Shape Sustainable Development Through Science, Strategy, and Field Leadership

At ERM, your expertise can help drive projects that balance environmental stewardship with responsible development. We are seeking an experienced Senior Consultant, Environmental Biologist/Ecologist/Scientist to join our growing Environmental Impact Assessment team in Richmond, Virginia. In this role, you will lead critical field investigations, support complex permitting and compliance initiatives, and provide technical expertise that informs major infrastructure, renewable energy, power, technology, and oil and gas projects. This is an exciting opportunity for an environmental professional who thrives in the field, enjoys solving complex environmental challenges, and wants to make a meaningful impact while building a long-term career with a global sustainability leader.

Why This Role Matters?

As a Senior Consultant, you will play a key role in helping clients navigate environmental permitting, impact assessment, and regulatory compliance requirements for projects that shape communities and industries. Your expertise in wetland delineations, protected species assessments, environmental documentation, and field investigations will help clients advance projects responsibly while protecting ecological resources.

Working alongside ERM's nationwide network of technical experts, Project Managers, and Partners, you will contribute to projects across multiple sectors and gain exposure to diverse environmental challenges. This position offers significant opportunities for professional growth, technical specialization, and advancement into project management or leadership pathways.

What Your Impact Is

Lead field-based wetland delineations and protected species assessments that support responsible project development.
Provide environmental permitting and compliance support for infrastructure, renewable energy, power, oil and gas, technology, and land development projects.
Deliver technical analyses and environmental documentation that inform project decisions and regulatory approvals.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to identify practical, science-based solutions for clients.
Help clients manage environmental risks while supporting sustainable development goals.
Contribute to high-quality project delivery while building trusted client relationships and delivering exceptional value.

What You'll Bring

Required

BS in environmental science, biology, natural resources, or related discipline. Or equivalent experience.
2-4 years (5 years preferred) of relevant environmental experience or professional internships.
Strong commitment to safety.
Willingness and desire to support field assignments 50% to 60% of the time.
Must be willing to work outdoors in a variety of climate and weather conditions.
Working knowledge of field techniques for plant identification, soil sampling and hydric soil identification, and hydrology indicators.
Experience performing wetland delineations using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual and Regional Supplements.
Detail-oriented with excellent critical thinking and troubleshooting/problem-solving skills.
Effective written/verbal communication and organization/analytical skills.
Experience recording/writing detailed technical data and reports and building tables and spreadsheets (including tabulation and manipulation of data).
Ability to engage in multifaceted and dynamic situations and collaborate with a team of experts throughout the lifecycle of a project.
Ability to multi-task, maintain flexibility, travel, and work independently with minimal supervision.
Demonstrated attributes to become a strong consultant: team player, eagerness to learn and grow, self-starter who takes initiative, versatile, and service-oriented mentality.
Highly organized with a keen eye for detail while maintaining the big-picture perspective.
High level proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.
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

Experience supporting environmental permitting and compliance activities involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and state or local regulatory agencies.
Experience contributing to environmental assessments and environmental impact statements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Experience supporting renewable energy, transmission, pipeline, facility siting, land development, or other capital infrastructure projects.
Experience with environmental due diligence services, habitat assessments, Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, permit matrices, and environmental risk assessments.
Wetland Delineation Training.
Wetland Professional in Training (WPIT) or Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) certification.

Key Responsibilities

Perform wetland delineations using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual and Regional Supplements.
With appropriate guidance and supervision, provide creative and fit-for-purpose technical analyses in your own field of specialization and support additional analyses outside of your area of specialization while collaborating with subject matter experts from other disciplines.
Provide technical assistance on a wide range of capital infrastructure and other projects, including preparation of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements under the National Environmental Policy Act, environmental due diligence services, habitat assessments, wetland delineations and reports, Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, and other related environmental documents.
Perform project delivery activities such as conducting field surveys, collecting and organizing field survey data, performing research and literature reviews, writing reports, and developing strategies and recommendations for clients.
Conduct tasks related to environmental assessments, including but not limited to land use planning/facility siting, pipeline and transmission line routing studies, renewable energy desktop and field-based environmental assessments and reporting, and development of permit matrices and risk assessments.
Assist in the preparation of project-specific compliance management plans in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
Perform multi-media permitting and compliance documentation with an emphasis on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and various state and local agencies.
Work within quality, budget, schedule, and scope expectations while developing a basic understanding of project management responsibilities.
Support ERM Partners-in-Charge and Project Managers to deliver exceptional client value on projects.

For the  Senior Consultant, Environmental Biologist/Ecologist/Scientist position, the anticipated annual base pay is $80,100 –$102,400  (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 paysubject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible). 

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. 

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!

About Us

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.

With more than 50 years of experience, our ability to integrate sustainability solutions and our depth and breadth of technical knowledge are why organizations choose to partner with us as their trusted advisor.

Every one of us firmly believes in the potential to create value for our clients through an integrated approach to sustainability (because we have personally seen it and professionally achieved it).

Our team members are passionate about client service. We work closely with our clients to help them operationalize their sustainability goals and meet their environmental, health and safety objectives while advancing ERM’s purpose through delivering tangible progress in what the United Nations coined The Decade of Action.

Organizing our people across globally integrated communities of technical and strategic talent positions ERM to be a “boots to boardroom” leader in bringing that value creation to our clients, partners, and the world.

We recruit exceptional professionals with a personal and professional passion for sustainability and nurture them to even greater success as specialists. We prepare our consultants to bring integrated, innovative and sustainable solutions to our clients and provide opportunities for ongoing development across a variety of subject areas related to technical, business, and personal growth.

At ERM, effort pays off and becomes career defining work that leaves a positive imprint on our planet.

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