Project Planner (Associate Level) at ERM West Inc in San Francisco, California

Job Description:

As part of the continued growth and innovation of our Impact Assessment & Planning service offering, ERM has an opportunity for an experienced environmental planner to join our thriving global consulting firm as a Associate Project Planner in Northern California (San Francisco, Walnut Creek, or Sacramento offices). The ideal candidate will have experience conducting environmental impact, planning, and permitting efforts with California utilities and on renewable capital projects in the west. We seek an individual to help us drive the continued growth of ERM’s business through selling and delivering world-class services, and further advancing our reputation for supporting development of some of the world’s most complex low-carbon energy transition projects.  

ERM’S IMPACT ASSESSMENT & PLANNING SERVICE:

ERM’s Impact Assessment & Planning (IAP) team focuses on supporting development of projects in the power, technology, oil and gas, mining, chemical, transport, and infrastructure sectors. Our goal is always the same: assisting our clients in achieving project success, from planning through construction and operation, while minimizing sustainability risks and maximizing project speed and adaptability.

ERM’s IAP service offering has been ERM’s highest growth area globally, growing over 20% per year for the past 5 years.  You will become part of a vibrant technical community with more than 1,000 IAP professionals globally, representing the full range of technical disciplines, with sector experience across the board.  What ERM’s team is best known for is supporting some of the most challenging development projects in the world.  It is this reputation that attracts and retains the highly skilled consultants who comprise ERM’s Impact Assessment & Planning team.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as Project Planner assisting with environmental impact assessments and permitting under CA regulatory permitting agencies and CEQA/NEPA-related activities in support of ERM clients’ capital projects (i.e., power generation, electrical and gas transmission and distribution, renewable energy projects). 


• Contribute to preparing technical studies and impact assessment documents, including Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs).


• Help develop permit strategies, specify best management practices and prepare permit applications for local state and federal agencies.


• Assist with permitting and compliance associated with energy infrastructure and other linear development projects with an emphasis on CA Coastal Commission, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Fish and Wildlife Service, and Regional Water Quality Control Board permits and consultations.


• Work in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment to complete project deliverables on time. 


• Drive innovation within the Impact Assessment and Planning service offering to stay ahead of client needs and to differentiate ERM in the market. 


• Meet business health & safety performance standards, financial targets, overall project budgets and schedules, client satisfaction/expectations, and internal risk management and contractual requirements.

REQUIREMENTS:

• BA or BS in environmental planning, biology, environmental science or related field. Master’s degree is desirable but not required. Or equivalency of 8+ years related experience.


• 3-6 years of consulting experience with CEQA review and CA natural resource regulatory agency permitting, including experience with the electric/gas transmission and generation markets in California. 


• Technical competency in environmental permitting and planning.


• At a minimum, general knowledge of biology, environmental compliance, cultural resources, water quality, air quality and hazardous materials.


• Strong written and oral communication skills.


• Positive outlook, collaborative, and driven by the success of ERM as a global company. 

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.

Please submit your resume and brief cover letter. Based on review of these responses, shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews.

ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, ERM employees or any other company location. ERM is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

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. 

Thank you for your interest in ERM!