Sr. Manager, Permitting & Licensing

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Manager, Permitting & Licensing oversees the acquisition, renewal, maintenance, and compliance of licenses, permits, registrations, and regulatory approvals required to support the Company's retail, restaurant, hospitality, manufacturing, and related business operations. Reporting to the Legal Department, this individual contributor role serves as the primary subject matter expert for permitting and licensing compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

This position partners closely with Legal, Real Estate, Construction, Facilities, Restaurant Operations, Store Operations, Manufacturing Operations, Risk Management, Finance, and external regulatory agencies to support new store openings, remodels, operational changes, acquisitions, and ongoing business activities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Licensing & Regulatory Compliance

• Manage the full lifecycle of business licenses, permits, registrations, and regulatory approvals for retail, restaurant, hospitality, manufacturing, and support operations.
• Ensure timely renewal and maintenance of all required licenses and permits to support uninterrupted business operations.
• Monitor and interpret federal, state, and local licensing and permitting requirements and communicate related obligations to business partners.
• Maintain centralized licensing records, compliance documentation, and regulatory correspondence.
• Conduct periodic compliance reviews and audits to identify and mitigate regulatory risks.
• Develop and implement standardized licensing and permitting processes and controls.

Liquor Licensing Administration

• Manage all alcoholic beverage licensing activities, including applications, renewals, transfers, ownership changes, and location modifications.
• Coordinate with Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) agencies and local licensing authorities.
• Track compliance deadlines, reporting requirements, and license restrictions.
• Partner with restaurant and operational leaders to ensure compliance with alcohol-related regulations and licensing requirements.
• Support investigations, audits, inspections, and regulatory inquiries related to alcohol licensing.

Food Service & Restaurant Licensing

• Manage food establishment permits, health department licenses, food service certifications, and related regulatory approvals.
• Coordinate licensing and permitting activities for new restaurant openings, remodels, and operational changes.
• Support health department inspections and regulatory reviews.
• Partner with restaurant operations and food safety teams to ensure ongoing regulatory compliance.
• Maintain awareness of regulatory developments affecting food service and restaurant operations.

Permitting & Development Support

• Coordinate permitting activities associated with new openings, relocations, remodels, restaurant expansions, manufacturing projects, and capital projects.
• Manage applications and approvals for building permits, occupancy permits, signage permits, fire department approvals, manufacturing-related permits, and other operational permits.
• Track permitting status and proactively address issues that may impact project timelines.
• Serve as a key stakeholder throughout the development process to identify and resolve permitting requirements.

Legal & Regulatory Risk Management

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Company and regulatory agencies regarding permitting and licensing matters.
• Partner with Legal to evaluate regulatory requirements, mitigate compliance risks, and support regulatory investigations or disputes.
• Track legislative and regulatory developments impacting licensing and permitting obligations.
• Prepare reports, compliance summaries, and risk assessments for Legal and business leadership.
• Assist with due diligence activities related to acquisitions, new business initiatives, and operational expansions.
• ALL OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Legal Studies, Public Administration, Hospitality Management, Real Estate, Construction Management, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in permitting licensing, regulatory compliance, legal operations, or related functions.
• Experience managing liquor licensing, food service licensing, manufacturing-related permits, and business licensing requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks affecting retail, restaurant, and manufacturing operations.<