Managing Consultant, Planner (Senior Level)

ERM is seeking a Managing Consultant, Planner in our Denver, CO or Phoenix, AZ offices to support and assist with permitting and environmental impact assessment for capital development projects.

This role will focus on renewable energy, transmission and distribution, oil and gas, and technology infrastructure projects in the Mountain West region and beyond.

The ideal candidate will have experience leading local permitting and land use processes, including but not limited to, conducting research to define permitting requirements, coordinating with local jurisdictions during permitting processes, developing permitting plans and schedules, coordinating and participating in public meetings and hearings, and developing or coordinating permit applications and required components, such as Site Plan and Comprehensive Plan consistency reviews, to support a variety of land development and infrastructure projects.

AICP credentials and experience with western natural resource issues, local permitting (including Colorado 1041 regulations) are highly desired.

In this role, you will work closely with ERM Project Managers and Partners on a variety of environmental permitting, due diligence, and impact assessment projects to support our renewable energy, oil and gas, power, and technology sector clients.

You will also participate in teams conducting National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, state-level equivalent reviews, and environmental permitting for large-scale capital projects in the western states and beyond.

This is largely an office-based role with some travel required based on client and / or project needs and expectations. 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 and contribution to the low carbon energy transition.

Our portfolio of projects are often fast-paced, multi-faceted, and geographically diverse. The position will require a candidate to work independently, and to manage teams of subject matter experts to produce permitting documents that are cohesive and fit for purpose.

Candidates must be able to manage varying priorities and tasks to meet concurrent deadlines on multiple projects.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

Manage permitting and compliance associated with 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 (NEPA), and regulations of federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, U.

S. Forest Service, Western Area Power Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and various state agencies.

Manage various aspects of the permitting process, including stakeholder engagement, documentation development, and coordination with local, state, and federal governments.

Manage and provide technical assistance on NEPA environmental assessment (EA) and environmental impact statement (EIS) projects and related activities.

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

Manage and lead the preparation of permitting documents. Overseeing project delivery activities such as report writing, data collection, data and literature review, and developing recommendations for clients.

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 degree in planning, environmental science, wetland science, geography or related natural resources science field of study.

Master’s degree in relevant field strongly preferred.

4+ years of permitting experience, with strong project experience in renewable energy or similar practice preferred. Project management and program management experience a plus.

Experience working local permitting in Colorado and Arizona is highly desired. Experience with the preparation of local permitting applications and documents related to the development of renewable energy projects.

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

Experience representing clients in public meetings and stakeholder engagement events. Strong public speaking skills are essential.

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.

Valid driver’s license and good driving record.

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.