Managing Technical Consultant, Permitting Specialist

Lead complex regulatory pathways. Shape sustainable development across Western Canada.

ERM is seeking a Managing Technical Consultant, Permitting Specialist to play a strategic leadership role within our Regulatory & Permitting Group in British Columbia (Vancouver or Victoria preferred, hybrid) or Yukon (Whitehorse). This role sits at the intersection of regulation, project delivery, and sustainability—guiding clients through some of the most complex permitting and approvals landscapes in Canada while enabling projects that contribute to a more sustainable future.

As a trusted advisor and delivery leader, you will bring structure, clarity, and predictability to complex, multi‑jurisdictional permitting portfolios across mining, renewable energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and waste/water sectors. You will work closely with clients, regulators, Indigenous Nations, and multidisciplinary technical teams to shape defensible pathways from early project definition through construction and operations.

Why This Role Matters?

Permitting and approvals are often the critical path for project success. In this role, you will help clients navigate regulatory triggers, reduce uncertainty, and move projects forward responsibly across British Columbia and Yukon. Your leadership will directly influence project viability, timelines, and outcomes—ensuring regulatory confidence while supporting sustainable development.

What Your Impact Is:

• Enable projects to proceed by defining clear, efficient, and defensible permitting pathways

• Deliver regulator‑ready approvals that withstand scrutiny and minimize delays

• Strengthen ERM’s trusted‑advisor position with key clients across priority sectors

• Mentor and grow internal talent while contributing to ERM’s technical excellence and knowledge base

What You'll Bring:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, or a related discipline

• 4+ years of experience in environmental permitting and approvals (consulting or industry), with proven delivery experience in British Columbia and/or Yukon

• Demonstrated experience leading multi‑permit programs, including coordination of technical SMEs, schedules, RFIs, and regulator‑ready submissions

• Broad working knowledge across air, water, waste/wastewater, and land/disturbance permitting, and how these link to environmental/development assessment and engagement processes in BC and Yukon

• Strong technical writing, communication, and presentation skills for diverse audiences (clients, regulators, and non‑technical stakeholders)

• A delivery‑focused mindset: organized, proactive, detail‑oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities with minimal oversight

Preferred

• 7+ years preferred experience in environmental permitting and approvals (consulting or industry), with proven delivery experience in British Columbia and/or Yukon

• Professional designation (P.Eng., P.Geo., R.P.Bio., or similar) and/or eligibility for registration in BC and/or Yukon

• Mining project experience in BC and/or Yukon across exploration, development, and operations, including multi‑agency coordination

• Direct experience with BC waste discharge authorizations and/or Water Sustainability Act (WSA) licensing

• Experience supporting Yukon YESAA processes and/or Yukon water licensing and environmental permits

• Sector experience in infrastructure/transportation, energy/renewables, industrial/manufacturing, waste/water, or mining

Key Responsibilities:

Regulatory Strategy & Pathway Development (BC & Yukon)

• Develop permitting and approvals roadmaps, including decision points, studies, schedules, risks, and interfaces between assessment processes and subsequent permits

• Lead “what do we need and when?” planning by defining application packages, technical inputs, engagement needs, and regulator touchpoints

• Provide regulatory interpretation to help clients select efficient, defensible pathways

Authorizations & Permit Applications (Cross‑Sector)

• Lead and/or coordinate preparation of regulator‑ready applications, amendments, and supporting materials across:

  • British Columbia: Waste discharge authorizations under the Environmental Management Act (air contaminants, effluent, solid waste, hazardous waste, and sector‑specific requirements)

  • British Columbia: Water licences and approvals under the Water Sustainability Act (diversion, use, storage; changes in and about a stream), including FrontCounter BC submissions

  • Yukon: Water licensing for use of water and deposit of waste to water through the Yukon Water Board, including coordination of inputs and conditions tracking

  • Yukon: Environment Act permits relevant to industrial and project sites (e.g., solid waste management permits)

  • Regional and municipal permits, as applicable

• Manage submission logistics and workflows, integrating multidisciplinary technical inputs such as emissions or effluent characterization, modelling, hydrogeology, monitoring programs, and management plans

Environmental / Development Assessment Support

• Support BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) processes, including early engagement, readiness, planning inputs, application support, and schedule and risk management

• Support Yukon Environmental and Socio‑economic Assessment Act (YESAA) processes by coordinating project proposals, responses, and alignment of subsequent authorizations with Decision Documents

• Support engagement planning and documentation with Indigenous Nations, working with ERM specialists as needed

Mining & Industrial Permitting (as applicable)

• Support BC mining permitting programs, including interfaces with Mines Act permits and the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code, coordinated with waste discharge, water, and land tenure approvals

• Support Yukon mining programs by coordinating development assessment (YESAA), water licensing, and territorial environmental permitting within multidisciplinary teams

Project Delivery, Quality & Commercial Leadership

• Own project scopes, budgets, and schedules while proactively managing delivery risks and quality

• Lead or contribute to proposals and client presentations, supporting account growth and long‑term client relationships

• Mentor junior consultants and contribute to internal capability building (templates, checklists, lessons learned, and technical communities)