ERM is hiring an Environmental Permitting Advisor in Richmond, Virginia to support a key power clients Transmission and Distribution team. The Environmental Permitting Advisor will perform as an extension of staff duties related to environmental permitting and the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) processes for Electric Transmission (DEV ET) projects located in Virginia. This is a full-time (40 hours per week) limited-term role with a duration of 12 months, extendable. Hybrid work option to work 2-3 days in the office and the remaining days from home.

The primary focus for the consultant is to prepare, review, and edit environmental portions of Virginia State Corporation Commission Applications in support of obtaining a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for transmission line projects.

Job Duties Include:

• Be an active participant in SCC project team meetings, providing guidance on environmental permitting and programmatic implications of transmission line route alternatives which include but are not limited to permit triggers, permit schedules, project implications, etc.
• Support the development of Virginia State Corporation Commission Applications by participating in project meetings, routing discussions, application drafting and finalization, ensuring consistency of environmental programmatic aspects across applications. The consultant will also support evidentiary hearings and public meetings.
• Support the client team in maintaining a consistent program across all SCC applications as the E& S lead assigned to SCC projects. Coordinate with project managers to understand the scope of new and replacement electric transmission projects and apply knowledge of environmental regulations to determine what, if any, environmental permits are required.
• Independently determine environmental permit applicability for assigned projects with specific knowledge of Section 404/401, Section 7, Section 106, NEPA, Erosion and Sediment Control, and Stormwater Management Programs.
• Collaboration with external vendors/consultants to prepare, review and comment on permit applications to align with program expectations to support securing environmental permits or clearances required for projects to be constructed.
• Communicating with regulatory agencies to obtain necessary environmental permits, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Conveying environmental compliance requirements from local, state, and federal permits to project and field teams.
• Providing technical assistance to site(s)/project(s) in the construction phase to ensure environmental compliance.
• Interpretation of environmental permits and regulations to ensure compliance of dates and project requirements are met.
• Independently analyze, identify, and develop compliance strategies crucial for project development.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related degree preferred.
• 5-7 years linear permitting experience in Virginia, experience with electric transmission preferred.
• Experience supporting Virginia State Corporation Commission processes / procedures in pursuit of obtaining a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN).
• Experience compiling and reviewing environmental permits related to wetlands (including threatened and endangered species and cultural and historical resource coordination), erosion and sediment control, and stormwater management.
• Experience overseeing vendors and strong negotiation skills are a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage details, multiple tasks, and hard deadlines is essential. Must be a self-starter.
• Logic and reasoning skills to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternatives, conclusions, or approaches.
• Ability to embrace collaborative problem solving.