Senior Project Lead - Environmental Approvals & Strategy

Environmental Resources Management Australia Pty Limited; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM seeks a senior planning & approvals professional to lead end-to-end planning, permitting and environmental approvals projects in Australia. You will coordinate cross-disciplinary teams across ecology, heritage, air and water, risk management and client advisory services to deliver integrated outcomes.

You will shape approvals strategy, liaise with regulators, review EIA materials, manage budgets and grow key client accounts while mentoring junior staff.

Qualifications

• 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 South Australian 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory compliance

Client development

Team leadership

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree in urban planning

Job description

ERM seeks a senior planning & approvals professional to lead end-to-end planning, permitting and environmental approvals projects in Australia. You will coordinate cross-disciplinary teams across ecology, heritage, air and water, risk management and client advisory services to deliver integrated outcomes.

You will shape approvals strategy, liaise with regulators, review EIA materials, manage budgets and grow key client accounts while mentoring junior staff.