Consulting Senior Associate, Scientist, Permit Coordinator

ERM•Walnut Creek, CA

3d•$61,299 - $75,562•Hybrid

About The Position

Ready to make an impact? At ERM, you’ll join a global leader in sustainability consulting, working on projects that matter. If you’re detail-oriented, thrive under deadlines, and want to advance your career in environmental permitting, we’d love to hear from you. Why This Role Matters Power utilities depend on safe, reliable vegetation management to keep communities connected and protect critical infrastructure. As a Consulting Senior Associate, Scientist, Permit Coordinator in Northern California, you’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring compliance and efficiency for complex permitting processes that keep projects moving forward. This is your opportunity to combine technical expertise with client-facing collaboration in a fast-paced, high-impact environment. What Your Impact Is You’ll be the driving force behind successful permit applications—managing every detail from start to finish. Your work ensures projects meet regulatory requirements, deadlines are achieved, and stakeholders stay informed. By coordinating across teams and agencies, you’ll help deliver solutions that protect ecosystems, maintain safety, and support sustainable energy infrastructure.

Requirements

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, or related field (or equivalent experience).
1–3 years of experience supporting environmental or utility permitting.
Strong knowledge of federal/state health & safety regulations and contractor safety management.
Familiarity with encroachment packages for agencies such as Caltrans, State Parks, USFS, and local water districts.
Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple permits under tight deadlines.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for professional client and agency interactions.
Proficiency in Excel and willingness to learn new permitting software.
Adaptable, proactive, and solution-oriented mindset.

Nice To Haves

Experience with railroad easement permitting.
Background in auditing and safety program development.
Prior exposure to programmatic planning and regulatory research.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage all aspects of vegetation management permit applications, ensuring compliance with environmental and utility regulations.
Track and monitor application progress, providing timely updates to internal teams and client stakeholders.
Coordinate with project managers and field teams to collect and verify data for permits.
Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders to support timely permit issuance.
Stay current on regulatory changes and evolving permit processes to inform programmatic planning.
Contribute to a collaborative team environment through active participation in meetings and knowledge sharing.