Principal Consultant, Land Use Planner

Principal Consultant, Land Use Planner

Shape the Future of Clean Energy Development in the Pacific Northwest

ERM is seeking a Principal Consultant, Land Use Planner in Portland, Oregon or Seattle, Washington to help lead and expand our renewable energy permitting practice across the Pacific Northwest. In this highly visible role, you will guide complex permitting, environmental review, and land use planning efforts that support the development of utility-scale renewable energy and infrastructure projects, helping clients advance the clean energy transition while navigating regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations.

Why This Role Matters?

As renewable energy development accelerates throughout the Pacific Northwest, successful project delivery depends on thoughtful permitting strategies, regulatory expertise, and strong collaboration with agencies and stakeholders. In this role, you will serve as a trusted advisor to clients, leading land use planning and permitting efforts that enable critical clean energy infrastructure projects to move forward efficiently and responsibly.

What Your Impact Is:

You will help clients successfully develop renewable energy and infrastructure projects by leading permitting strategies, preparing regulatory applications, evaluating land use requirements, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams. Your expertise will help identify permitting risks, develop practical solutions, and support sustainable project approvals throughout Oregon and Washington.

What You'll Bring:

Required

• 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 efforts for renewable energy, transmission, infrastructure, or similar development projects.
• Demonstrated experience preparing land use permit applications and supporting local government approval processes.
• Experience conducting zoning analyses, code consistency evaluations, and preparing findings demonstrating compliance with local and state land use regulations.
• Familiarity with Oregon land use planning requirements, including Oregon Statewide Planning Goals and county development codes.
• Familiarity with Washington land use regulations, SEPA review processes, and local development permitting requirements.
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and client management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced consulting environment while managing multiple concurrent projects.

Preferred

• AICP certification.
• Experience working directly with Oregon and Washington counties, States (EFSC, EFSEC), planning commissions, or local hearing bodies.
• Experience obtaining Oregon and Washington wetland and waters permits, including permitting under State Removal-Fill programs, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and related state and federal regulatory frameworks.
• Experience developing wetland, waters, and habitat mitigation strategies and coordinating with state and federal resource agencies to support renewable energy, transmission, and infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL), Washington Department of Ecology, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and state and federal habitat mitigation requirements preferred.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and support the development of permit strategies and entitlement pathways for environmental permitting and land use planning efforts associated with utility-scale solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), wind energy, transmission, and other energy infrastructure projects throughout Oregon and Washington.
• Lead preparation of county and municipal land use permit applications, including Conditional Use Permits and Goal Exception applications.
• Coordinate with state agencies, counties, municipalities, and special districts to support permitting and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Conduct detailed zoning and land use due diligence assessments for project sites.
• Interpret local development codes, comprehensive plans, and applicable state land use requirements to…