Managing Consultant - Environmental Planning

ERM International Group; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM International Group in Melbourne is seeking a Managing Consultant to lead environmental planning projects across statutory planning, permitting and licensing. You will manage scope, budgets and risk while coordinating multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-impact EIA and approvals for major infrastructure and resources projects.

You will act as a trusted adviser to clients, shaping approvals strategies and translating complex regulations into practical guidance, with accountability for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Science, Environmental Management or related discipline.
• 7+ years' experience in statutory planning, environmental permitting/licensing or impact assessment, preferably in consulting.
• Proven project management skills including programmes, budgets and multidisciplinary inputs.
• Strong client liaison skills with regulators/government agencies.
• Experience contributing to proposals and client development.
• Knowledge of Victorian and Commonwealth planning/environmental law.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to produce clear technical documents.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, permitting and approvals projects from start to finish, managing scope, programme and budget.
• Provide technical direction and reviews across ecology, heritage, noise, air, contaminated land, hydrogeology, climate and sustainability.
• Advise clients on approvals strategies and translate regulatory requirements into actionable guidance.
• Build senior relationships with regulators and agencies to keep projects moving.
• Review and sign off planning reports, permit and licence applications and EIA documentation.
• Lead proposals and scopes, set fees and grow key client accounts with Partners.
• Mentor and develop junior staff, assigning work and supporting career growth.

Skills

Statutory planning

Environmental permitting

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory knowledge

Proposal development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning or Environmental discipline

Job description

Ready to step up and lead the projects shaping Australia's future? As our energy, resources and infrastructure portfolio continues to surge, ERM is looking for a Managing Consultant in Environmental Planning to join our dynamic team in Melbourne. This is your chance to take the driver's seat on projects that matter, from offshore wind to mining, to the major infrastructure powering the energy transition, you'll be working with clients who are redefining what's possible.

You'll work across statutory planning, environmental permitting and licensing, with plenty of opportunity to get stuck into environmental impact assessment (EIA) on large, complex and high-profile projects. ERM partners with major clients across renewables, offshore infrastructure, major utilities, transport, resources and industry, so no two projects (or weeks) look the same. You'll also tap into ERM's global Impact Assessment Technical Community, sharing best practice on industry-leading projects across Australia and internationally.

What you’ll do:

• Lead and take accountability for planning, permitting and approvals projects from start to finish, owning scope, programme, budget and project risk.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and provide technical direction and quality review of outputs, bringing together ERM's ecology, heritage, noise, air quality, contaminated land, hydrogeology, and climate change and sustainability specialists to deliver integrated, high-quality outcomes.
• Act as a trusted adviser to clients, shaping approvals strategy and translating complex regulatory requirements into clear, practical advice.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with regulators and agencies, and negotiate approval pathways to keep projects moving.
• Review and sign off planning reports, permit and licence applications and EIA documentation, while still contributing technically where needed.
• Lead proposals and scopes, set fees and grow key client accounts alongside the Partner group.
• Supervise, mentor and develop junior staff, including allocating work and contributing to their performance and career growth.

What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Science, Environmental Management or a related discipline.
• 7+ years' experience in statutory planning, environmental permitting and licensing, environmental approvals or impact assessment, ideally in consulting.
• Proven project management and coordination skills, including managing programmes, budgets, deliverables and multidisciplinary inputs.
• Confident client liaison and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working with regulators and government agencies.
• Experience contributing to or leading proposals and client development
• Sound working knowledge of Victorian and Commonwealth planning and environmental legislation (or demonstrated capacity to learn).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare and review clear, persuasive technical documents.
• A proactive, organised and solutions-focused approach, and the ability to juggle competing priorities with energy and good humour.
• Authorisation to work in Australia.

Who We Are:

As the world's leading sustainability consulting firm, ERM is uniquely positioned to contribute to the environment and society through the expertise and energy of our employees worldwide. Sustainability is what we do and is at the heart of both our service offerings and how we operate our business. For our people, our vision means attracting, inspiring, developing and rewarding our people to work with the best clients and on the biggest challenges, thus creating valuable careers. We achieve our vision in a sustainable manner by maintaining and living our ERM beliefs that include Together we Challenge, Expertise is our Superpower, and Impact Ignites us.

Thank you for your interest in ERM.