Associate Director Environmental Impact Assessment

Job Description

Overview

AtkinsRéalis is driving innovation and sustainability in major infrastructure projects in Ireland. As an Associate Director, specialising in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) you will be the lead technical expert on major projects (e.g. roads, energy supply, water and wastewater infrastructure, commercial/industrial and residential developments and marine projects). This is a hands on role where you will use your experience and expert knowledge of EIARs and environmental planning/legislation to manage specialists, budgets, project timelines, ultimately to secure a positive outcome for our key clients. You will be supported by our in-house experts in the environment, water and ecology. If you are ambitious and driven by the environment and sustainability, and are a natural leader and mentor, we would love to hear from you.

We are seeking an Associate Director – Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to join our growing Environment team at AtkinsRéalis Ireland in Cork. In this role, where you will lead the delivery of EIARs major infrastructure projects across Ireland. You will be responsible for the technical quality, coordination of multidisciplinary inputs, and consenting strategy of EIARs and related environmental assessments. You will also provide support via technical peer review to the wider environmental team. You will have substantial experience in managing and coordinating complex EIA projects, a strong working knowledge of Irish planning legislation and EU environmental regulations, and the leadership skills to guide teams and clients through Ireland’s planning and consenting processes.

Your role

As an Associate Director – EIA, you will:

• Lead Major EIA Projects: Provide senior environmental expertise as the EIA lead on a diverse range of major infrastructure projects (with a focus on transport and other linear infrastructure), ensuring all environmental deliverables are technically robust while also meeting project objectives and stakeholder expectations.
• Optioneering Assessments: Provide senior environmental expertise in the feasibility and optioneering stages of a Project. Be familiar with Multi-Criteria Assessment procedures for major infrastructure projects.
• EIAR Screening: Provide senior environmental expertise in EIAR screenings for Projects. Ensure that the screening process follows planning and environmental legislation and guidelines.
• EIA Coordination & Technical Quality: Coordinate and review complex environmental documentation – including planning applications, EIARs, Natura Impact Statements (NIS), and related studies – to ensure technical excellence, accuracy, and full compliance with Irish planning laws and national/EU environmental legislation (including the EU EIA Directive and associated guidelines and waste legislation). Lead rigorous quality assurance and peer review processes for all EIA deliverables to uphold high technical standards.
• Consenting Strategy & Compliance: Develop and implement effective environmental consenting strategies for projects, aligning EIA activities with statutory requirements and best practices. Guide projects through Ireland’s planning approval processes, leading the environmental components of Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) and local Part 10 planning applications for major projects (e.g. national road and rail schemes), and liaising with An Coimisiún Pleanála and local authorities to facilitate successful consents. The candidate will also be required to lead projects through the MAC application process with MARA.
• Multidisciplinary Team Leadership: Assume a senior leadership role on large, complex multi-disciplinary projects. Coordinate inputs from a wide range of technical specialists – including ecologists, planners, engineers, hydrologists, air quality and noise experts, landscape architects, cultural heritage consultants, contaminated land experts, GIS analysts, and others – to produce cohesive, comprehensive EIARs and environmental reports. Provide clear direction and mentorship to project teams, ensuring all members work collaboratively and effectively towards project goals.
• Waste Management: You will provide expertise in waste management and be familiar with waste management legislation and guidelines.
• Engagement with Engineering Teams: Assume a senior leadership role in coordinating with in-house and external engineers throughout the EIAR process. Working with the Client and engineers to pre-empt risk and to advise the Client and engineers on suitable design to de-risk it.  The candidate will have experience in liaising with engineers on major infrastructure projects.
• Engagement with Third Party Specialists: Proactively work with 3rd party consultants by preparing a Scope of Work, agreeing budgets, providing project updates,
• Innovation & Risk Management: Proactively identify and implement innovative solutions to de-risk the environmental consenting process, improve programme certainty, and enhance environmental outcomes. Monitor and manage environmental and planning risks throughout project development, advising on mitigation measures and adaptive strategies to address potential issues early in the project lifecycle.
• Client Engagement & Advisory: Serve as a senior environmental advisor to clients by providing strategic guidance on EIA scope, planning and consent implications, and environmental best practices. Represent AtkinsRéalis in engagements with stakeholders, regulators, and the public – including leading environmental presentations at pre-planning meetings, public consultations, and hearings as needed.
• Business Development: Champion business growth by contributing to and leading tender proposals and bids for new projects. Work closely with our market leads to win new commissions, including developing pricing and delivery strategies for EIA services. Strengthen client relationships through exceptional project delivery, and identify opportunities for expanding our environmental services portfolio in line with AtkinsRéalis’ strategic objectives.
• Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams across AtkinsRéalis – particularly with transportation planners, design engineers, and other environmental discipline leads – to ensure integrated project delivery. Coordinate with colleagues across our Ireland and UK offices to leverage specialist expertise. You will also engage and manage external environmental sub-consultants, maintaining excellent working relationships to complement our in-house capabilities.
• Project & People Management: Oversee project planning, budgets, and resources for environmental work streams, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest quality standards. Manage and mentor team members, fostering a positive and inclusive team environment. You will develop junior staff through knowledge sharing and guidance, and contribute to resource planning and recruitment to build capacity in our EIA team.

About you

Education

• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant environmental science, planning, or engineering discipline (e.g., Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Ecology, Planning, Sustainability or a related field) is required.
• A Master’s degree in an environmental, planning or sustainability specialism is preferred.

Chartership

• Chartered status with a relevant professional body (e.g., Engineers Ireland, CIEEM, CIWEM, or an equivalent environmental/planning institute) is required, reflecting your professional competence and commitment to industry standards.

Professional Experience

• Substantial experience in environmental consultancy, with a strong track record of successfully managing / coordinating and delivering complex EIA/EIARs for major projects in Ireland.
• Experience should include multidisciplinary infrastructure projects, ideally in the transportation and/or other linear infrastructure sectors (e.g., roads, rail, energy, flood risk or similar major developments).
• You should be adept at navigating projects through Irish planning and consent processes, from initial feasibility and scoping through to examination and approval.

Regulatory & Technical Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of Irish planning legislation (Planning and Development Acts) and EU environmental regulations relevant to EIA.
• Strong understanding of environmental assessment guidelines and standards, including the EU EIA Directive and the latest EPA/EIAR guidance documents.
• Familiarity with sector-specific guidelines (for example, Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s Project Management Guidelines (PMGs), National Transport Authority’s Project Approval Guidelines (PAGs), and the Department of Transport’s Transport Appraisal Framework (TAF), the MAC process with MARA) is highly desirable, especially for candidates with a transportation EIA background.

Consenting & Stakeholder Engagement

• Proven experience driving projects through statutory consent processes in Ireland.
• Experience engaging with An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly An Bord Pleanála) on Strategic Infrastructure Developments and coordinating public consultation processes is essential.
• You understand how to effectively address stakeholder concerns and regulatory feedback within EIA and planning submissions.
• Evidence of giving evidence at an Oral Hearing would be advantageous.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and motivate multidisciplinary teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment.
• A proactive leadership style with a genuine interest in developing team members’ skills is essential.
• Experience coordinating inputs from diverse technical disciplines and external sub-consultants on large projects is expected.

Technical Excellence

• Expert capabilities in environmental assessment and reporting, including scoping, coordinating specialist studies (air quality, noise, water, ecology, cultural heritage, landscape, etc.), and producing high-quality EIAR documentation.
• A commitment to quality assurance in report writing, data analysis, and technical review is critical.

Innovation & Problem-Solving

• A track record of employing innovative approaches to improve environmental deliverables and consenting outcomes.
• Familiarity with tools and practices for enhancing EIAR processes (e.g., digital EIA tools, GIS-based analysis, and sustainability assessments such as carbon accounting or climate impact assessments) is beneficial.

Client & Business Skills

• Strong client-facing skills, including effective communication, presentation, and stakeholder management abilities.
• A proven ability to develop and maintain client relationships is crucial, as is experience contributing to successful project bids and proposals.
• You should demonstrate commercial acumen and an understanding of business priorities in consultancy project delivery.

Other Requirements

• Excellent technical report writing and verbal communication skills in English. Ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
• Full clean driving licence and willingness to travel for site visits, client meetings, and project commitments across Ireland.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries and a brilliant range of health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle benefits. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture, international remote working opportunities, and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

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About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

Worker Type

Job Type

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.