ERM is seeking a Senior Planner, Impact Assessment and Permitting in our Richmond, VA office to support and assist with environmental impact assessment and permitting for electric transmission projects, renewable energy facilities and other major capital development projects across the United States. ERM is the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy. We partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

As part of ERM’s planning team you will be leading on securing permits and providing technical leadership and advice across a wide range of industries and market sectors. You will be responsible for working with the world’s leading organizations on the delivery of large complex projects and initiatives.

This position will focus primarily on environmental impact assessment and federal, state and local permitting to facilitate the development, construction, and operation new energy infrastructure in the Mid-Atlantic and across North America. Our portfolio of projects are often fast-paced, multi-faceted, and geographically diverse with clients developing facilities ranging from new transmission lines to utility-scale renewable energy projects. The position will require a candidate to work both independently and with teams of subject matter experts, so successful candidate must have the ability to manage varying priorities and multiple tasks while forging a cohesive delivery team to meet concurrent deadlines on multiple projects. This is an excellent opportunity for an environmental professional looking to advance their career with a global environmental leader and be part of ERM’s continuing growth in the renewable energy sector.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage and perform complex permitting and compliance associated with electric transmission and renewable energy development projects with an emphasis on local, state, and federal permitting, including but not limited to compliance associated with the National Environmental Policy Act, and regulations of federal agencies such as U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state-level agencies.


• Manage and lead the preparation of permitting documents for infrastructure/energy/industrial facility development, expansion, maintenance, or decommissioning, with a focus on local permitting. Overseeing project delivery activities such as report writing, data collection, data and literature review, and developing recommendations for clients.


• Manage preparation of discipline-specific reports, permitting documents, NEPA documents, and state-level environmental reviews consistent with applicable federal, state and local regulatory requirements. Serve in roles ranging from project manager, task manager, technical expert, and QA/QC of deliverables.


• Contribute technical, subject matter or project management expertise on permitting strategies, due diligence reviews, environmental critical issues assessments, impact assessment deliverables, and overall quality control review.


• Prepare technical proposals and participate in business development with existing clients and identified leads as well as help to expand our growing renewable projects and team.


• Manage and work within quality/budget/schedule expectations and scope-specific assignments.


• Collaborate with other ERM practitioners to execute impact assessment and capital project permitting (ERM services broadly include baseline studies, environmental impact assessment, routing studies, land planning, and facility siting & permitting).

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelors or Master’s degree in environmental studies, environmental management, wetland science, land use planning, geography or related natural resources science field of study.


• At least 8 to 10 years of project management, licensing and permitting experience, including strong project experience in renewable energy or similar practice.


• Experience preparing NEPA-type documents for federal and/or state agencies, and providing strategic-level IAP support.


• Experience with federal, state, and local permitting, in particular with the preparation of applications and documents related to the development of electric infrastructure or renewable energy projects. 


• Experience assisting clients in obtaining multi-media permits and approvals for new or expanded facilities.


• Experience overseeing and coordinating desktop and online studies or research on natural resource or resource planning topics, Geographic Information System, map interpretation (National Wetland Inventory, U.S. Geological Survey, aerial photography).


• Demonstrated ability to research and prepare concise and accurate technical documents including presentation of findings to clients, stakeholders, and/or regulatory agencies.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and organization/analytical skills; experience recording/writing detailed technical data and reports.


• Ability to multi-task, maintain flexibility, travel, and work independently with minimal supervision.


• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop team members – excellent people skills, responsive, collaborative, versatile, effective in a fast-paced environment, and service-oriented.


• Driver's License Required: This position requires a valid driver's license and/or the ability to operate a company vehicle due to the nature of job duties, which include frequent travel to various client locations across a large geographical area.

Who We Are:

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world-class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues. We call this capability our “boots to boardroom” approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level.

Please submit your resume and brief cover letter. 

ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, ERM employees or any other company location. ERM is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. 

Thank you for your interest in ERM!