Principal Consultant, Environmental Permitting and Impact Assessor

ERM; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM seeks a Principal Consultant, Environmental Permitting and Impact Assessor in Austin, TX to lead siting, permitting, and environmental impact assessments on traditional and renewable energy projects across the Gulf region.

You will mentor teams, manage complex regulatory processes with agencies such as USACE, FERC, BOEM, and USFWS, and expand ERM's Gulf Coast energy market leadership while delivering high-quality, compliant outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 6+ years of consulting or energy sector experience (10+ years preferred).
• Proven success in project management and client relationship development.
• Expertise in local, state, and federal permitting (USACE, FERC, BOEM, USFWS).
• Strong communication skills for technical and commercial audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead permitting and environmental impact assessment efforts for traditional and renewable energy capital projects.
• Lead multi-media permitting activities with oversight by USACE, USFWS, FERC, BOEM.
• Serve as Project Manager on complex, multidisciplinary initiatives.
• Build and strengthen trusted client relationships and support business development.

Skills

Permitting

Regulatory strategy

Client relationship

Project management

Environmental impact

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Environmental Science/Engineering

Job description

Shape the future of energy infrastructure while leading high-impact environmental permitting and assessment projects across the Gulf region. ERM is seeking a Principal Consultant, Environmental Permitting and Impact Assessor to join our team in Austin, Texas. This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned environmental professional who thrives at the intersection of technical excellence, client partnership, and strategic growth. In this leadership role, you will help guide major traditional and renewable energy developments through complex regulatory processes, influence sustainable project outcomes, and support clients in delivering critical infrastructure projects. At ERM, you'll collaborate with industry-leading experts, expand your professional influence, and help drive the transition to a more sustainable energy future.

Why This Role Matters

As the energy industry evolves, successful project delivery depends on balancing regulatory requirements, environmental stewardship, stakeholder expectations, and business objectives. ERM partners with leading energy developers to navigate these challenges and create sustainable solutions that move projects forward. As a Principal Consultant, you will play a critical role in helping clients secure permits, manage environmental risks, and achieve project objectives across a diverse portfolio of capital projects. Your expertise will directly contribute to the development of energy infrastructure that supports communities, economies, and long-term sustainability goals. This role also offers the opportunity to advance along ERM's Partner or Technical Director career pathways.

What Your Impact Is

Strategic Leadership

Guide clients through siting, permitting, and environmental impact assessments for major energy development projects.

Provide expert regulatory and technical advice throughout project planning and execution.

Client Growth

Expand ERM's presence in the energy sector by leveraging industry relationships, identifying opportunities, and supporting business development efforts.

Build trusted partnerships with clients and serve as a strategic advisor on permitting and environmental compliance matters.

Project Excellence

Deliver high-quality, compliant, and timely outcomes across a broad range of energy projects, including pipelines, transmission, offshore wind, renewable energy, and other capital developments.

Lead multidisciplinary teams to execute complex projects efficiently and effectively.

Team Development

Mentor and support technical professionals while fostering collaboration, inclusion, innovation, and professional growth.

Contribute to ERM's high-performance culture and commitment to technical excellence.

What You'll Bring

Required: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

6+ years of consulting or energy sector experience (10+ years preferred).

Proven success in project management and client relationship development.

Expertise in local, state, and federal permitting, including agencies such as USACE, FERC, BOEM, and USFWS.

Strong communication skills with the ability to effectively engage both technical and commercial audiences.

Business acumen and a demonstrated track record of delivering annual sales.

Ability to manage multiple priorities while leading teams and projects effectively.

Preferred Experience with NEPA and ESHIA.

Established professional reputation and network within the Gulf Coast energy market.

Experience supporting low-carbon and renewable energy projects.

Line management, coaching, or mentorship experience.

Interest in advancing toward Partner or Technical Director career pathways.

Key Responsibilities

Lead permitting and environmental impact assessment efforts for traditional and renewable energy capital projects.

Lead multi-media permitting activities for capital projects, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including oversight and coordination with agencies such as the USACE, USFWS, FERC, and BOEM.

Serve as Project Manager on complex, multidisciplinary initiatives.

Build, maintain, and strengthen trusted client relationships.

Collaborate with ERM leadership and account teams to support commercial growth and client expansion.

Contribute to go-to-market strategies and business development initiatives.

Deliver high-quality technical work products while maintaining regulatory compliance and project excellence.

Support team development through mentoring, knowledge sharing, and leadership.

Contribute to ERM's inclusive, collaborative, and high-performance culture.

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.