State Permitting Coordinator

STATE PERMITTING COORDINATOR

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) is dedicated to enhancing Utah's economic prosperity, fostering a business-friendly environment, and streamlining regulatory processes. Following the passage of H.B. 530 during the 2026 Legislative Session, and the signing of the FAST-41 MOU between the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council and the State of Utah, the office is establishing a new position to improve the efficiency, transparency, and predictability of state permitting.

We are seeking a strategic, experienced, collaborative leader to fill the newly created role of Permitting Coordinator.

POSITION DETAILS & COMMITMENT

• Salary – $47.00 - $57.00/hr (depending on experience, plus state benefits)
• Work Format – Hybrid (60 E South Temple, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT)
• Reporting Structure – Reports directly to the Commissioner or their designee.
• Schedule Code – AC - Employees in Offices of Elected Officials
• Background Check Required – You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
• Application Deadline – 6:00 PM (MDT) on June 16, 2026
  
  

LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT & GOALS

The State of Utah recognizes that navigating complex, multiagency regulatory processes can sometimes hinder economic growth, infrastructure deployment, and local development.

The goal of this role is not to deregulate, but to demystify and streamline. The Permitting Coordinator will act as a central point of contact and an interagency bridge. By fostering communication among project applicants, state divisions, federal entities, and tribal governments, the coordinator will help ensure that permit reviews are executed with maximum clarity and minimum unnecessary delay.

Key Responsibilities

As the Permitting Coordinator, your duties will span individual project guidance, inter-governmental liaison work, and system wide policy recommendations.

• Applicant Assistance & Navigation -
• Central Source of Truth: Serve as a centralized resource for information regarding state or federal permitting requirements, procedures, and agency points of contact for project applicants, federal officers, and interested parties.
• Guidance Development: Create, publish, and update guidance materials to assist individuals and entities navigating state or federal application processes.
• Requirement Identification: Help applicants early in the process to identify exactly which state permits they need and which agencies hold authority over their proposed activities.
• Inter-Agency & Inter-Governmental Coordination -
• State Agency Alignment: Coordinate directly with various state departments and divisions to promote clarity, transparency, and timely permitting decisions.
• Federal Liaison: Act as the state’s primary point of contact and liaison with federal agencies on overlapping permit matters, specifically FAST-41projects, including engaging with federal partners such as the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council.
• Tribal & Local Engagement: Partner with the Governor’s Office to engage with tribal governments and local entities regarding permitting matters.
• Continuous Improvement & Reporting -
• Process Modernization: Identify administrative and procedural bottlenecks within current frameworks and assist agencies in implementing internal workflow improvements. Including, but not limited to, the development and review of a FAST-41 Initiation Notice or FIN, in cooperation with federal partners.
• Legislative Recommendations: Identify potential legislative changes to improve the predictability, timeliness, and efficiency of state reviews.
• Annual Reporting: Compile data on assistance activities, track recurring administrative challenges, and author an annual summary to be included in the office’s official annual report.
  

BOUNDARIES OF AUTHORITY (What You Will Not Do)

To be successful, the candidate must understand the regulatory boundaries established by H.B. 530:

• No Approvals/Denials: You do not have the authority to issue, deny, condition, or modify any permit.
• No Jurisdictional Changes: You will not alter the legal jurisdiction or standalone authority of any existing permitting agency.
• No Preferential Treatment: Your coordination does not create a right to expedited/preferential review, nor does it guarantee a permit will be approved.
• Exclusions: This role does not assist with personal licensure (e.g., professional trade licenses), registrations, identification, or permits that are purely ministerial in nature.
  
  

DESIRED IMPACT

The ideal candidate will transform how the public interacts with Utah's regulatory environment. The long-term impacts of this role include:

• Economic Agility: Reducing the "time to decision" for major projects, unlocking economic potential faster.
• Increased Transparency: Eliminating the "black box" of state government by giving applicants clear tracking, reliable points of contact, and predictable expectations.
• Stronger Partnerships: Creating unified, cooperative relationships between Utah, federal regulators, and tribal leadership to prevent conflicting requirements.
  
  

QUALIFICATION & COMPETENCIES

• Experience: Extensive experience in regulatory compliance, public administration, environmental law, economic development, or a closely related field.
• Systems Thinker: Demonstrated ability to look at complex, multilayered regulatory frameworks and identify structural efficiencies.
• Diplomacy & Mediation: Exceptional interpersonal skills; a proven track record of bringing disparate stakeholders (corporate, state, federal, tribal) to the table to solve complex friction points.
• Analytical Communication: Strong technical writing skills to produce clear guidance documents for the public and formal administrative/legislative recommendations for state leadership.
  
  

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN OUR TEAM

GOED is a fast-­paced, dynamic office staffed with a hard-working, passionate team with diverse experiences and expertise. We strive to match your interests and strengths with our office needs. Working in this office will give you direct, hands-­on experience. This job will grow your professional skills and capabilities. The State of Utah offers a highly competitive benefits package. Click HERE to review.

Who We Are

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) champions Gov. Cox’s commitment to providing economic opportunity for all Utahns. The office supports Utah entrepreneurs and businesses. We work to retain and recruit companies and bring more high-paying jobs to Utah. In addition, we work with industries, Utah regions, communities, and nonprofits to implement strategic economic development plans and reinforce Utah’s already diverse, prosperous economy. We utilize federal and state resources and private sector contracts to cultivate economic prosperity for all Utahns.

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, please contact (801) 957-9390.

Recruiter - Sarah Humphries; shumphries@utah.gov