Principal Consultant, Environmental FERC Project Manager

ERM; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 117,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) plan

Disability insurance

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Principal Consultant, Environmental FERC Project Manager to lead permitting and compliance for nationwide Natural Gas Act projects. You will guide cross-functional teams through regulatory processes, represent ERM in industry forums, and drive growth in natural gas, LNG, and related energy sectors.

Ideal candidates bring 6+ years of FERC permitting experience, strong NEPA expertise, and exceptional client communication skills to shape policy and deliver compliant, sustainable

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Environmental Studies, Planning, Engineering, Geology, or related field.
• Prior consulting experience and FERC project expertise essential.
• 6+ years (10 preferred) in environmental impact assessment and permitting for FERC-regulated projects.
• At least 5 years managing large-scale natural gas and LNG permitting projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage large, multi-faceted projects, ensuring scope, budget, and timelines are met.
• Act as primary client contact and lead interdisciplinary teams through permitting and compliance phases.
• Oversee FERC applications and coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies.
• Develop technical proposals, identify new opportunities, and maintain strong client relationships.
• Represent ERM in strategic regulatory meetings and industry forums.
• Ensure quality control across environmental impact assessments and compliance deliverables.

Skills

FERC project management

Regulatory compliance

NEPA knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies, Planning, Engineering, Geology

Job description

Lead the Future of Energy Infrastructure Are you ready to influence the next era of energy development? At ERM, we’re looking for a seasoned leader who thrives on complexity, drives strategic outcomes, and shapes industry standards. This is more than project management—it’s about guiding clients through the most challenging regulatory landscapes and leaving a lasting impact on the energy transition.

Why This Role Matters

Energy infrastructure is at a turning point. As a Principal Consultant, Environmental FERC Project Manager, you’ll be the trusted advisor for major natural gas, LNG, and emerging energy projects—helping clients achieve compliance, sustainability, and success in a rapidly evolving market. Your expertise will directly influence policy, permitting, and the future of clean energy solutions.

THIS POSITION REQUIRES PRIOR CONSULTING EXPERIENCE AND FERC EXPERIENCE.

What Your Impact Is

• Lead permitting and compliance for Natural Gas Act-regulated projects nationwide.
• Serve as a strategic partner to clients, guiding projects from concept through operations.
• Represent ERM in industry forums and regulatory discussions, shaping policy and best practices.
• Expand ERM’s leadership in natural gas, LNG, hydrogen, renewables, and carbon sequestration.
• Drive business growth through client development and innovative project delivery.

What You’ll Bring

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Environmental Studies, Planning, Engineering, Geology, or related field.
• Prior consulting experience and FERC project expertise essential.
• 6+ years (10 preferred) in environmental impact assessment and permitting for FERC-regulated projects.
• At least 5 years managing large-scale natural gas and LNG permitting projects.
• Deep knowledge of NEPA and key natural resource regulations (Clean Water Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, NHPA, ESA).
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-site projects on time and within budget.
• Exceptional communication skills for engaging clients, agencies, and stakeholders.

Preferred:

• Advanced degree in a relevant discipline.
• Experience with hydrogen, renewables, and carbon sequestration projects.
• Established industry network and demonstrated business development success.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage large, multi-faceted projects, ensuring scope, budget, and timelines are met.
• Act as primary client contact and lead interdisciplinary teams through permitting and compliance phases.
• Oversee FERC applications and coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies.
• Develop technical proposals, identify new opportunities, and maintain strong client relationships.
• Represent ERM in strategic regulatory meetings and industry forums.
• Ensure quality control across environmental impact assessments and compliance deliverables.

Accepting applications on an ongoing basis.

For the Principal Consultant, Environmental FERC Project Manager position, the anticipated annual base pay is $117,380 - $168,286(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 (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible). We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k) or RRSP/DPSP, and other applicable benefits to eligible employees. Note: Bonuses, commissions, and other forms of additional compensation are not guaranteed and subject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures.

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.

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.

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!

#LI-Hybrid

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.

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