Permitting Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Lead Clean Energy Development Across the Pacific Northwest ERM is seeking a Managing Consultant, Renewable Energy, Project Management, Senior Biologist to join our team in Portland, Oregon or Seattle, Washington. In this impactful role, you will lead complex renewable energy permitting projects across the Pacific Northwest, helping clients successfully develop utility‑scale energy infrastructure that supports the clean energy transition while navigating evolving regulatory requirements and environmental considerations.

As renewable energy development accelerates across Oregon and Washington, successful project delivery depends on experienced professionals who can integrate environmental permitting, regulatory strategy, stakeholder coordination, and technical expertise. In this role, you will serve as a trusted advisor to clients while managing critical projects that advance sustainable energy solutions throughout the region.

You will serve as a Project Manager and Senior Biologist supporting renewable energy permitting and environmental review efforts for utility‑scale solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), wind energy, transmission, and related infrastructure projects throughout Oregon and Washington. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, manage project execution, oversee permitting strategies, and help clients achieve regulatory approvals while maintaining ERM's commitment to technical excellence and client service.

• Required Bachelor's or Master's degree in environmental science, biology, natural resources, anthropology, or related discipline, or 8 years of equivalent experience.
• 4+ years of experience managing environmental permitting, land use planning, or infrastructure development projects, preferably within the renewable energy sector.
• Demonstrated experience preparing land use permit applications and supporting local government approval processes.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including responsibility for project scope, budgets, schedules, resource planning, client communications, and commercial performance.
• Strong client management, business development, proposal preparation, and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and client management skills.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and coordinating technical specialists, subcontractors, clients, and regulatory agencies.
• Experience supporting permitting and land use approvals for utility‑scale solar, BESS, wind, transmission, or other major infrastructure projects.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced consulting environment while managing multiple concurrent projects.

Driver's License Required: This position requires a valid driver's license and/or the ability to operate a company vehicle due to the nature of job duties, which include frequent travel to various client locations across a large geographical area. This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Preferred Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) certification with working knowledge of Pacific Northwest wetland and waters delineation and biological resource survey and permitting requirements.

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 survey and mitigation strategies and coordinating with state and federal resource agencies.

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.

Experience working directly with Oregon counties, Washington counties, Oregon Department of Energy, EFSC, EFSEC, planning commissions, or local hearing bodies.

Familiarity with Washington land use regulations, SEPA review processes, and local development permitting requirements.

• Serve as Project Manager for renewable energy permitting projects throughout Oregon and Washington, including utility‑scale solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), wind energy, transmission, and other energy infrastructure projects.
• Manage projects undergoing review through the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC), Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC), county, and municipal permitting processes.
• Lead project execution from proposal development through regulatory approvals, managing scope, schedule, budget, resources, and deliverables.
• Direct and monitor project management activities, including task delegation, interdisciplinary team coordination, subcontractor management, quality assurance/quality control, health and safety compliance, and commercial performance.
• Identify project risks and permitting challenges and develop practical solutions to maintain project schedules and budgets.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, regulatory agencies, and project stakeholders.
• Ensure technical deliverables meet client expectations, regulatory requirements, and ERM quality standards.
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary project teams including biologists, wetland scientists, archaeologists, visual resources specialists, and other technical experts.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships that generate repeat business and support growth of ERM's renewable energy practice in the Pacific Northwest.
• Lead and/or support development of wetland, waters, and habitat survey and mitigation strategies and coordinate with state and federal resource agencies.
• Support coordination with Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL), Washington Department of Ecology, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and state and federal habitat mitigation programs.
• Develop Oregon and Washington wetland and waters permit applications, including permitting under State Removal‑Fill programs, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and related state and federal regulatory frameworks.
• Support environmental permitting efforts under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and related regulatory programs.

For the Managing Consultant, Renewable Energy, Project Management, Senior Biologist position, the anticipated annual base pay is $92,500–$124,300 (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.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off (vacation, sick, and floating holidays), parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k), and other applicable benefits to eligible employees. This role may be eligible for bonus pay subject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible).

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.

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.

At ERM, sustainability is our business. We are the world’s largest advisory firm focused solely on sustainability, offering unparalleled expertise across business and finance. ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, through our unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities. Our diverse global team of experts works with the world’s leading organizations to help them set clear sustainability targets, measure progress and operationalize strategy through deep implementation and business transformation.