Knoxville, Tennessee
Posted: 22-Dec-25
Location: Spokane, Washington
Type: Full Time
Salary: $85,393 - $106,741
Purpose of Position
The Permitting Coordinator is responsible for coordinating, managing, and executing all permitting activities required for Inland Power’s electric distribution, transmission, and substation projects. This position serves as the primary point of contact between Inland Power and various permitting authorities, including county and municipal departments, state agencies, railroads, and federal agencies.
The Permitting Coordinator works closely with Inland Power Engineers, Designers, Real Estate Specialists, Operations staff, and external stakeholders. This position ensures project readiness from a permitting standpoint, that instructions pertinent to the permit are communicated clearly to construction personnel, and that post-construction remedial work is executed if necessary.
Core Competencies
1. Quality Work: Produce thorough, high-quality work with minimal errors. Seek feedback, make corrections as needed. Identify problems and solve them. Strive to improve processes. Work collaboratively with co-workers to implement systematic changes.
2. Productivity: Complete assigned work in a timely fashion. Utilize slow periods productively. Produce amount and volume at expected speed.
3. Technical Skills/Job Knowledge: Demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of technical skills in area of expertise, technology, products, and/or processes involved. Duly perform assigned duties. Keep current on federal, state and local regulatory changes and be competent with all technology necessary to perform job.
4. Communication: Clearly convey oral and written communication. Keep others informed of activities and problems in timely manner. Listen well; respond appropriately and respectfully.
5. Teamwork/Ability to Work with Others: Demonstrate the ability to work in a positive manner with co-workers and/or members with differing backgrounds, opinions, capabilities, etc. Willingly share skills, competencies, and knowledge with others. Establish and maintain strong, effective working relationships. Contribute effectively to group efforts. Promote harmony; agree to disagree without damaging relationships.
6. Accountability: Maintain excellent attendance and provide additional assistance after normal working hours when needed. Be reliable, prepared and accept responsibility for work and actions.
7. Integrity: Demonstrate honesty, high ethical standards, and respect for all co-workers and membership.
8. Professionalism: Address internal and external members with courtesy and respect. Dress in work attire appropriate to the position. Communicate business information in a timely fashion, using means of communication appropriate to the situation.
9. Support of Cooperative Goals: Support cooperative goals and adhere to all policies and procedures. Contribute effectively in support of the cooperative.
10. Problem-Solving: Use sound logic and methodology to solve problems. Explore multiple sources for answers, as required. Be able to identify hidden problems and propose solutions.
Job Responsibilities
1. Serve as Inland Power’s primary coordinator for all permits required for electric transmission & distribution projects, substations, system upgrades, and maintenance activities.
2. Identify permitting needs during early project scoping and communicate requirements, timelines, and constraints to engineers, project managers, Real Estate Specialists, and Operations staff.
3. Prepare, submit, track, and manage permits with local, state, federal, and private entities, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to each agency’s standards.
4. Maintain professional working relationships with permitting authorities, including (but not limited to) county planning/building departments, public works, Washington Department of Ecology, tribal governments (as applicable), railroads, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers & other governmental organizations.
5. Coordinate environmental reviews and compliance actions, including SEPA submittals, cultural review processes, wetland screening, stormwater requirements, and other regulatory steps.
6. Track permit status, deadlines, review comments, fees, required revisions, issuance, and communicate updates efficiently to affected internal teams.
7. Provide clear guidance to project engineers and designers on permitting conditions that affect construction sequencing, land use, access, right-of-way, environmental mitigation, or schedule.
8. Collaborate closely with the Utility Civil Engineer and Real Estate Specialist & Designers to support site feasibility, easement acquisition, land use reviews, and property documentation.
9. Conduct field visits as needed to gather information for permit applications, confirm site constraints, or coordinate inspections with permitting agencies.
10. Identify when external expertise is required for permitting activities such as biological assessments, cultural resource evaluations, wetland delineations, geotechnical investigations, and other specialized studies. Prepare scopes of work, solicit proposals, and coordinate with external consultants to procure required permitting-related services in accordance with cooperative policies and budget expectations.
11. Maintain organized permitting records, databases, and documentation required for audits, agency communications, and long-term project files.
12. Develop and improve internal permitting workflows, templates, tracking tools, and best-practice guides to increase efficiency and reduce project delays.
13. Assist in identifying and mitigating regulatory risks that may affect project timelines, construction readiness, or environmental compliance.
14. Participate in multi-disciplinary project teams supporting capital construction and system planning efforts.
15. Perform other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications & Job Requirements
1. Education/Experience:
a. Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required; relevant experience may substitute for formal education.
b. Two or more years of experience in permitting coordination, land use, environmental review, utility operations, construction support, or related regulatory fields.
c. Experience working with public agencies, land use authorities, or regulatory permitting processes strongly preferred.
d. Experience in the electric utility industry, public infrastructure development, or construction-related support roles are highly desirable.
2. Certifications:
a. Certifications in permitting, environmental compliance, project coordination, or related technical fields are a plus.
3. Knowledge and Skills:
a. Strong understanding of permitting processes across local, state, and federal jurisdictions.
b. Familiarity with SEPA, shoreline requirements, wetland considerations, stormwater/stormwater pollution prevention requirements, and other key regulatory frameworks.
c. Ability to read and interpret maps, plans, legal descriptions, and construction documentation.
d. Excellent communication and collaboration abilities across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
e. Strong organizational skills and the ability to track multiple permits with different timelines and requirements.
f. Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools; experience with GIS systems, permit portals, or basic CAD tools beneficial but not required.
4. Mental Demands/Working Conditions:
a. Ability to manage multiple projects with shifting priorities.
b. Comfortable working independently and as part of a team.
c. Occasional same-day travel within the Inland Power service territory, including field visits to project locations and agency offices. Multi-day travel to work-related conferences a few times per year.
d. Must possess a valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
5. Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
a. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
b. Ability to hike cross-country and perform field work in adverse weather conditions, as necessary or required.
c. The employee frequently is required to walk, or stand. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb or balance.
d. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.
e. Other specific abilities required are ability to talk using the telephone and hear within normal range.
The Permitting Coordinator shall have full authority to carry out these duties and responsibilities in conformity with established policies and procedures and shall utilize time in such a way as to fulfill the objectives of this position and the cooperative.
APPLICATION PROCESS
If your credentials and interest match this job, please send your completed application, cover letter and resume to: hr@inlandpower.com or mail them to, Inland Power & Light Company, 10110 W. Hallett Rd., Spokane WA 99224-7435, Attn: Human Resources.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/ADA
Inland Power & Light is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled). We value diversity at all levels of the organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected classifications as defined by law.
EEO Law Posters can be found on the main Careers (www.inlandpower.com/careers) page in English and Spanish.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
Inland Power will provide reasonable accommodation to assist a qualified person with a disability in the job application, interview process and to perform the essential functions of the job whenever possible. Please contact the HR department at Inland Power if you would like assistance.
DISCLAIMER
The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions for this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility. This should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload.
Inland Power & Light will not be offering any work visa sponsorship for this role.
PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-I.35(c)
BENEFITS
Medical, vision, dental, 401(k), HSA/HRA, retirement plan, PTO, EAP, paid holidays, and disability insurance programs.