Permitting Manager

About OceanIQ: OceanIQ, a leading division of the Global Marine Group, provides world-class data services, subsea route engineering, and permitting and survey support to the global subsea cable industry. We enable the development and maintenance of vital subsea infrastructure with a focus on quality, safety, innovation, and environmental responsibility.

Purpose: The Permitting Manager is responsible for securing the necessary approvals, licences, and permits for the installation, operation, and maintenance of subsea cable systems globally. Working at the intersection of technical delivery and regulatory compliance, the Permitting Manager plays a pivotal role in enabling project success by ensuring all permitting requirements are met efficiently and in accordance with local, national, and international regulations. This role requires close collaboration with internal stakeholders (such as project management, route engineering, and commercial teams), as well as external parties including regulatory authorities, governmental bodies, and subcontracted permitting agents.

Key Deliverables:

• Permit Acquisition & Management: Lead the end-to-end permitting process for submarine cable projects, including application, follow-up, and acquisition of all necessary construction, installation, and operational permits. Manage permitting activities either directly or through coordination with subcontractors or in-country agents. Ensure all ship operational permitting requirements are identified and met in alignment with project timelines.
• Technical & Strategic Support: Provide expert permitting input into Route Engineering and Desk Top Studies (DTS) to support route selection and risk mitigation. Support the sales and bidding process by providing permitting assessments, estimates, and delivery strategies.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Develop and maintain strong, professional relationships with permitting authorities, government departments, maritime and environmental agencies, and relevant industry stakeholders. Act as the key liaison between OceanIQ and regulatory bodies throughout the lifecycle of each project.
• Process Improvement & Best Practice: Lead internal feedback loops and contribute to lessons learned processes to drive continuous improvement in permitting practices and delivery efficiency. Maintain awareness of emerging legislation and regulatory changes that could impact permitting strategy or project delivery.
• Data Management: Manage and update the company’s Permitting Database to ensure all records are current, accurate, and accessible for project teams. Generate reports and insights from permitting data to support project tracking and compliance audits.
• Subcontractor Oversight: Select, contract, and manage third-party permitting subcontractors and agents, ensuring high standards of delivery and compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements.
• Capability Development: Contribute to the ongoing development of OceanIQ’s global permitting capability by mentoring junior staff, identifying training needs, and supporting internal knowledge sharing.

Required:

• Proven experience in a permitting, regulatory affairs, or environmental compliance role within the offshore telecommunications, energy or subsea engineering sectors. Suitable onshore regulatory permitting experience will also be considered.
• Strong understanding of international and national regulatory environments relevant to subsea cable systems.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Experience managing third-party contractors or agents.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and effective project management skills.
• Experience of researching and compiling reports on legislation and permitting processes.
• Good communication and presentation skills, including ability to communicate and negotiate with a wide range of people and organisations; and awareness of, and sensitivity to, international cultural differences.
• Competent user of Microsoft office suite.
• Willingness to travel internationally.

Ideal:

• Background in marine engineering, environmental science, or a related technical field.
• A full understanding of the permitting needs within the submarine telecoms industry.
• Familiarity with GIS tools and permitting databases.
• Experience working on international projects with complex, multi-jurisdictional permitting requirements.
• Ability to get others on side and behind you to get the results the department needs.

This role is based in our Chelmsford Head Office 3 days a week (Tuesday to Thursday) with the other 2 days working from home. Full time home working will also be considered. To ensure our organisation complies with immigration rules, all candidates must provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK when applying. Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor candidates on student visas. If you do not hear from us within two weeks, please assume that your application has not been successful.