Alaska Department of Natural Resources
Office of Project Management and Permitting (OPMP)
Large Project Coordinator
Recruitment
Do you want to help lead the next generation of resource development in Alaska? The Office of Project Management and Permitting (OPMP), within the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is recruiting a Large Project Coordinator position. OPMP coordinators interface directly with all aspects of large resource development and infrastructure projects to ensure that permitting is timely, efficient, and transparent. OPMP coordination is key to bringing major investment and economic activity to our State.
This is a fully-exempt, Range 23, position with the complete State of Alaska benefits package. The position is based in Anchorage, Alaska but other in-state locations may be considered for the right candidate. This recruitment will remain open until the position is filled. Out-of-state applicants must have prior Alaska specific experience.
Position Overview:
OPMP is responsible for facilitating and coordinating permitting for complex natural resource development projects, including hard rock mining and exploration, oil and gas development, transportation infrastructure, and renewable energy projects. OPMP’s role is expanding for incoming broadband projects and a new Alaska carbon offset program. The position would work on a range of projects, with a main focus on mining.
OPMP coordinated projects involve federal, state, and local regulatory jurisdictions that require numerous individual authorizations. OPMP leads these teams and provides an organizational framework to the regulatory process that facilitates intergovernmental coordination. A coordinated approach to planning and permitting, where interdisciplinary teams bring together complementary skills, expertise, and judgments to evaluate proposed plans or projects, is the core role of a successful OPMP coordinator.
Under limited supervision, Large Project Coordinators engage with federal, state, and local government agencies at multiple levels to ensure that intergovernmental coordination occurs effectively; resulting in improved communications, informed regulatory decisions and less duplication of efforts compared to multiple uncoordinated single agency reviews.
Although Large Project Coordinators do not directly supervise staff, they are responsible for organizing and leading diverse project teams composed of subject matter experts, agency adjudicators, and regulatory staff from multiple state agencies. Large Project Coordinators are also responsible for developing annual budgets for each of their assigned projects and managing Reimbursable Service Agreements (RSAs) with state regulatory agencies that participate in OPMP’s coordinated permitting process.
If you’d like to know more about OPMP, please visit our website here.
Summary of Potential Duties:- For assigned projects, serve as the principal point-of-contact to regulatory agencies, project applicants, and citizens.
- Organize and facilitate interdisciplinary agency teams that review permit applications and supporting technical documents to inform individual permitting decisions by participating state agencies.
- Coordinate multi-agency site visits and inspections of permitted projects.
- Manage established Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and annual funding agreements between OPMP and project applicants.
- Facilitate interagency meetings and discussions associated with a broad range of regulatory and natural resource management issues.
- Coordinate joint agency public notices.
- Coordinate with state agencies to solicit, develop, collect, consolidate, and submit formal written comments in response to federal and state public notices.
- Represent the State as a cooperating agency during federal environmental reviews conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
- Resolve project-related disputes, elevating unresolved disputes to appropriate agency line officers.
- Present technical, regulatory, and project-related information publicly to a broad range of audiences in various forums and formats.
Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:- Self-starting initiative and entrepreneurial thinking.
- Knowledge of:
- Principles and practices related to project or program coordination, administration, and management.
- State and federal laws, rules, and policies applicable to natural resource development activities.
- Principles, practices, and current developments in the fields of mining, oil and gas, hydroelectric power generation, or major transportation/infrastructure.
- Skills in:
- Problem solving.
- Standard business computing practices and software uses.
- Engaging a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders.
- Professional writing and communicating complex information to a wide variety of audiences using appropriate delivery methods.
- Ability to:
- Evaluate and adapt coordination approaches to address dynamic project needs.
- Coordinate, facilitate and guide the work of others.
- Direct a wide variety of functions related to a central task or project.
- Negotiate and maintain agreements among diverse organizations and individuals.
- Communicate effectively with others, both verbally and in writing.
- Establish and maintain effective relationships with federal, state, local, and Tribal government officials, private industry executives, professional-level staff, citizens, and other stakeholders.