Technical Director - Contaminated Land Management

Environmental Resources Management (ERM); Lausanne; On-site; CHF 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Workcation

Pension contributions

Corporate benefits

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Principal Technical Consultant or Technical Director to lead contaminated land management projects across Switzerland and Europe. The role focuses on hydrogeology, site investigation, and remediation strategy, with responsibility for technical quality and client relationships.

You will mentor teams, develop best practices, and drive growth in the remediation and site investigation service line, including German-speaking markets.

Qualifications

• Min. Master’s Degree in Hydrogeology, Geology, Environmental Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of environmental consulting experience in Switzerland focusing on groundwater, contaminated sites and remediation.
• Expertise in hydrogeological modeling, contaminant fate and transport, remediation technology selection and design, regulatory framework in Switzerland.
• Proven track record managing and overseeing large, complex consulting projects.
• Strong client-facing skills and experience advising senior stakeholders.
• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary project teams and coach junior consultants.
• Fluent in French and English; German is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership: lead complex soil, groundwater and environmental remediation projects with guidance on models and CSM.
• Oversee investigation programs, risk assessments, feasibility studies and remediation designs.
• Project & Client Management: act as principal-in-charge for high-value projects, manage budget/scope/timeline.
• Team & Practice Development: mentor junior consultants and develop best practices and technical standards.
• Support growth of remediation and site investigation services across Switzerland, including German-speaking regions.

Skills

Hydrogeology

Groundwater

Remediation

Hydrogeological modeling

Regulatory framework (Switzerland)

Education

Master’s Degree in Hydrogeology (or related field)

Job description

Principal Technical Consultant / Technical Director - Contaminated Land Management (Altlasten/Sites Pollués)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Principal Technical Consultant or Technical Director with deep technical expertise in environmental site investigation and remediation, and a strong background in hydrogeology. In this senior leadership role, you will serve as a technical authority and strategic advisor for complex site investigation, soil and groundwater contamination, and remediation projects across Switzerland and Europe. You will drive project excellence, assure high quality of deliverables, mentor our consulting teams, and support key client relationships across multiple sectors. This position is ideal for a seasoned consultant who combines expert-level technical depth with client-facing consulting skills and the ability to lead large, multidisciplinary assignments.

Your Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

Serve as the technical lead for complex soil, groundwater, and environmental remediation projects. Provide technical guidance on hydrogeological models, conceptual site models (CSM) and remedial strategy selection. Oversee the development and review of investigation programs, risk assessments, feasibility studies, and remediation designs. Ensure technical quality, regulatory compliance, and methodological excellence across all project phases.

Project & Client Management

Act as principal-in-charge for high-value projects, ensuring budget, scope, and timeline performance. Advise industrial, corporate, and private equity clients on legacy liabilities, remediation strategies, and environmental risk mitigation. Build and maintain long-term client relationships and identify opportunities for business growth.

Team & Practice Development

Mentor, guide, and develop junior and mid-level consultants in environmental site investigation, remediation and hydrogeology. Drive internal knowledge building and contribute to the development of best practices and technical standards. Support the growth of our remediation and site investigation service line across Switzerland with focus on the German speaking part.

Your Profile

• Min. Master’s Degree in Hydrogeology, Geology, Environmental Engineering, or related field
• Strong multi-year (10+) experience in environmental consulting in Switzerland with a clear focus on groundwater, contaminated sites, and remediation.
• Proven expertise in: Hydrogeological modeling, Contaminant fate and transport and fate, Remediation technology selection and design, Regulatory framework in Switzerland
• Strong track record in managing and overseeing large, complex consulting projects.
• Demonstrated client-facing skills and experience advising senior stakeholders.
• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary project teams and coach junior consultants.
• Fluent in French and English, German is a strong plus

What We Offer

A senior position with significant autonomy and the opportunity to shape strategic direction within our site investigation and remediation practice. Complex and high-impact projects in Switzerland and across Europe. A collaborative, international environment with world-wide experts across environmental, engineering, and sustainability disciplines. Professional development opportunities, including leadership programs and advanced technical training.

• A multitude of benefits including workcation, pension contributions, corporate benefits and more.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

ERM is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive; it's an essential part of what makes ERM a great place to build a career and helps us create better solutions for our clients.

We welcome talent from all backgrounds and provide equal opportunities for every candidate.

If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or need accommodations during the selection process, we're here to support you.

Our commitment doesn’t stop at hiring. Once you join us, we’ll ensure you have the tools, support, and adjustments needed to succeed and feel a true sense of belonging.

Learn more about our Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (DIB) efforts by visiting our website or exploring our 2026 Sustainability Report.

About ERM

At ERM, sustainability is our business. We are the world’s largest advisory firm focused solely on sustainability, offering unparalleled expertise across business and finance. ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, through our unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities. Our diverse global team of experts works with the world’s leading organizations to help them set clear sustainability targets, measure progress and operationalize strategy through deep implementation and business transformation. With more than 50 years of experience, our ability to integrate sustainability solutions and our depth and breadth of technical knowledge are why organizations choose to partner with us as their trusted advisor. Every one of us firmly believes in the potential to create value for our clients through an integrated approach to sustainability (because we have personally seen it and professionally achieved it). Our team members are passionate about client service. We work closely with our clients to help them operationalize their sustainability goals and meet their environmental, health and safety objectives while advancing ERM’s purpose through delivering tangible progress in what the United Nations coined The Decade of Action. Organizing our people across globally integrated communities of technical and strategic talent positions ERM to be a boots to boardroom leader in bringing that value creation to our clients, partners, and the world. We recruit exceptional professionals with a personal and professional passion for sustainability and nurture them to even greater success as specialists. We prepare our consultants to bring integrated, innovative and sustainable solutions to our clients and provide opportunities for ongoing development across a variety of subject areas related to technical, business, and personal growth. At ERM, effort pays off and becomes career defining work that leaves a positive imprint on our planet.