Managing Consultant, Environmental Permitting

ERM is seeking a Managing Consultant, Environmental Permitting
in our Minneapolis, MN office to manage, oversee, and conduct environmental impact assessment and regulatory compliance for energy facilities and energy-related development projects across North America. Focus primarily on new energy-related capital development including midstream oil and gas projects, electric transmission lines and renewable energy projects.

Projects may be regulated by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) or state siting agencies (e.g., Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, North Dakota Public Service Commission). Projects are often fast-paced, multi-faceted, and geographically diverse - allowing a talented person to apply their technical expertise in support of compliance with federal, state and local regulations related to siting, water, waste, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The position will require a candidate to work independently and to manage projects and project teams and have the capacity to manage varying priorities and multiple tasks. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience overseeing environmental permitting and compliance on capital development projects, overseeing staff in a project setting, assessing environmental conditions and impacts, plus strong technical writing and communication skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage projects, either single or multi-site, on time and to budget including elements such as scope and delivery requirements, budgeting, resourcing, planning, coordinating field and other technical work and managing health and safety and risk aspects.
• Generate technical proposals and participate in business development with existing clients and identify new leads. Maintain client relationships to support repeat business.
• Review and comprehend project plans to assess environmental impact and scope of regulatory requirements.
• Prepare siting and permit applications required by federal, state or local environmental regulatory authorities for facility development, expansion, and maintenance or decommissioning.
• Assist with the preparation of technical project documents, including, but not limited to writing, word processing, building tables and spreadsheets, tabulating and manipulating data, producing hard copy documents commensurate with the candidate’s technical background.
• Collaborate with other ERM practitioners to execute impact assessment and capital project permitting (ERM services broadly include baseline studies, environmental impact assessment, routing studies, land planning, and facility siting & permitting).
• Prepare environmental plans such as erosion control plans, storm water pollution prevention plans, site restoration plans, and spill prevention, control, and countermeasures plans.
• Assist in planning for, communicating, and ensuring compliance with project-specific federal, state and local environmental regulations.
• Lead and facilitate relationships with regulatory agencies and other external stakeholders on behalf of the client.
• Oversee and contribute to quality assurance and quality control.
• Mentor junior staff in the development of their technical and consulting skills.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelors or Master’s degree in environmental studies, planning, geography, civil or environmental engineering or related natural resources science field of study. Or equivalent experience.
• 4+ years (5+ years preferred) of environmental impact assessment, siting, and permitting experience on energy projects, including consulting for private-sector clients.
• Working knowledge of key environmental protection and energy facility development regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, and Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and state siting regulations (i.e., Minnesota Public Utilities Commission).
• Experience collaborating with federal, state and local environmental regulatory agency staff to obtain permits and approvals in the upper Midwest (ND, SD, MN, WI, IA).
• Experience conducting desktop and online studies or research on a wide variety of natural resource or resource planning topics, Geographic Information System, map interpretation…