Consulting Director, Environmental FERC

Environmental Resources Management Southwest, Inc.; Houston (TX); Remote; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM seeks a Consulting Director, Environmental FERC, to lead environmental permitting strategies for major gas, LNG, hydrogen, and renewable projects across the United States. You will guide multidisciplinary teams, engage regulatory agencies, and help grow ERM’s energy practice with a strategic, client-focused approach.

You will manage complex scopes, develop proposals, and lead industry conversations on policy and regulatory developments while maintaining high standards of technical excellence

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field.
• Prior consulting experience required.
• 8+ years of environmental impact assessment on FERC projects (10+ preferred).
• At least 5 years managing permitting of large natural gas/LNG projects.
• Working knowledge of NEPA and key environmental regulations.
• Strong MS Office skills and technical writing ability.
• Travel willingness with valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental impact assessments and permitting activities for FERC-regulated projects.
• Manage large, multi-site projects across the United States, on time and within budget.
• Develop technical proposals and pursue new business opportunities.
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies including FERC, EPA, USACE, and others.
• Mentor multidisciplinary project teams and ensure quality deliverables.

Skills

Regulatory leadership

Client management

Project leadership

Regulatory policy

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Lead the Future of Energy Infrastructure Permitting and Development At ERM, you’ll help shape some of the most complex and high-profile energy projects in the United States while influencing the future of environmental permitting and regulatory strategy. As a Consulting Director, Environmental FERC, you will serve as a trusted advisor to clients navigating the development of Natural Gas Act-regulated projects, including natural gas transmission and LNG facilities. This role can be based anywhere in the United States and offers the opportunity to combine technical leadership, business development, regulatory expertise, and strategic client engagement while supporting the continued growth of ERM’s energy practice across natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, renewables, and carbon sequestration projects.

Why This Role Matters

Energy infrastructure projects are evolving rapidly amid changing environmental regulations, policy developments, and stakeholder expectations. Organizations depend on experienced leaders who can navigate these complexities while advancing critical projects safely, efficiently, and responsibly. As a Consulting Director, Environmental FERC, you will help clients move major capital projects from concept to execution by leading environmental permitting strategies, managing interdisciplinary teams, engaging with regulatory agencies, and delivering solutions that support both business objectives and environmental stewardship. This role is ideal for a seasoned consulting professional who thrives in a client-facing environment, enjoys solving complex regulatory challenges, and is passionate about helping shape the future of the energy sector.

What Your Impact Is

Drive the successful permitting and development of major natural gas transmission, LNG, hydrogen, renewable energy, and carbon sequestration projects across the United States. Serve as a strategic advisor to clients on environmental permitting, compliance, and regulatory policy matters. Build and strengthen long-term client relationships while identifying opportunities for new business growth. Lead multidisciplinary project teams to deliver high-quality technical and regulatory solutions. Represent ERM within industry working groups and stay at the forefront of emerging policy developments and market trends. Help expand ERM’s leadership position in FERC-regulated project development and environmental consulting services.

What You’ll Bring

• Required Bachelor’s degree or higher in Environmental Studies, Planning, Geography, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Geology, or related natural resources science field of study, or equivalent experience.
• Prior consulting experience is required.
• 8+ years (10+ years preferred) of environmental impact assessment and natural resources permitting experience on FERC-regulated projects, including consulting for private-sector clients.
• At least 5 years of experience managing the permitting of large natural gas and LNG projects, including oversight of complex FERC applications.
• Working knowledge of key natural resource regulations, including: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Section 404 of the Clean Water Act Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act Experience with federal, state, and local permitting.
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office Suite software.
• Demonstrated ability to research and prepare concise and accurate technical documents.
• Keen attention to detail.
• Ability to work both independently and as a collaborative member of a project team.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate complex technical information to staff, clients, regulatory agencies, and project stakeholders.
• Driver’s License Required: This position requires a valid driver’s license and/or the ability to operate a company vehicle due to the nature of job duties, which include frequent travel to various client locations across a large geographical area.
• Preferred Experience participating in industry working groups, regulatory initiatives, or policy discussions related to energy infrastructure development.
• Experience supporting hydrogen, renewable energy, or carbon sequestration projects.
• Proven success leading business development efforts and maintaining long-term client relationships.
• Experience leading large, geographically diverse, multi-disciplinary project teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage large and complex projects, either single-site or multi-site, on time and within budget, including scope management, delivery requirements, budgeting, resourcing, planning, coordination of field and technical activities, and management of health, safety, and risk considerations.
• Serve as a primary client point of contact and lead interdisciplinary teams supporting environmental impact assessments and regulatory permitting activities, including baseline studies, facility siting and routing studies, land use planning, mitigation planning, and environmental compliance services during construction, commissioning, start-up, and operations.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently, including major natural gas transmission and LNG capital development projects throughout the United States, as well as hydrogen, renewable energy, and carbon sequestration facility projects.
• Develop technical proposals, identify new project opportunities, generate qualified leads, and support business development efforts with existing and prospective clients.
• Maintain and strengthen client relationships to support repeat business and long-term partnerships.
• Lead strategic meetings with regulatory agencies to address environmental, regulatory, and legislative requirements, including state siting review applications and approval processes.
• Engage with key regulatory agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal land management agencies, and State Historic Preservation Offices.
• Provide technical, subject matter, and project management expertise related to environmental critical issues assessments, environmental impact analyses, permitting strategies, and quality assurance reviews.
• Monitor industry trends, market conditions, and emerging regulatory developments to proactively advise clients and support ERM’s strategic growth objectives.
• Participate in industry working groups related to policy changes, regulatory initiatives, and emerging opportunities within the energy sector.
• Demonstrate initiative, critical thinking, and creativity in developing research approaches, resolving complex issues, and presenting technical information to diverse audiences.
• Deliver high-quality project outcomes in fast-paced, complex, and geographically diverse project environments while balancing competing priorities and client needs.

Who We Are:

At 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 and 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.

Thank you for your interest in ERM! #LI-Hybrid #LI-LB1 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.