Principal Consultant, Environmental FERC Project Manager

ERM; Houston (TX); Remote; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Principal Consultant, Environmental FERC Project Manager to lead major US natural gas pipeline, LNG, and gas storage projects. Based in a flexible U.S.

location, you will guide regulatory permitting, environmental assessments, and stakeholder engagement across diverse sites, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery. You will drive strategic outcomes, support business development, and mentor multidisciplinary teams while advancing ERM’s market leadership in natural gas infrastructure

Qualifications

• Experience managing FERC-regulated projects and environmental permitting.
• Strong knowledge of NEPA and other key regulations (CWA, NHPA, ESA).
• Excellent written and verbal communication with regulators, clients, and teams.
• Proven ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams across locations.
• Proven business development, proposal support, and client growth experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead large, multi-faceted FERC-regulated projects ensuring scope, schedule, budget, and quality goals.
• Serve as primary client contact and guide teams through permitting and regulatory approvals.
• Direct preparation and management of FERC applications with agencies at all levels.
• Provide strategic environmental planning and permitting pathway guidance.
• Develop technical proposals and identify new business opportunities; maintain client relationships.
• Oversee QA/QC for technical reports and permit packages.
• Coordinate with internal experts and stakeholders to ensure efficient execution.

Skills

FERC-regulated projects

Regulatory knowledge

Project management

Leadership

Communication skills

Business development support

Multi-site leadership

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Planning, Engineering, Geology, or related field

Job description

Lead the Future of Energy Infrastructure Are you ready to shape the future of energy development while leading some of the most complex and high-profile infrastructure projects in North America? ERM is seeking an experienced Principal Consultant, Environmental FERC Project Manager to join our team. Based in a flexible U.S. location, this role offers the opportunity to serve as a trusted advisor on major natural gas pipeline, LNG, and gas storage projects, guiding clients through evolving regulatory requirements and helping deliver critical infrastructure that supports the energy transition. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy solving complex challenges, and are passionate about driving strategic outcomes, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact while growing your career with a global sustainability leader.

Why This Role Matters

Natural gas and LNG infrastructure is at a pivotal moment. As a Principal Consultant, Environmental FERC Project Manager, you will provide strategic leadership for major energy projects that are often fast-paced, multi-faceted, and geographically diverse. In this role, you'll help clients successfully navigate complex regulatory processes, environmental permitting requirements, and stakeholder expectations while ensuring projects move forward efficiently and responsibly. Success in this position requires the ability to balance competing priorities, deliver high-quality project outcomes on schedule and within budget, and bring initiative, critical thinking, and creativity to every challenge. This is an exceptional opportunity for an environmental professional looking to expand their influence, lead impactful projects, and support the continued growth of ERM’s natural gas pipeline, LNG, and gas storage capital project delivery practice.

What Your Impact Is

Lead permitting and compliance efforts for Natural Gas Act-regulated projects across the United States. Serve as a strategic advisor to clients, guiding projects from early planning and development through construction and operations. Represent ERM in industry forums, regulatory discussions, and professional engagements that shape industry best practices. Strengthen ERM’s market leadership in natural gas pipeline, LNG, and gas storage development. Drive business growth through client relationship development, strategic positioning, and innovative project delivery. Provide leadership and mentorship to multidisciplinary project teams while fostering a culture of technical excellence and collaboration.

What You’ll Bring

• Required Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Planning, Engineering, Geology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Prior consulting experience and demonstrated expertise managing FERC-regulated projects.
• 6+ years (10+ years preferred) of experience in environmental impact assessment and permitting for FERC-regulated projects.
• At least 5 years of experience managing large-scale natural gas and LNG permitting projects.
• Strong knowledge of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and key natural resource regulations, including the Clean Water Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and Endangered Species Act (ESA).
• Proven ability to manage complex, multi-site projects while achieving scope, schedule, budget, and quality objectives.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively engage clients, regulators, agencies, stakeholders, and project teams.
• Demonstrated initiative, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities to develop innovative approaches, resolve issues, and drive successful project outcomes.
• 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 Established relationships with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.
• Experience supporting business development, proposal preparation, and client account growth.
• Demonstrated success leading large, multidisciplinary teams across multiple locations and project phases.
• Experience supporting major capital infrastructure projects within the natural gas, LNG, and energy sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage large, multi-faceted projects, ensuring scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations are achieved.
• Serve as the primary client contact and lead interdisciplinary teams through environmental permitting, compliance, and regulatory approval processes.
• Direct preparation and management of FERC applications and coordinate project activities with federal, state, and local agencies.
• Provide strategic guidance on environmental planning, permitting pathways, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Develop technical proposals, identify new business opportunities, and maintain strong, long-term client relationships.
• Oversee quality assurance and quality control for technical reports, environmental analyses, and permit application packages.
• Coordinate with internal technical specialists and external stakeholders to support efficient project execution and successful client outcomes.
• Monitor project performance, manage risks, and develop solutions to keep projects progressing effectively.
• Contribute to ERM’s growth strategy by supporting thought leadership, industry engagement, and market development initiatives.

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.