Manager Environmental Permitting
Work Location: Butte, MT Preferred; other major office locations in Montana may be considered
Pay range: $105,100 to $157,700 per year
Employment Status: Regular Full-time
External candidates apply at
Internal candidates apply through .
About this position:The Manager of Environmental Permitting oversees the environmental permitting staff and provides support to multiple NorthWestern Energy Departments with environmental and special use permitting and compliance. Work tasks include but are not limited to planning, development, and management of permit applications from multiple Federal, State, Local and Tribal agencies for construction and siting projects across the service territory.
We offer great benefits: NorthWestern Energy is a fully regulated electric and natural gas utility serving Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. We employ over 1,600 amazing people and serve over 800,000 customers who are our neighbors in our communities. We are a top employer and offer competitive benefits, including:
- 401K with company match up to 4% and non-elective contribution up to 7%
- Healthcare and wellbeing programs, including dental and vision for you, your spouse and dependents, Health Savings Account (HSA), healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account (FSA)
- Employee Assistance Programs (Offering up to six free counseling sessions, per person, per issue, per year for employees, spouses and dependents to include financial heath)
- Life Insurance (Company pays basic employee policy; spouse, dependent insurance also available)
- Tuition reimbursement
- Competitive pay (Scheduled performance-based wage increases and annual incentive opportunities.)
- Paid company endorsed volunteer opportunities
- Paid parental leave
- Paid bereavement leave
- Paid training opportunities
- Paid time off starting on your first day, plus 11 paid holidays
Benefits may vary by position or as negotiated as part of a collective bargaining agreement.
About this job: - Provide technical expertise for environmental permitting and project siting activities
- Prepare environmental permitting and compliance documentation
- Interpret environmental permitting requirements and analyze project impacts
- Coordinate with public and agency contacts including involvement in public meetings
- Coordinate internal training on environmental permitting requirements
- Coordinate internal and external resources and contractors as part of a multi-disciplinary project team
- Coordinate and evaluate Environmental Impact Statements and related activities
- The ability to maintain regular, reliable, and punctual attendance is an essential function of this position, consistent with applicable laws and reasonable accommodation requirements
- All NorthWestern Energy employees are required to adhere to company safety standards
- Ensure all actions are consistent with NorthWestern Energy's values, mission, and strategic business objectives
Am I right for this job? Here's the success profile: - Must be able to demonstrate a good safety record
- Must possess strong interpersonal communication and relationship building skills and be able to establish and maintain positive, productive working relationships with internal team members, staff, agencies, contractors, and the public
- Five years of experience in environmental permitting of energy supply and delivery facilities preferred
- Bachelor's degree in environmental engineering or an environmental science (such as wildlife biology, agriculture, forestry, soil science, etc) or related field preferred
- Demonstrated expertise in interpreting and understanding federal and state environmental policy, regulations, permitting is required
- Demonstrate ability to successfully permit energy projects at the local, state and federal levels
- Demonstrated high level of organizational skills and use of project management programs/software to manage permit requirements and deadlines
- Environmental experience conducting biological assessments, plant surveys, wetland delineations, rare and endangered species surveys, environmental monitoring and preparing NEPA documents is a plus
- Demonstrated technical writing and project management skills required
- Must have good computer skills in the use of Microsoft Office and ESRI - ARCGIS products.
- (click the link to certify at no cost)
Requisition #5051
Posting Dates: August 10, 2026 through August 24, 2026
Department/Division: Planning & Development
Employment Physical: Not Required
Drug Test: Not Required
Background Check: Required
Relocation Benefit: Negotiable
Telecommuting: Part-time Negotiable within NorthWestern Energy Service Territory
