Permits Planner - Oahu

Company: hawaiianel

We recognize our competitive advantage -- our people. We believe in our people, who share our vision of meeting the needs of our employees, customers, and communities and who carry out the continued success of the company.

Our employees are committed to the company's foundational values: integrity, excellence, teamwork, environmental stewardship, and community commitment. In turn, we invest in our employees, providing opportunities for challenge and advancement and offering a competitive compensation package.

BRIEF POSTING DESCRIPTION:

The P TA TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION ENGINEERING ADMIN Department of the H ENGINEERING Division at Hawaiian Electric Company has 1 Management vacancy available. (Role: Professional)

JOB FUNCTION:

Serves as the Company’s expert on land use permits and approvals. Obtains governmental permits and approvals for T&D and generation capital projects on a timely basis by ensuring all application requirements are met and by fostering and maintaining positive relationships with governmental agencies. Manages all incoming requests and proposed permitting/policy changes by government agencies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Provides advice/guidance/recommendations to project personnel in government permit/approval requirements and lead times and use of policies involving cost sharing of government-related projects.
2. Fosters and maintains positive working relationships with federal, state and county agencies and their employees tasked with processing permit/approval applications. Expedites approval process. Ensures that HECO processes government requests in a timely manner.
3. Administers policies, procedures, and requirements to obtain governmental permits and approvals. Serves on task forces and committees with State and County government agencies and other utilities. Works with government agencies on proposed changes to existing statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, engineering and land use policies, sustainable community and development plans affecting permits and approvals. Manages internal review of proposed changes, prepares HECO’s position and negotiates with government agencies.
4. Reviews and monitors proposed Hawaii State Legislature and Honolulu City Council bills and ordinances related to land use permits and approvals and other issues. Drafts written testimony and testifies on behalf of HECO, HELCO, and MECO as needed.
5. Reviews permit/approval applications, use and occupancy and utility agreements (submittals, documents, drawings, and application forms shall be prepared by project personnel), makes necessary changes, and submits to the appropriate governmental agency. Tracks the progress of each application, communicates, and negotiates with government agencies, and provides regular status reports to project personnel.
6. Works with outside consultants hired to supplement and/or support the work of the section.
7. Participates in Company emergency response activities as assigned, including any activities required to prepare for such emergency response.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge Requirements

1. Thorough knowledge of government permit and approval requirements.
2. Working knowledge of Federal, State and City laws, ordinances, statutes, regulations and procedures related to permits and approvals.
3. Working knowledge of personal computers and/or mainframe systems and related software applications such as: Excel spreadsheets, MS Word, MIMS, etc.
4. Willing to learn and apply LEAN continuous improvement principles and best practices to achieve operational excellence.
5. Willing to learn and apply SafeStart principles and best practices to achieve a safe workplace environment.
6. Registration in Hawaii as a Professional Engineer or certified as a Planner by a nationally recognized professional society such as the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), highly desired.

Skills Requirements

1. Ability to handle difficult and/or sensitive issues while using tact, courtesy and discretion.
2. Excellent written, oral, and presentation skills.
3. Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills to influence, motivate, and persuade various groups or individuals.
4. Supervisory/leadership skills and abilities to work with a variety of individuals occasionally dealing with sensitive, difficult, or confrontational issue.
5. In-depth analytical and computational skills.
6. Ability to remain flexible in a demanding work environment and adapt to rapidly changing priorities.
7. Ability to conceptualize new ideas quickly.
8. Must have or be able to qualify for a State of Hawaii driver's license. Must meet the standards for frequent required driving positions stated in the Hiring Standards for Required Driving Positions policy.

Experience Requirements

1. Several (5-7) years experience dealing with governmental permits and approvals and the associated laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, or engineering and land use policies.

Role: Professional

Number of Vacancies: 1

Hiring Range: The hiring range for the Permits Planner (Req ID 9160) position is $85,700.00 to $109,300.00. The person selected will be placed according to his/her skills and qualifications.

About Hawaiian Electric Companies
Hawaiian Electric Companies provide electricity and services to 95 percent of the state's 1.4 million residents. The company is also one of the state's leading employers and a major contributor and supporter of community and educational programs.

The demand for power that has fueled the growth of the Hawaiian Islands has been met by Hawaiian Electric Companies for well over a century. And as the next millennium unfolds, the company is committed to providing quality service and seeking clean local energy sources to power generations of Hawaii families and businesses to come. Visit us at

Interested individuals should apply online. The application must clearly indicate the demonstrated experience/knowledge/skills/abilities the candidate possesses which specifically qualifies him/her for the position.

Applicant Certification
By submitting an application for the position, candidates:
1. Authorize the Hawaiian Electric Companies to confirm all statements contained in the application and/or any materials submitted and made a part of the application as they relate to the position and to the extent permitted by law;
2. Authorize and consent to, without reservation, the Hawaiian Electric Companies sharing any and all information regarding previous or present employment, educational training or personal information from their records and from any other source with the hiring department or subsidiary company;
3. Release, discharge, and hold harmless, Hawaiian Electric Companies, from any and all liability for any damage which may be claimed as a result of furnishing such information to the hiring department or subsidiary company;
4. Authorizes release and transfer of all personnel records to be maintained by the hiring company in the event of an inter-company transfer; and
5. Authorize, direct, and consent to Hawaiian Electric Companies and/or its authorized agents to conduct investigations into candidates' background. These investigations may include, but are not limited to searches for information about applicants; record of criminal convictions to the extent permitted by law, education records, professional certifications, personal character references, and employment history.

EEO Statement
Hawaiian Electric Companies is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. We actively seek diversity among our employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex/gender (including gender identity/expression), ancestry/national origin, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, sexual orientation, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, or other protected categories in accordance with state and federal laws. We further encourage individuals with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply.

Hawaiian Electric Companies complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Any request for reasonable accommodation needed during the application process should be communicated by the candidate to the HR Service Center at (808) 543-4848.

Affiliate Disclaimer
Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Maui Electric Company, and Hawaii Electric Light (“Company”) are Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”) regulated companies. The disclosure relating to Affiliate Transaction Requirements that follows is made pursuant to the PUC’s Decision and Order No. 35962, issued on December 19, 2018, and subsequently modified by Order No. 36112, issued on January 24, 2019 in Docket No. 2018-0065.
By submitting your application, you understand and acknowledge that, if you are hired by the Company and subsequently transferred, assigned or otherwise employed by an Affiliate, said Affiliate will be required to make a one-time payment to the Company in an amount up to twenty-five percent (25%) of your base annual compensation.
In addition, if you are hired by the Company and subsequently transferred, assigned or otherwise employed by an Affiliate or an Affiliate-Related Entity, for a period of one year, you cannot appear in negotiations or otherwise interact directly with the Company or work on the same matter that you worked on while with the Company.