About this role
Ready to make an impact? At ERM, you’ll join a global leader in sustainability consulting, working on projects that matter. If you’re detail-oriented, thrive under deadlines, and want to advance your career in environmental permitting, we’d love to hear from you.
Why This Role Matters
Power utilities depend on safe, reliable vegetation management to keep communities connected and protect critical infrastructure. As a Consulting Senior Associate, Scientist, Permit Coordinator in Northern California, you’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring compliance and efficiency for complex permitting processes that keep projects moving forward. This is your opportunity to combine technical expertise with client-facing collaboration in a fast-paced, high-impact environment.
What Your Impact Is
You’ll be the driving force behind successful permit applications—managing every detail from start to finish. Your work ensures projects meet regulatory requirements, deadlines are achieved, and stakeholders stay informed. By coordinating across teams and agencies, you’ll help deliver solutions that protect ecosystems, maintain safety, and support sustainable energy infrastructure.
What You’ll Bring
Required
Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or related field (or equivalent experience).
1–3 years of experience supporting environmental or utility permitting.
Strong knowledge of federal/state health & safety regulations and contractor safety management.
Familiarity with encroachment packages for agencies such as Caltrans, State Parks, USFS, and local water districts.
Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple permits under tight deadlines.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for professional client and agency interactions.
Proficiency in Excel and willingness to learn new permitting software.
Adaptable, proactive, and solution-oriented mindset.
This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.
Preferred
Experience with railroad easement permitting.
Background in auditing and safety program development.
Prior exposure to programmatic planning and regulatory research.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and manage all aspects of vegetation management permit applications, ensuring compliance with environmental and utility regulations.
Track and monitor application progress, providing timely updates to internal teams and client stakeholders.
Coordinate with project managers and field teams to collect and verify data for permits.
Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders to support timely permit issuance.
Stay current on regulatory changes and evolving permit processes to inform programmatic planning.
Contribute to a collaborative team environment through active participation in meetings and knowledge sharing.
For the Consulting Senior Associate, Scientist, Permit Coordinator position, the anticipated annual base pay is $61,299–$75,562 (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. This role may be eligible for bonus pay (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible).
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.
Note: Bonuses, commissions, and other forms of additional compensation are not guaranteed and subject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures.
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!
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Candidates may be invited to complete an online assessment as part of our recruitment process. All personal information will be handled confidentially and in compliance with data protection laws.
Other facts
About ERM
Sustainability is our business.
As the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, deploying a unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities. This approach helps clients to accelerate the integration of sustainability at every level of their business.
With more than 50 years of experience, ERM’s diverse team of 8000+ experts in 40 countries and territories helps clients create innovative solutions to their sustainability challenges, unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.
What you'll do
- You will lead and manage all aspects of vegetation management permit applications, ensuring compliance with environmental and utility regulations. This includes tracking application progress and coordinating with project managers and field teams.
Ready to join ERM?
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