Consulting Senior Associate, Scientist/Biologist or Ecologist

ERM is seeking a motivated Environmental Scientist/Biologist/Ecologist - Wetland Delineation to join our global consulting firm as a Senior Consultant in our growing Capital Project Delivery (CPD) team. In this role, you will work closely with ERM Project Managers and Partners, and other team members on a variety of environmental permitting, due diligence, and impact assessment projects to support our renewable energy, oil and gas, power, and technology sector clients.

The ideal candidate will have experience leading field-based Waters of the United States, including wetlands (WOTUS) delineations using the applicable Corps Wetland Delineation Manual (Manual) and regional supplements including Eastern Mountains and Piedmont, Atlantic & Gulf Coast, and North Central and Northeast. The ideal candidate should also have experience performing protected species assessments, using federal and state databases to research rare, threatened, and endangered (RTE) species, managing data, and writing technical reports to support a wide variety of projects. This role involves a mix of field and office/desktop work, with a focus on field work during the mid-Atlantic field season and a mix of desktop ad field work the remainder of year. It provides an exciting opportunity to build expertise in wetland, species management, and erosion and sedimentation control compliance across the mid-Atlantic and southeastern US. The role also offers the opportunity to work across North America on a variety of wetland and wildlife field projects.

As a consultant at ERM, you will gain a wealth of experience across different sectors, clients, geographies, and services. ERM's collaborative culture and nationwide network of experts provides knowledge sharing of best practices and ongoing learning opportunities for our consultants, allowing you to build your own individualized career path in project management or technical disciplines.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform wetland delineations using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manuals (1987 and 1989) 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 working collaboratively with subject matter experts in other fields and with other technical backgrounds.
• 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 (NEPA), environmental due diligence services, protected species habitat assessments, WOTUS 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/ literature reviews, writing reports, and developing strategies and recommendations for clients.
• Conduct tasks related to environmental assessments that include but are not limited to land use planning/facility siting, pipeline and/or transmission line routing studies, renewable energy desktop and field-based environmental assessments and reporting, and development of permit matrices and risk assessments.
• Assist in preparation of project-specific compliance 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 expectations and scope-specific assignments and develop a basic understanding of project management responsibilities.
• Support ERM Partners-in-Charge and Project Managers to deliver exceptional client value on projects.
• Work as an integral part of the Capital Project Delivery team and support the goals of the team.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, biology, natural resources, or related discipline. Or the equivalency of 8+ years related experience in lieu of education.
• 3+ years of relevant environmental experience or professional internships.
• Familiarity with field survey techniques and WOTUS delineations, including working knowledge of sub-meter accuracy GPS technologies and Digital data collection platforms such as ARC GIS Field Maps, Survey 123, and/or Bio App.
• Strong commitment to safety.
• Willingness and desire to support field assignments between 50% and 80% of the time during the field season (April to October).
• Working knowledge of field techniques for plant identification and their facultative rating, the 50/20 rule, soil sampling, hydric soil identification using the most current version of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Field Indicators of Hydric Soils, and wetland hydrology indicators is required.
• 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 to collaborate with a team of experts to support work through the lifecycle of a project.
• Ability to multi-task, maintain flexibility, 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 keen eye for detail, but with the ability to maintain the big picture.
• High level proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• Ability to pass pre-hire background check and drug test.
• Be able to tolerate summer and winter weather conditions while working in the field.
• Be able to walk long distances in potentially rough terrain.
• Should be able to lift and carry up to 40lbs.

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.

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