Senior Consultant, Scientist

If you’re ready to lead, innovate, and make an impact, ERM is where your expertise matters most. Our Impact Assessment & Planning (IAP) team is our fastest-growing service globally, expanding over 20% annually for the past five years. You’ll join a vibrant technical community of 1,000+ professionals worldwide, working on projects that shape industries and communities.

Why This Role Matters

At ERM, we’re driving innovation in environmental consulting and helping clients tackle some of the most complex sustainability challenges in the world. As a Senior Consultant, Scientist, you’ll play a critical role in supporting large-scale utility projects in Northern California—projects that directly impact energy reliability and environmental stewardship. This is your chance to lead, influence, and make a measurable difference.

What Your Impact Is

• Serve as a trusted biological expert for major utility vegetation management operations and maintenance activities.

• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations while balancing ecological integrity and project success.

• Mentor early-career scientists and elevate technical excellence across the team.

• Contribute to ERM’s reputation for delivering world-class environmental solutions on some of the most challenging projects globally.

What You’ll Bring

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in biological science, ecology, environmental science, or related field.

• 4+ years of experience in environmental consulting with expertise in Northern California biota.

• Strong knowledge of ESA, CESA, CEQA, California Coastal Act, and environmental permitting.

• Exceptional technical writing, organizational, and communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment with a collaborative mindset.

• Commitment to safety and adherence to health protocols.

• This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in biological science or related discipline.

• Prior experience in the power sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead preparation of CEQA/NEPA documents, ESA Biological Assessments, and CDFW 1602 permits.

• Oversee compliance with environmental regulations and permitting requirements.

• Review Biological Resource Assessments and provide QA/QC on deliverables.

• Mentor junior scientists and foster technical growth within the team.

• Prepare proposals, scopes, and cost estimates; support business development initiatives.

• Build strong client relationships and deliver projects on time, within scope and budget.

For the Senior Consultant, Scientist position, the anticipated annual base pay is $69,386–$102,301 (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.

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.