Strategic Permit Manager, Land Development

AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain — and we’re looking for talented people who want to help.

You’ll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You’ll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.


The Permit Program Manager role - based in either Seattle, WA, or Austin, TX – will be responsible for coordinating the planning, execution and evaluation of all critical government (aka Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)) approvals required for land development related to data centers and essential supportive infrastructure. Specifically, the Permit Program Manager will support all entitlement processes for their assigned projects and will be responsible for working with partner teams (e.g. transaction, economic development, engineering, construction, utility, and environment teams) to develop a permitting strategy, ensure that strategy is being executed effectively, and identify and mitigate risks associated with AHJ approval processes. The Permit Program Manager will crucially be a primary owner of AHJ engagement/ communication.

A successful candidate in this role will have experience with entitlements, real estate development and AHJ/government engagement. Candidate should have a proven track record of delivering multiple, high-priority projects with tight timelines that required strong project management and cross-functional coordination with internal partner teams and outside consultants and counsel. Candidate must be able work in assigned office three days each week, with exception of work travel which averages 25% of the time for this role.

Key job responsibilities
• Identify all government approvals required to construct data center infrastructure.
• Support entitlements approval process.
• Coordinate internal and external project development teams to develop and execute a permitting plan, ensuring all partner teams are performing required actions at the appropriate time.
• Own key relationships with AHJs and other key external stakeholders to act as a single point of contact for all strategic AHJ approval discussions and escalations.
• Identify, assess, mitigate and communicate risks to the permitting strategy to internal stakeholders and leadership.
• Engage and manage the work of entitlement and permitting consultants and specialists.
• Track real-time permit delivery metrics and complete after-action reviews to identify and solution opportunities for process improvement.
• Average 25% travel


A day in the life
Coordination communications (emails, calls, messages) with internal teams and consultants to plan and execute projects.

Analyze and develop technical entitlement materials.

Meet virtually and in-person with AHJ staff to coordinate requirements and approvals.

Develop and maintain permitting schedules.

Travel to in-person internal and external meetings and workshops.

About the team
Why AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating — that’s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.

Diverse Experiences
Amazon values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.

Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve in the cloud.

Inclusive Team Culture
Here at AWS, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee-led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon (gender diversity) conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.

Mentorship and Career Growth
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, mentorship and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.