Executive General Manager, Permitting & Community Relations #0405KC

Our client is seeking an Executive General Manager, Permitting & Community Relations to lead one of the most critical functions in the long-term development of a major mining and resource project in Colorado. This is a senior leadership opportunity for a strategic, credible, and highly effective external-facing executive who can guide permitting strategy, build community trust, and help position the organization for sustainable long-term success.

As Executive General Manager, Permitting & Community Relations, you will be responsible for shaping and leading the permitting, stakeholder engagement, and community integration strategy across the life cycle of the asset — from development and approvals through construction, startup, operations, and future expansion. You will serve as a key advisor to the broader leadership team, ensuring the organization takes a disciplined, proactive, and transparent approach to regulatory strategy, local relationships, social license, and reputational risk.

This role requires a leader who can operate effectively at both strategic and practical levels: someone who understands the complexity of resource development, the importance of community credibility, and the value of building respectful, lasting relationships across multiple stakeholder groups. You will play a central role in helping establish a culture grounded in safety, accountability, responsiveness, and long-term stewardship.

This is a career-oriented role with a long-term view and is based in Western Slope, Colorado, with substantial travel requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall permitting and community relations strategy for a major mining/resource development in Colorado.
• Develop and execute permitting roadmaps that support project timelines, risk mitigation, construction readiness, operations, and long-term expansion plans.
• Build, maintain, and strengthen trusted relationships with local communities, landowners, regulatory bodies, elected officials, Indigenous stakeholders where relevant, and other key external parties.
• Serve as a senior representative of the organization in community, regulatory, and stakeholder settings, helping build credibility and protect the company’s reputation.
• Partner closely with environmental, technical, legal, operations, project development, and executive leadership teams to ensure aligned and integrated decision-making.
• Anticipate and manage reputational, regulatory, and stakeholder risks, ensuring issues are identified early and addressed effectively.
• Lead community engagement strategies that reflect transparency, responsiveness, and a genuine commitment to long-term local partnership.
• Provide guidance on permitting requirements, approvals strategy, public processes, and regulatory pathways in support of complex project development.
• Build and lead a high-performing team across permitting, external affairs, stakeholder engagement, and community relations.
• Help shape organizational policies and internal practices that support responsible development, social license, and long-term sustainability.
• Support workforce and regional integration efforts by helping position the company as a credible, committed, and constructive presence in the region.
• Contribute to executive-level planning related to project risk, business continuity, growth strategy, and stakeholder-facing priorities.

Requirements

• Proven senior leadership experience in permitting, community relations, external affairs, public affairs, or stakeholder engagement within mining, natural resources, energy, infrastructure, or other complex regulated industries.
• Strong understanding of the permitting environment and stakeholder landscape associated with large-scale industrial or resource development projects.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and credibility with a wide range of stakeholders, including regulators, local communities, government representatives, and internal leadership teams.
• Experience leading sensitive or high-profile issues where reputation, timing, and stakeholder confidence were critical.
• The ability to think strategically while managing detail, process, and execution in a disciplined way.
• A leadership style that is self-starting, pragmatic, resilient, and grounded in sound judgment.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to represent the organization with clarity, diplomacy, and credibility in public and private settings.
• Strong people leadership capabilities, with experience building and mentoring teams in dynamic and evolving environments.
• A demonstrated commitment to responsible development, long-term relationship building, and a “without harm” mindset to people, reputation, assets, and business continuity.
• The ability to navigate complexity, assess risk thoughtfully, and move issues toward constructive outcomes.

Preferred Background

• Experience in mining, mineral resources, energy, or similarly regulated project-based industries.
• Familiarity with western U.S. permitting frameworks, rural stakeholder environments, and multi-party regulatory processes.
• Experience supporting greenfield or large-scale project development is highly desirable.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental policy, public affairs, communications, political science, law, natural resources, or a related field; advanced qualifications helpful but not required.
• Experience working in regions where community confidence and long-term social license are essential to project success.

Benefits

Competitive base compensation and incentive opportunity.

The opportunity to take on a pivotal leadership role in a significant long-term resource development.

Executive visibility and the chance to influence both project success and regional impact.

A collaborative environment with strong leadership support and meaningful scope for long-term contribution.

Career growth, purpose-driven work, and the ability to help shape something important for decades to come.

Keller is a recruitment agency that provides services to clients ranging from startups and non profits to multinational corporations. Keller emphasizes ethical search processes, attentive candidate care, and leadership placements that support long-term client outcomes.

To learn more about the firm and about our candidate services - please visit

https://www.kellerexecutivesearch.com/executive-recruiters-headhunters-colorado-springs/

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