Permitting & Compliance Officer

The Permitting & Compliance Officer is responsible for managing, coordinating, monitoring, and facilitating all permits, licenses, clearances, registrations, and regulatory requirements necessary for the successful development of renewable energy projects during the pre-development and development stages.

The role will coordinate closely with government agencies, local government units (LGUs), landowners, communities, consultants, project development teams, and internal departments to ensure that all regulatory, environmental, land, technical, and statutory requirements are properly identified, submitted, secured, monitored, and maintained. The position will establish and maintain a comprehensive Permits and Compliance Matrix, monitor application timelines and conditions, identify regulatory risks, and ensure that project activities remain compliant with applicable Philippine laws, regulations, permits, and government requirements.

The role shall support renewable energy projects including solar PV, wind, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and other renewable energy developments from site identification through development, permitting, and readiness for construction.

Key Responsibilities

1. Permitting Strategy & Regulatory Planning

• Develop and maintain the overall permitting strategy and permitting roadmap for renewable energy projects.
• Identify all permits, licenses, clearances, certificates, endorsements, registrations, and approvals required for project development.
• Prepare and maintain a detailed Permitting and Compliance Matrix, including:
• Permit/approval requirement
• Issuing agency
• Application requirements
• Responsible person/department
• Submission date
• Target approval date
• Status
• Validity/expiry date
• Permit conditions
• Renewal requirements
• Monitor changes in Philippine laws, regulations, policies, and government procedures affecting renewable energy projects.
• Advise the Project Development Team regarding permitting requirements, regulatory risks, and potential project constraints.

2. Government & Regulatory Agency Coordination

Coordinate and facilitate applications, consultations, inspections, meetings, and follow-ups with relevant government agencies and authorities, as applicable, including:

• Department of Energy (DOE)
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
• Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)
• (NCIP)
• Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
• Department of Agriculture (DA)
• Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
• (NWRB)
• (NHCP), when applicable
• Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), where applicable
• (NGCP), where applicable
• (NEA), where applicable
• Local Government Units (Provincial, City/Municipal and Barangay)
• Other government agencies and regulatory bodies relevant to the project.

3. Renewable Energy Project Permitting

Support the permitting and regulatory requirements associated with:

• Renewable Energy Service Contract (RESC) or other applicable DOE requirements
• Renewable Energy Development and related DOE approvals
• Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)
• Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC), when applicable
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and related environmental documentation
• Tree-cutting and/or earth-balling permits, when applicable
• Wildlife-related clearances and permits, when applicable
• Water permits and related NWRB requirements
• Discharge permits and other environmental permits
• Hazardous Waste Generator registration, when applicable
• Permit to Operate for applicable pollution control facilities/equipment
• Land-use and zoning clearances
• Development permits and locational clearances
• Building and construction-related permits, as applicable
• Barangay, municipal/city and provincial permits
• Fire Safety-related permits and clearances
• Road access and road-opening permits, where applicable
• Other permits and clearances required for project development.

4. Land & Site Development Compliance

• Coordinate with the Land Acquisition Team to identify regulatory requirements affecting project land.
• Support verification of land-use classifications, zoning, agricultural classification, protected areas, forest land, ancestral domains, and other land restrictions.
• Coordinate requirements relating to:
• Land conversion
• Land reclassification
• Zoning
• Locational clearance
• DAR requirements
• NCIP requirements
• Protected areas
• Forest land
• Water bodies and easements
• Road and transmission-line corridors
• Identify potential permitting constraints before land acquisition or project investment decisions.
• Review available land and regulatory documents to identify potential risks to project development.

5. Environmental Compliance

• Coordinate environmental studies and permitting activities with environmental consultants.
• Monitor the preparation and submission of environmental documentation.
• Facilitate ECC/CNC applications and related environmental regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with DENR/EMB and other relevant environmental authorities.
• Ensure compliance with conditions and commitments stated in environmental permits and approvals.
• Maintain environmental permitting records and supporting documentation.
• Monitor environmental compliance risks that may affect project development schedules.

6. LGU & Community Coordination

• Coordinate with provincial, municipal/city, and barangay authorities regarding project permitting requirements.
• Facilitate meetings, consultations, inspections, and presentations with LGUs and other stakeholders.
• Support community engagement activities related to permitting and project development.
• Coordinate barangay and local government endorsements and certifications.
• Maintain professional relationships with government officials and local stakeholders.
• Escalate regulatory or community issues that may affect project timelines.

7. Compliance Monitoring

• Maintain a centralized compliance tracker for all project permits and regulatory commitments.
• Monitor permit validity, renewal dates, conditions, reporting obligations, and compliance deadlines.
• Conduct periodic compliance reviews to identify gaps and overdue requirements.
• Prepare corrective action plans for identified compliance gaps.
• Escalate significant regulatory risks to the Project Development Manager and Management.
• Ensure proper documentation and evidence of compliance.

8. Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain complete and organized records of permits, licenses, applications, endorsements, approvals, correspondence, and government communications.
• Prepare weekly and monthly permitting status reports.
• Provide management with updates on:
• Permit application status
• Delays
• Regulatory risks
• Pending government requirements
• Upcoming deadlines
• Required management actions
• Prepare permitting dashboards and project development compliance reports.
• Ensure that all regulatory documents are properly controlled and accessible.

9. Consultant & Third-Party Management

• Coordinate with environmental, engineering, legal, land, and permitting consultants.
• Monitor consultants deliverables, schedules, and regulatory submissions.
• Review permitting-related documents for completeness and consistency before submission.
• Coordinate government comments and ensure timely responses.
• Track consultant performance against agreed schedules and deliverables.

10. Project Development Support

• Participate in project site due diligence and development planning.
• Provide permitting input during site selection and feasibility assessment.
• Identify regulatory constraints that may affect:
• Project capacity
• Project layout
• Land availability
• Transmission interconnection
• Construction schedule
• Environmental viability
• Project cost
• Commercial operation timeline
• Support preparation of project development schedules and investment documentation.
• Provide permitting assumptions and risks for project feasibility studies.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Engineering, Legal Management, Public Administration, Political Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Additional training or certification in environmental management, permitting, regulatory compliance, or project development is an advantage.

Experience

• At least 3–5 years of relevant experience in permitting, regulatory affairs, environmental compliance, project development, government relations, or a related field.
• Experience in renewable energy, power generation, infrastructure, construction, real estate development, or EPC projects is highly preferred.
• Experience handling permits and government applications in the Philippines is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with DOE, DENR/EMB, LGUs, NCIP, DAR, NWRB, ERC, NGCP, or other government agencies is an advantage.
• Experience in pre-development or greenfield renewable energy projects is highly desirable.