferred

• Previous experience supporting fiber, telecommunications, broadband, or utility deployment projects.
• Experience with Illinois municipalities, counties, IDOT, and local utility companies.
• Knowledge of underground utility permitting, excavation permits, traffic control permits, and ROW permits.
• Familiarity with GIS, utility maps, plats, easements, and as-built documentation.
• Existing relationships within Illinois jurisdictions considered a plus.

Travel Requirements

• Local Illinois travel required.
• Ability to visit counties, municipalities, utility offices, and project locations as needed.
• Estimated travel: 25%–50% based on project workload and permit complexity.

Key Deliverables

• On-time permit submissions.
• Permit approval tracking and reporting.
• Permit matrix creation and maintenance.
• Jurisdictional requirement research.
• Timely escalation of permitting issues.
• Weekly permit status updates.
• Reduced permit approval cycle times through proactive agency engagement.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• Be located in Illinois.
• Have prior experience working with Illinois counties and municipalities.
• Possess strong permit coordination and relationship-building skills.
• Be comfortable conducting in-person meetings with permitting authorities.
• Be proactive, organized, and capable of independently driving permit approvals.

Hiring Manager Note for Talent Acquisition

Priority should be given to candidates with direct Illinois permitting experience, especially those who have previously worked with municipal, county, DOT, or utility agencies and can travel independently to support permit approval efforts for fiber network deployment projects.