Principal Technical Consultant, Regulatory and Permitting (Air Specialist)

Shape regulatory strategy, guide high‑impact industrial clients, and help drive Canada’s transition to cleaner, more sustainable operations.

As a Principal Technical Consultant in Regulatory & Permitting (Air Specialist) at ERM, you won’t simply deliver technical outputs—you’ll influence how major mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, chemical, manufacturing, and industrial organizations navigate the future of air quality, permitting, and compliance. This is a strategic role for a seasoned technical leader who wants to shape permitting roadmaps, lead complex regulatory files, and collaborate with ERM’s 300+ Air Quality & Climate experts across North America.

Why This Role Matters

Regulatory expectations are tightening across British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, and Ontario. New standards, evolving modeling guidance, and heightened enforcement mean clients need a leader who can anticipate requirements, set the right strategy, and deliver permits without surprises. Your work will influence how industrial projects are designed, assessed, permitted, and operated—keeping clients compliant, resilient, and future‑ready.

From permitting pathways and dispersion modeling to monitoring plans, reporting, and regulator engagement, your expertise will anchor some of the most impactful environmental decision‑making happening in Canada today.

What Your Impact Is

• Define and lead permitting strategies for major industrial and mining clients across BC, AB, YT, and ON.

• Produce defensible, regulator‑ready permit applications and compliance demonstrations.

• Guide dispersion modeling programs (AERMOD/CALPUFF) that directly shape project approvals and operational limits.

• Steer multi‑stakeholder processes—regulators, Indigenous communities, partners, and clients—toward successful decisions.

• Mentor and develop technical teams while leading complex, multi‑disciplinary project delivery.

• Strengthen ERM’s reputation as the trusted advisor for air quality, permitting, and regulatory strategy.

What You’ll Bring

Required

• B.Sc. or higher in Environmental, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering; Atmospheric Science; or a related field.

• P.Eng. (BC or AB) with eligibility for registration in the other province and Yukon (Engineers Yukon) within 6–12 months.

• 6+ years of experience (consulting or industry) focused on air quality and permitting, with demonstrated expertise in BC and at least one of AB or YT.

• Hands‑on experience with AERMOD (and preferably CALPUFF), emissions estimation, and compliance demonstrations under EMA and EPEA/AAAQOs.

• Experience installing or maintaining ambient air and meteorological instrumentation and/or leading field programs.

• Proven ability to lead regulatory engagements, prepare defensible applications, and navigate permit reviews to decision.

• Strong Excel/database capabilities and transparent, auditable calculation approaches.

• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills—clear, concise, and regulator‑ready.

• Working knowledge of noise monitoring and modeling to support regulatory engagement and collaboration with ERM’s noise team.

• Ability to manage multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and travel to client sites in BC/AB/YT as needed.

• Driver's License Required: This position requires a valid driver's license and/or the ability to operate a company vehicle due to the nature of job duties, which include frequent travel to various client locations across a large geographical area.

Preferred

• Proficiency with Lakes AERMOD View, CALPUFF/CALMET toolchains, BPIPPRM, AERSCREEN, and terrain/land‑use preprocessing.

• Experience with source testing/CEMS, ambient network design, QA/QC, and data validation.

• Experience on mining, oil and gas (AER‑regulated), and power/renewable projects (AUC interfaces); familiarity with Yukon YESAA/YESAB processes.

• Experience supporting major‑project review processes, including BC–Canada One Project, One Process (1P1P) coordination and Indigenous‑partnered projects.

• French/English bilingualism.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments of air permitting requirements (desktop and onsite).

• Develop air permit applications for BC and AB, including required registrations.

• Conduct air dispersion modeling using CALPUFF and AERMOD.

• Perform air quality analyses, regulatory compliance assessments, and applicability evaluations.

• Conduct meteorology and air quality fieldwork, including instrumentation installation and monitoring.

• Engage with local regulators to support the review and issuance of air permits.

• Prepare emissions inventories and NPRI reporting; quantify air pollutant emissions and impacts.

• Support climate‑related projects such as greenhouse gas inventories, emission reduction initiatives, energy efficiency assessments, public disclosure, and verification.

• Write air quality, waste, spill, and environmental management and monitoring plans.

• Prepare technical recommendations and complete reporting deliverables.

• Manage tasks within defined scope, schedule, and budget while upholding ERM’s quality standards.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with clients, subcontractors, and ERM colleagues.