Consulting Associate, Land & Right of Way

ERM; Rolling Meadows (IL); On-site; USD 68,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical, dental, vision

401(k)

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Consulting Associate, Land & Right of Way, to support electric transmission and distribution projects across the Upper Midwest. You will assist with land rights, title research, negotiations, and permit support while coordinating with project managers, landowners, and regulatory stakeholders.

This early-career role offers hands-on experience in a global sustainability leader. Required a recently graduated or up to 1 year of experience, with strong communication and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or Master's degree preferred but not required; in lieu of a degree, candidates with applicable related experience will be considered, or equivalent experience.
• Recent graduate to 1 year of professional experience.
• Ability to manage changing priorities and multiple assignments while contributing to a cohesive team environment and meeting concurrent project deadlines.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and subject matter experts.
• Basic understanding of project accounting, cost tracking, invoicing, or experience supporting project administration or task management functions.
• Strong communication, organization, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Support project delivery activities across multiple client engagements.
• Facilitate landowner outreach, negotiations, and agreement execution efforts.
• Assist with title research, land rights documentation, and project reporting.
• Coordinate with project managers, clients, landowners, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Monitor project budgets, schedules, and deliverables.
• Contribute to business development and proposal preparation efforts.

Education

Bachelor's degree and/or Master's degree preferred but not required; in lieu of a degree, candidates with applicable related experience will be considered, or equivalent experience.

Job description

Launch Your Career in Land & Right of Way Consulting with a Global Sustainability Leader

ERM is seeking a motivated Consulting Associate, Land & Right of Way based in the Upper Midwest to support projects primarily within the electric transmission and distribution industry. In this role, you will work alongside experienced professionals to help deliver critical infrastructure projects, support land acquisition activities, and facilitate successful outcomes for clients across a wide range of industry sectors. This is an exciting opportunity for an early-career professional to build valuable technical, project, and stakeholder management experience while contributing to projects that enable the development and maintenance of essential energy infrastructure.

What This Role Matters?

As a Consulting Associate, you will help support the planning, development, and execution of land and right-of-way activities that are critical to infrastructure and energy projects. Your work will help clients secure necessary land rights, maintain positive landowner relationships, and meet project objectives related to schedule, budget, and quality.

What Your Impact Is:

• Work on multiple projects to help ensure deliverables meet client expectations for scope, budget, schedule, and quality.
• Negotiate and secure legal land agreements (rights-of-way, leases, grants, fee purchases, etc.) on behalf of clients from affected landowners, corporations, and government agencies to facilitate construction, operations, asset transfers, and related activities.
• Assist with performing, overseeing, or reviewing deed and title research and investigations.
• Review title searches for accuracy and support the abstraction of rights for summary and reporting purposes.
• Serve as a liaison between affected property owners and clients.
• Assist in performing, overseeing, or reviewing land valuation studies or equivalent analyses, excluding appraisals.
• Support the preparation and submission of applications for permits, licenses, bonds, roadway crossings, railroad crossings, driveway permits, building permits, heavy haul permits, and related approvals.
• Assist with investigating damage claims, damage assessments, and settlement negotiations.
• Help develop proposals, budgets, project plans, schedules, progress reports, scopes of work, and other bid documentation.
• Track project land budgets and prepare regular financial progress reports.

What You'll Bring:

Required

• Bachelor's degree and/or Master's degree preferred but not required; in lieu of a degree, candidates with applicable related experience will be considered, or equivalent experience.
• Recent graduate to 1 year of professional experience.
• Ability to manage changing priorities and multiple assignments while contributing to a cohesive team environment and meeting concurrent project deadlines.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and subject matter experts.
• Basic understanding of project accounting, cost tracking, invoicing, or experience supporting project administration or task management functions.
• Strong communication, organization, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Preferred

• IRWA certification, registration, or similar professional designation.
• Exposure to land and right-of-way projects supporting power generation, electric transmission, renewable energy, mining, oil and gas, technology, or related infrastructure sectors.
• Familiarity with land acquisition, title review, permitting, or utility infrastructure development projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support project delivery activities across multiple client engagements.
• Facilitate landowner outreach, negotiations, and agreement execution efforts.
• Assist with title research, land rights documentation, and project reporting.
• Coordinate with project managers, clients, landowners, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Monitor project budgets, schedules, and deliverables.
• Contribute to business development and proposal preparation efforts.

For the Consulting Associate, Land & Right of Way position, the anticipated annual base pay is $68,100–$79,900 (USD). Actual pay will depend on factors such as education, experience, skills, location, performance and business needs. In some cases, pay may fall outside this range. This role may be eligible for bonus pay subject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible).

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off (vacation, sick, and floating holidays), parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k), and other applicable benefits to eligible employees.

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.

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!