Partner, Impact Assessment, Permitting & Planning (Director Level)

As part of the continued growth and innovation of our Environmental Impact Assessment, Permitting & Planning service offering, ERM has an opportunity for an experienced leader to join our thriving global consulting firm as a Partner in Northern California (Walnut Creek, San Francisco, or Sacramento offices). The ideal candidate will have established relationships with California utility companies, along with technical expertise leading environmental permitting, CEQA/NEPA, and siting large-scale capital projects in California energy markets. We seek a leader to help us drive the continued growth of ERM’s business through selling and delivering world-class services, recruiting, mentoring and developing our next generation of leaders, and further advancing our reputation for supporting some of the world’s most complex projects and programs. As a senior leader, you will be fully accountable for successfully selling and consulting on a range of environmental, including natural and cultural resources, social, and health impact assessment projects to build a sustainable business in California, while networking with ERM's regional and global technical communities to share best practices across the industry. ERM’S IMPACT ASSESSMENT, PERMITTING & PLANNING Service: ERM’s Impact Assessment Permitting & Planning team focuses on supporting development of projects in the power, technology, oil and gas, mining, chemical, transportation, and infrastructure sectors. Our goal is always the same: assisting our clients in achieving project success, from planning through construction and operation, by bringing forward creative and innovative solutions and while meeting expectations for assessment and management of impacts on environmental, social, health, natural and cultural resources. By helping clients bring these constraints to light early on into the project planning phases, we seek to help our clients meet environmental/social performance objectives, reduce impacts on the natural environment, achieve schedule and compliance needs, and maximize savings in capital and operating costs. ERM combines experience with global standards, such as the Equator Principles and International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standards, with a thorough understanding of local, state, and federal regulatory systems and cultural sensitivities. We apply state-of-the-art assessment tools, from GIS to modeling and visualization techniques. We have also developed our own Impact Assessment Standard, which we use to maintain consistency and quality when other standards do not apply in a particular situation. ERM’s Impact Assessment Permitting & Planning service offering has been ERM’s highest growth area globally, growing over 20% per year for the past 5 years. The technical community currently has over 1,000 professionals globally, representing the full range of technical disciplines, with sector experience across the board. What ERM’s team is perhaps 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, Permitting & Planning team. RESPONSIBILITIES: As a “seller/doer,” play a key role in growing ERM’s Impact Assessment, Permitting & Planning broad portfolio of services in California. Identify and develop new opportunities, prepare effective technical proposals, and take active leadership role in developing new business with existing key clients and new prospects. Develop and expand client relationships that generate repeat business. Serve as Senior Technical Director for CEQA/NEPA environmental review and technical documents. Develop applicant-prepared documents that would be sufficient to submit to a Lead Agency to facilitate CEQA/NEPA documentation. Review Lead Agency documentation to identify areas that need additional analysis or information. Develop robust permitting strategies to successfully permit projects in sensitive environments. Track and understand regulatory changes that affect the permitting landscape. Collaborate with Account Directors/Managers on client account development, sales, and delivery of the full spectrum of ERM’s consulting services and strategic value to our clients in the electric/gas distribution/transmission and generation siting/development markets. Provide business value, selling strategically within client organizations, raising the profile of ERM’s capabilities within key client organizations, to identify and shape clients’ needs for ERM services. Build, grow, and manage fast-paced work and a high-performing team, serving as a line manager and/or mentor to staff and other consultants. Identify emerging talent and work with them to reach their full potential; ensure rising stars are nurtured, supported, developed and given new areas of responsibility. Work in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment to build ERM’s global business, as well as to lead client and practice teams. Drive innovation within the practice 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: BS/MS in biology, environmental science, engineering or related field. 15 years of consulting experience with CEQA/NEPA impact assessment and environmental permitting, including substantial experience with the energy sector in California. Business acumen to understand business risks and challenges, and to recognize opportunities to provide enterprise-wide solutions for clients. Demonstrable track record in delivering multi-million-dollar programs and successfully winning large and strategic projects. Established relationships with California utility companies, in particular PG&E, SCE and Sempra, to leverage existing contract agreements for new project opportunities. Solid grasp of the key impact assessment and management issues within the California energy sector as well as a high degree of technical competence and broad knowledge of environmental impact assessment best practices. Recognized technical expertise by and established reputation in the marketplace, including positive reputation with key resource agency regulators. Strong people leadership skills and passion to manage, develop, and grow a team of direct and indirect reports. 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. 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!