Senior Consultant, Environmental Scientist

ERM; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM in Houston, Texas is seeking a Senior Consultant, Environmental Scientist to join our Capital Project Delivery team. You will support environmental permitting, due diligence, impact assessments and regulatory compliance for renewable energy, oil and gas, power, and tech clients.

Travel up to 30% and field assignments will be required. Ideal candidates hold a relevant degree with 3+ years of experience, strong report writing and GIS/GPS skills, and a client-service mindset.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's and/or master's degree in environmental science, biology, natural resources, planning or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of relevant environmental experience or internships.
• Ability to work safely outdoors in variable weather and terrain.
• Willingness to support field assignments for extended periods.
• Strong written/verbal communication, organizational and analytical abilities.
• Strong technical report writing skills and data tabulation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Perform field surveys, sampling, and inspections; organize data and prepare field notes and reports.
• Assist wetland delineations and habitat assessments using GPS technologies and data management.
• Provide technical assistance on environmental due diligence, assessments, and permitting.
• Conduct environmental desktop and field assessments, routing studies, and risk analyses.
• Prepare compliance management plans in line with federal/state/local requirements.
• Manage multi-media permitting documentation for agencies (USACE, FWS, NMFS).
• Deliver assignments on time, within budget and scope; support client value.

Skills

Field work

Report writing

Critical thinking

Communication

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor's and/or Master's in environmental science or related field

Tools

GIS software

GPS technology

Job description

Help Shape the Future of Sustainable Infrastructure and Energy Development

Are you an early-career environmental professional eager to make a meaningful impact on some of today's most important infrastructure, energy, and sustainability projects? ERM is seeking a Senior Consultant, Environmental Scientist to join our growing Capital Project Delivery (CPD) team in Houston, Texas. In this role, you will collaborate with multidisciplinary experts to support environmental permitting, due diligence, impact assessments, and regulatory compliance projects for clients across the renewable energy, oil and gas, power, and technology sectors. This is an opportunity to build technical expertise, gain hands-on field experience, and contribute to projects that balance development needs with environmental stewardship.

Why This Role Matters

As organizations navigate the complexities of sustainable growth, environmental planning and compliance have never been more critical. Your work will help clients responsibly deliver capital projects while meeting environmental regulations, protecting natural resources, and managing project risks effectively.

What Your Impact Is

In this role, you will:

• Support environmental permitting, due diligence, and impact assessment projects that help bring critical infrastructure and energy projects to life.
• Contribute to field investigations, environmental surveys, and regulatory analyses that inform important project decisions.
• Assist project teams in evaluating environmental constraints, identifying risks, and developing practical solutions.
• Help clients navigate complex environmental regulations while advancing sustainability objectives.
• Build technical and consulting skills through direct participation in project delivery, client support, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

What You'll Bring

Required

• Bachelor's and/or master's degree in environmental science, biology, natural resources, planning, or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of relevant environmental experience or professional internships.
• Strong commitment to safety and the ability to work safely outdoors in variable weather conditions and challenging terrain.
• Willingness and desire to support field assignments as needed for extended periods of time.
• Detail-oriented with excellent critical thinking and troubleshooting/problem-solving skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, along with strong organizational and analytical abilities.
• Strong technical report writing skills. Experience recording/writing detailed technical data and reports and building tables and spreadsheets (including tabulation and manipulation of data).
• Ability to multi-task, maintain flexibility, and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated attributes to become a successful consultant, including teamwork, initiative, adaptability, eagerness to learn and grow, and a client service-oriented mindset.
• Highly organized with a keen eye for detail while maintaining a broader project perspective.
• High level proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.
• 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.
• Ability to pass pre-hire background check and drug test.
• Travel may be up to 30% of the time.
• This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in a related environmental discipline.
• Familiarity with field survey techniques and wetland delineations.
• Working knowledge of sub-meter accuracy GPS technologies.
• Experience with map interpretation, including NWI, USGS, and aerial photography.
• Proficiency with GIS software.
• Experience supporting habitat assessments, environmental permitting, environmental due diligence, or environmental compliance projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform project delivery activities including field surveys, sampling, and inspections; collect and organize field survey data; conduct research and literature reviews; and prepare field notes and reports.
• Assist with wetland delineations and onsite protected species habitat assessments and surveys, including electronic data collection using sub-meter accurate GPS technologies, as well as post-survey data management and analysis.
• Provide technical assistance on a wide range of capital infrastructure and other projects, including environmental due diligence services, habitat assessments, wetland delineations and reports, Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, and related environmental documentation.
• Conduct environmental assessment tasks, including land use planning/facility siting, renewable energy desktop and field-based environmental assessments and reporting, pipeline and/or transmission line routing studies, and development of permit matrices and risk assessments.
• Assist in preparing project-specific compliance management plans in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Perform multi-media permitting and compliance documentation, with an emphasis on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and various state and local agencies.
• Deliver assignments within quality, budget, schedule, and project scope expectations.
• Support ERM Partners-in-Charge and Project Managers in delivering exceptional client value.

Who We Are:

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainabilitychallengesand unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse,equitableand inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our companya great placeto 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 expertssupportsclients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technicalexpertisein addressing their environmental, health, safety,riskand 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 advanceobjectiveson the ground or at the executive level.

Thank you for your interest in ERM!