Mesabi Metallics

Produces DR-grade pellets for EAF steel.

Head of Permitting

Environmental Health & SafetyConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeIowa, USANo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, or a related discipline is required.
25–30 years of experience in environmental permitting and regulatory affairs, preferably for large industrial or manufacturing projects.
A proven track record of leading permitting for large-scale greenfield industrial projects in the United States is required.
Strong knowledge of federal and state environmental regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and related permitting frameworks is required.
Established relationships with regulatory agencies and experience navigating complex, multi-jurisdictional permitting processes are required.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent permitting workstreams under demanding project timelines is required.

Responsibilities

Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of all federal, state, and local permitting activities required for the Mesabi Integrated Steel Plant Project.
Develop and manage the overall permitting roadmap, ensuring alignment with project engineering, construction, and commissioning schedules.
Oversee preparation and submission of environmental impact assessments, air and water quality permits, wetlands and stormwater permits, and other regulatory approvals.
Engage and manage relationships with federal and state regulatory agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, state environmental agencies, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other relevant bodies.
Coordinate with environmental consulting firms, legal counsel, and engineering teams to ensure permit applications meet regulatory requirements.
Lead public engagement, stakeholder consultation, and community relations activities related to permitting processes.
Identify and mitigate permitting risks, proactively addressing potential delays or regulatory challenges.
Monitor changes in environmental regulations, policies, and compliance requirements affecting the project.
Manage permitting budgets, schedules, and consultant and contractor performance.
Prepare permitting status reports, risk assessments, and regulatory strategy updates for project leadership and senior management.
Ensure post-permit compliance planning, including monitoring, reporting, and mitigation commitments.
Build and lead a permitting team, providing technical guidance and mentorship.

Desired Qualifications

An advanced degree is preferred.
Direct experience permitting greenfield integrated steel plant or heavy industrial projects is preferred.
Familiarity with tribal consultation, cultural resource assessments, and community engagement processes for major infrastructure projects is preferred.

Role Summary:
Responsible for leading all permitting and regulatory approval activities for the Mesabi Integrated Steel Plant (ISP) Project, including environmental permitting, air/water/waste permits, and stakeholder and regulatory agency engagement. The role ensures timely and compliant permitting to support the project's development schedule.
Key Responsibilities

Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of all federal, state, and local permitting activities required for the Mesabi ISP Project.
Develop and manage the overall permitting roadmap, ensuring alignment with project engineering, construction, and commissioning schedules.
Oversee preparation and submission of environmental impact assessments, air and water quality permits, wetlands and stormwater permits, and other regulatory approvals.
Engage and manage relationships with federal and state regulatory agencies including EPA, state environmental agencies, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other relevant bodies.
Coordinate with environmental consulting firms, legal counsel, and engineering teams to ensure permit applications meet regulatory requirements.
Lead public engagement, stakeholder consultation, and community relations activities related to permitting processes.
Identify and mitigate permitting risks, proactively addressing potential delays or regulatory challenges.
Monitor changes in environmental regulations, policies, and compliance requirements affecting the project.
Manage permitting budgets, schedules, and consultant/contractor performance.
Prepare permitting status reports, risk assessments, and regulatory strategy updates for project leadership and senior management.
Ensure post-permit compliance planning, including monitoring, reporting, and mitigation commitments.
Build and lead a permitting team, providing technical guidance and mentorship.

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
25-30 years of experience in environmental permitting and regulatory affairs, preferably for large industrial or manufacturing projects.
Proven track record of leading permitting for large-scale greenfield industrial projects in the United States.
Strong knowledge of federal and state environmental regulations, including NEPA, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and related permitting frameworks.
Established relationships with regulatory agencies and experience navigating complex, multi-jurisdictional permitting processes.
Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple concurrent permitting workstreams under demanding project timelines.

Working Conditions

Based in the United States, leading permitting activities for the Mesabi ISP Project.
Regular travel to project sites, regulatory agency offices, and consultant locations as required.

Preferred Experience

Direct experience permitting greenfield integrated steel plant or heavy industrial projects.
Familiarity with tribal consultation, cultural resource assessments, and community engagement processes for major infrastructure projects.

About the Company

Mesabi Metallics

Produces DR-grade pellets for EAF steel.

Mesabi Metallics is building a large-scale iron ore mining and processing plant in Nashwauk, Minnesota, to produce Direct-Reduction (DR) grade iron ore pellets for the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel market. The plant aims to produce 7 million metric tons per year of high-iron, low-impurity DR-grade pellets, enabling domestic supply of feedstock for green steel production and reducing dependence on imported iron ore. The operation uses taconite ore beneficiation and direct-reduced iron processes in a modern pellet plant, serving the EAF segment that prefers energy-efficient, scrap-based steelmaking. The project, led by CEO Joe Broking and COO Larry Sutherland and financed by Essar Group, represents a major private investment in Minnesota and is intended to advance the region’s industrial development, support US steel supply chain security, and align with decarbonization goals through increased use of DR-grade pellets and potential green-steel pathways.

Company size: 51-200
Company stage: Debt Financing
Total funding: $1.4B
Headquarters: Minnesota, United States
Founded: 2008

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