Principal Consultant, Renewable Energy/Power

About the role

This is more than a consulting position—it’s a leadership opportunity to influence how renewable energy projects are planned, permitted, and delivered. You’ll be at the forefront of environmental stewardship, ensuring compliance while enabling innovation. Your work will directly support ERM’s mission to help businesses thrive sustainably and meet the growing demand for clean energy solutions.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex permitting and compliance efforts for renewable energy and tech sector projects.
• Oversee preparation of permitting documents, environmental reviews, and discipline-specific reports (biological, cultural, noise, decommissioning plans, etc.).
• Serve as project manager, task manager, technical expert, and QA/QC reviewer for deliverables.
• Develop permitting strategies, conduct due diligence, and ensure quality control across all impact assessment deliverables.
• Prepare technical proposals and support business development initiatives to grow ERM’s renewable energy portfolio.
• Interface with clients, lead meetings, and provide strategic insights to optimize project implementation.
• Collaborate with ERM’s global technical teams to share best practices and deliver innovative solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in environmental studies, planning, geography, or related field; or 8+ years equivalent experience.
• 6+ years of project management and permitting experience (Preferred: 8+ years), ideally in the power sector.
• Proven experience with federal, state, and local permitting, including preparation of local permit applications for renewable energy projects.
• Strong technical writing and analytical skills; ability to present findings to clients and regulatory agencies.
• Able to manage multiple priorities, lead teams, and deliver projects on time and within budget.

Preferred

• Expertise in local land use permitting processes, including Conditional or Special Use Permits.
• Familiarity with requirements from municipalities and counties (e.g., buffer widths, vegetative screening, noise analyses, water quality monitoring, stormwater review criteria).
• Experience optimizing project layouts based on local permitting requirements.
• GIS proficiency and ability to interpret maps and environmental data.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop team members in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k) or RRSP/DPSP, and other applicable benefits to eligible employees.

Pay

The anticipated annual base pay for the Principal Consultant, Renewable Energy/Power position is $125,963 - $160,905 (USD). Actual pay will depend on factors such as education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs. In some cases, pay may fall outside this range.

Schedule

This role may be eligible for bonus pay (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible).