Principal Consultant, Planner

ERM•Nashville, TN

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Lead the Future of Sustainable Infrastructure Join ERM as a Principal Consultant, Planning Engineer / Transportation and shape the way major capital projects move forward. This is more than transportation planning—it’s about enabling renewable energy, electric transmission, and critical infrastructure projects that power a sustainable future. If you’re ready to lead, innovate, and make an impact on global projects, this is your opportunity. Why This Role Matters Transportation planning is at the heart of every major development. In this role, you’ll provide strategic guidance and technical expertise for projects that span electric transmission, renewables (wind, solar, hydropower, battery storage), and extractive industries. Your work ensures compliance, safety, and efficiency while supporting ERM’s mission to deliver sustainable solutions worldwide. What Your Impact Is Drive transportation analyses for U.S.-based projects aligned with state DOT requirements and international best practices. Lead IFC-compliant Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) for global initiatives. Influence project outcomes by defining methodologies, shaping proposals, and mentoring the next generation of transportation experts. Expand ERM’s transportation planning practice through business development and thought leadership. What You’ll Bring Required Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Urban/Transportation Planning, or related field. Or equivalent experience. 10+ years of progressive experience in transportation planning/engineering for major capital projects. Expertise in U.S. standards and processes (NEPA, FHWA/FTA guidance, HCM, MUTCD) and state/local requirements. Strong communication skills for technical reporting and client engagement. Authorization to work in the U.S. Preferred Master’s degree in Transportation Engineering/Planning or related field. Professional licensure/certification: PE, PTOE, AICP, RSP, or equivalent. Proficiency in traffic operations and planning tools (Synchro/SimTraffic, HCS, VISSIM/SIDRA, GIS, travel demand modeling). Experience with international projects and IFI-funded frameworks. Proven success in business development and industry thought leadership. Key Responsibilities Lead multimodal transportation impact assessments (road, rail, vessel, air) for construction and operations of major projects. Develop methodologies and frameworks aligned with NEPA, FHWA/FTA, state/local, and international standards. Provide scope and level-of-effort inputs for transportation work in U.S. and global proposals. Build and strengthen client relationships; lead pursuits for transportation planning projects. Mentor junior staff and foster an inclusive, collaborative, high-performance culture. Location & Travel: Washington, DC office with hybrid flexibility. Occasional travel for client meetings and field reviews. For the Principal Consultant, Planning Engineer / Transportation position, the anticipated annual base pay is $127,648–$163,088 (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. 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! #LI-Hybrid 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. ERM Homepage Explore All Open Roles Explore Early Careers Roles Explore Experienced Professional Roles Explore Partnership Roles

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Urban/Transportation Planning, or related field. Or equivalent experience.
10+ years of progressive experience in transportation planning/engineering for major capital projects.
Expertise in U.S. standards and processes (NEPA, FHWA/FTA guidance, HCM, MUTCD) and state/local requirements.
Strong communication skills for technical reporting and client engagement.
Authorization to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Transportation Engineering/Planning or related field.
Professional licensure/certification: PE, PTOE, AICP, RSP, or equivalent.
Proficiency in traffic operations and planning tools (Synchro/SimTraffic, HCS, VISSIM/SIDRA, GIS, travel demand modeling).
Experience with international projects and IFI-funded frameworks.
Proven success in business development and industry thought leadership.

Responsibilities

Lead multimodal transportation impact assessments (road, rail, vessel, air) for construction and operations of major projects.
Develop methodologies and frameworks aligned with NEPA, FHWA/FTA, state/local, and international standards.
Provide scope and level-of-effort inputs for transportation work in U.S. and global proposals.
Build and strengthen client relationships; lead pursuits for transportation planning projects.
Mentor junior staff and foster an inclusive, collaborative, high-performance culture.