Lead Land Use & Visual Impact Planner

ERM; Village of Fairport (NY); On-site; USD 93,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

Medical, dental, vision

Life, disability, AD&D insurance

401(k) or RRSP/DPSP

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Managing Consultant, Land Use & Visual Impact Planner to guide complex energy infrastructure siting across North America. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, influence permitting strategies, and ensure rigorous VIAs and regulatory-compliant analyses.

The role emphasizes strategic client partnership and mentoring of junior staff. Ideal candidates bring 5–10 years in environmental impact assessment and strong writing/communication skills, with NEPA familiarity and the ability

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Environmental Studies, Planning, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Science, or related field.
• 5–10 years of consulting experience in environmental impact assessment, permitting, and visual analysis.
• Proven success managing project scopes, schedules, budgets, and client relationships.
• Exceptional technical writing and communication skills.
• Ability to interpret maps, schematics, and site layouts.
• Familiarity with NEPA, federal and state regulatory frameworks, and agency-specific VIA methodologies (e.g., BLM, FHWA, USFS, BOEM).
• 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 (10–15%) to various client locations across a large geographical area.
• This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental planning, impact assessments, and permitting for major infrastructure initiatives.
• Produce high-quality VIAs and technical reports that stand up to regulatory and stakeholder review.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams—including GIS, visual simulation specialists, and technical experts to deliver clear, defensible analyses.
• Serve as a strategic partner to clients, helping them solve problems, anticipate challenges, and advance their projects with confidence.
• Mentor emerging planners and analysts, strengthening ERM’s technical bench and collaborative team culture.
• Lead and contribute to environmental impact assessments, land planning, facility siting, and permitting for large-scale energy and infrastructure projects.
• Produce, manage, and review VIAs and related technical deliverables.
• Coordinate and integrate work from multidisciplinary teams to ensure technical accuracy and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as a task manager or project manager, overseeing budgets, timelines, and quality standards.
• Mentor technical staff and foster a collaborative, high‑performing project environment.
• Conduct site visits and maintain direct client communication to support successful project delivery.

Education

BA/BS in Environmental Studies, Planning, Geography, Landscape Architecture, Environmental Science, or related field

Job description

ERM is seeking a Managing Consultant, Land Use & Visual Impact Planner to guide complex energy infrastructure siting across North America. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, influence permitting strategies, and ensure rigorous VIAs and regulatory-compliant analyses.

The role emphasizes strategic client partnership and mentoring of junior staff. Ideal candidates bring 5–10 years in environmental impact assessment and strong writing/communication skills, with NEPA familiarity and the ability