Well Permitting Specalist

About the role

The Well Permitting Specialist is part of Fervo's Land, Environment, and Permitting team, responsible for managing the planning, permitting, and regulatory compliance of geothermal well drilling activities across Fervo's exploration, appraisal, development, and commercial operations portfolio. This position is responsible for obtaining and maintaining all state and federal drilling authorizations required for geothermal wells, ensuring compliance with permit conditions throughout drilling and well completion, and serving as the primary interface between project teams and regulatory agencies.

Working closely with Drilling, Completions, Construction, Surveying, Environmental, and Land teams, the Well Permitting Specialist develops permitting strategies that support aggressive project schedules while ensuring safe, compliant, and environmentally responsible geothermal development. The role oversees the complete lifecycle of well permits—from early project planning through drilling, testing, completion, production, injection, suspension, plugging, and long-term regulatory compliance. Strong communication, project management, organizational, and leadership skills are required, as this position will regularly coordinate across internal and external stakeholders, present permitting initiatives to management, and help drive continuous improvement of Fervo's well permitting and compliance programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop permitting strategies that support exploration, appraisal, injection, monitoring, production, and commercial geothermal well development.
• Prepare and submit complete drilling permit applications to state and federal agencies.
• Coordinate permit sequencing with project schedules, drilling programs, and construction milestones.
• Identify permitting risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize impacts to project schedules.
• Maintain a comprehensive permitting schedule and forecast for active and future drilling programs.
• Coordinate regulatory agency meetings and technical reviews, respond to agency requests for additional information, and negotiate permit conditions where appropriate.
• Maintain positive working relationships with regulatory personnel.
• Review technical information, including drilling programs, casing and cementing programs, blowout prevention (BOP) specifications, directional drilling plans, well location plats, surface use plans, and other plans / programs associated with well development.
• Ensure drilling operations comply with all permit conditions and regulatory requirements, and manage permit amendments as drilling programs evolve.
• Develop systems to track permit obligations, reporting deadlines, inspections, and regulatory commitments.
• Coordinate responses to agency inspections and compliance reviews.
• Support internal compliance audits and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage permitting consultants and technical contractors and review consultant work products for technical accuracy and regulatory compliance.
• Manage consultant budgets and schedules.
• Develop internal guidance documents and best practices.
• Provide regulatory training to project teams.
• Maintain complete regulatory records for all well permits.
• Develop standardized permitting templates and procedures.

Qualifications

Required

• Engineering, Geology, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Planning, or a related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of permitting or regulatory experience supporting energy, mining, oil & gas, geothermal, or other large infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and obtaining drilling permits from state and/or federal regulatory agencies.
• Strong understanding of geothermal drilling operations and well development.
• Excellent organizational, communication, project management, and stakeholder coordination skills.
• Self-starter capable of managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Commitment to environmental stewardship, regulatory excellence, and responsible energy development.
• Ability to travel approximately 25% to project sites throughout the western United States.

Preferred

• 3+ years of team management experience is preferred.
• Geothermal well permitting experience with the BLM (43 CFR Parts 3200–3280) and/or state geothermal regulatory agencies (Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, or New Mexico).
• Professional Engineer (PE), Professional Geologist (PG), or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is desirable.

Location

Fervo has offices in Houston, TX; Golden, CO; Reno, NV; Oakland, CA; and Salt Lake City, UT. The preferred location for this role is Reno, with alternative options in Houston or Salt Lake City. Approximately 25% travel will be required to support field operations and regulatory engagement throughout the western United States.