Permitting & Regulatory Compliance Specialist III

At Core States Group, the work you do matters to the clients we serve, the communities we support, and the teams who rely on one another to deliver with excellence. Our Cause is powerful: to create a world where all environments improve everyday life.

Why Professionals Choose Core States Group

Here's what you can expect:

• VALUES-DRIVEN CULTURE - A workplace rooted in Integrity, Service, Inclusion, Excellence, and Innovation. Our Core Values guide how we work, how we treat each other, and how we show up for our clients every day.
• COMPENSATION - Competitive wages and bonus programs, including professional licensure bonuses.
• RETIREMENT - A strong 401(k) match, with immediate vesting, to help you invest in your future and build your retirement savings with confidence.
• HEALTHCARE - Competitive health benefits including HSA with employer contribution, life insurance options, and supplemental coverage options, giving you the flexibility to select the coverage that best fits your needs and lifestyle.
• VACATION - Generous PTO to help you recharge, relax, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• PERKS - Team wellness challenges, free virtual gym app, wholesale club membership reimbursement, employee recognition programs, paid parental leave and much more!
• FLEXIBLE WORK ENVIRONMENT - A flexible work environment that empowers you to do your best work, whether you're in the office, working remotely, or blending both to support your responsibilities.
• TUITION REIMBURSEMENT - support your growth with tuition reimbursement to help advance your education and professional development.

Summary of the Role

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic Permitting & Regulatory Compliance Specialist III to join our growing team. In this role you will lead and manage a team of permitting professionals (Levels I and II) and are accountable for team performance, workload management, and overall program delivery. Provides leadership, operational excellence, and strategic oversight while serving as the escalation point for complex permitting challenges and key client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Oversee project execution to ensure consistency, accuracy, and timeliness.
• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of permitting specialists and ensure team consistently executes project assignments and meets deadlines across the portfolio.
• Assign, prioritize, and balance workload across team members.
• Establish performance expectations, deadlines, and quality standards; Achieve strong client satisfaction (minimal escalations, positive feedback).
• Maintain and improve quality standards (low rework/ agency resubmittals)
• Serve as escalation point for complex permitting issues and agency challenges.
• Maintain and grow key client relationships at a strategic level.
• Develop and improve permitting processes, workflows, and standards with a goal of demonstrating continuous improvement in efficiency and turnaround times.
• Provide support for regulatory compliance program tasks, reporting, and major client deliverables.
• Monitor team performance and provide coaching, feedback, and development in collaboration with Permit Services Supervisor.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

We're looking for talented professionals who are eager to help lead and grow a team, while contributing to high-quality, meaningful work. If you're driven, collaborative, and ready to take the next step in your career, we want to hear from you. The following qualifications will help you succeed in this role:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor's degree in relevant field of study preferred.
• 6-8+ years of relevant experience in permitting, compliance, or related fields, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Extensive experience in architecture, planning, real estate, engineering, construction, government, or related field preferred.
• Retail petroleum / UST / air quality permitting experience (strong plus)
• Demonstrates effective utilization and billable performance
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Strong project and time management skills (client-facing).

Work Location

This is a hybrid position out of our Kent, WA office. You are expected to be in the office at least 3 days a week.

Company Overview

Core States Group is an industry-leading architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) firm trusted by many of the world's most notable brands. With 26 offices across the United States and Canada, the firm delivers speed to market, cost certainty, and compelling design for national multisite programs and projects.

Established in 1999, Core States Group drives innovation and improves everyday life for countless people across several markets, including Convenience, Distributed Generation, Financial, Grocery, Housing, Industrial, Restaurants, Retail, Semiconductor, Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Infrastructure, and more.

A Note to Candidates

Please do not be concerned if you do not meet every requirement. At Core States Group, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

This position will remain open until it is filled.