Senior Renewables Permitting & Impact Lead

ERM; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k)

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Principal Consultant, Renewables to oversee Impact Assessment, Planning and Permitting for renewable energy facilities in the United States. The role leads environmental permitting across local, state and federal levels, including NEPA and CEQA reviews, to enable solar, wind, and related development at scale.

You will manage complex projects, mentor junior staff, and collaborate with ERM’s global teams to share best practices while advancing the low carbon economy in the U.S.

Qualifications

• Requires a degree in environmental studies or related field or 8+ years of equivalent experience.
• 6+ years of project management, licensing and permitting experience, especially in renewables in California.
• Experience with federal, state and local permitting; experience preparing applications/documents for renewable energy projects.
• Experience guiding clients to obtain multi-media permits and approvals for new/expanded facilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex permitting and compliance for renewable energy and tech projects focusing on NEPA/CEQA and agency regulations.
• Lead preparation of permitting documents for energy/industrial facility development and decommissioning.
• Oversee project delivery activities: report writing, data collection, literature review, and client recommendations.
• Prepare discipline-specific reports and state-level environmental reviews to meet regulatory requirements.
• Serve as project manager, task manager, technical expert, and QA/QC of deliverables.
• Contribute to permitting strategies, due diligence, impact assessments, and quality control.
• Prepare technical proposals and participate in business development with clients and leads.
• Manage quality, budget, schedule, and scope; collaborate with other ERM teams on impact assessment and siting & permitting.
• Expand ERM’s profile by leveraging client relationships and delivering high-quality services.

Skills

NEPA/CEQA experience

Permitting leadership

Project management

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in environmental studies or related field

Tools

GIS

Job description

ERM is seeking a Principal Consultant, Renewables to oversee Impact Assessment, Planning and Permitting for renewable energy facilities in the United States. The role leads environmental permitting across local, state and federal levels, including NEPA and CEQA reviews, to enable solar, wind, and related development at scale.

You will manage complex projects, mentor junior staff, and collaborate with ERM’s global teams to share best practices while advancing the low carbon economy in the U.S.