Senior Renewable Energy Land Use Planner

ERM; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 101,000 - 152,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

401(k)

Job summary

ERM seeks a Principal Consultant, Renewable Energy Land Use Planner in Portland, OR or Seattle, WA to guide permitting, land use planning, and environmental review for utility-scale projects across the Pacific Northwest.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, coordinate with agencies, and advance clean energy infrastructure while navigating regulatory frameworks and stakeholder expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Environmental Planning, Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Science, Geography, Natural Resources, Public Policy, or a related field, or 12 years of equivalent experience.
• 6+ years of experience supporting permitting and land use planning for renewable energy, transmission, infrastructure, or similar projects.
• Experience preparing land use permit applications and supporting local government approval processes.
• Experience conducting zoning analyses, code consistency evaluations, and findings demonstrating compliance with local and state land use regulations.
• Familiarity with Oregon and Washington land use planning requirements, SEPA/Washington permits.
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and client management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced consulting environment while managing multiple concurrent projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of permit strategies and entitlement pathways for utility-scale solar, BESS, wind, and transmission projects across Oregon and Washington.
• Prepare county and municipal land use permit applications, including CUps and EFSC/EFSEC applications.
• Coordinate with state agencies, counties, municipalities, and districts to support permitting and regulatory compliance.
• Conduct detailed zoning and land use due diligence assessments for project sites.
• Develop findings of fact and permit narratives to support project approvals.
• Mentor junior staff in permitting, land use planning, and project management.

Skills

Technical writing

Communication

Client management

Project management

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Environmental Planning / related field

Job description

ERM seeks a Principal Consultant, Renewable Energy Land Use Planner in Portland, OR or Seattle, WA to guide permitting, land use planning, and environmental review for utility-scale projects across the Pacific Northwest.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, coordinate with agencies, and advance clean energy infrastructure while navigating regulatory frameworks and stakeholder expectations.