Environmental Advisor

NES Fircroft; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

NES Fircroft is seeking an experienced environmental professional to oversee regulatory approvals for major projects, ensuring compliance with statutory commitments and environmental management plans.

The role includes frequent international travel to Papua New Guinea every six weeks, close collaboration with project teams, regulators and stakeholders, and translating complex regulations into practical deliverables.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience managing environmental approvals, management plans and approval conditions.
• Strong knowledge of environmental legislation, regulatory processes and compliance.
• Experience engaging with regulators and government authorities.
• Experience in Papua New Guinea regulatory environment and CEPA familiarity.
• Ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into practical project deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Manage and track statutory environmental approvals, including milestones.
• Prepare, review and coordinate environmental management plans and regulatory docs.
• Maintain compliance registers and monitor obligations during execution.
• Build relationships with regulators and authorities in Papua New Guinea.
• Represent the project in regulatory meetings and site visits in PNG.
• Collaborate with engineering, construction and project teams to integrate requirements.
• Identify environmental risks and compliance issues, proposing solutions.
• Coordinate environmental consultants and internal stakeholders.
• Provide clear guidance on regulatory status and environmental risks to leadership.

Skills

Environmental approvals

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Regulatory liaison

Project delivery

Job description

The Role

Working closely with project engineering, construction and execution teams, you will oversee environmental approval requirements and ensure regulatory commitments are effectively managed throughout project delivery.

The position will also involve regular international travel to Papua New Guinea, approximately once every six weeks, to participate in regulator meetings, project discussions and site-based engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and track statutory environmental approvals, including submission milestones, approval conditions and regulatory commitments.
• Prepare, review and coordinate environmental management plans and supporting regulatory documentation.
• Maintain compliance registers and monitor environmental obligations throughout the project execution phase.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with environmental regulators and government authorities in Papua New Guinea.
• Represent the project in regulatory meetings, stakeholder discussions and site visits in PNG.
• Work closely with engineering, construction and project execution teams to integrate environmental requirements into project planning and field activities.
• Identify environmental risks, potential compliance issues and approval constraints, recommending practical solutions to maintain project progress.
• Coordinate environmental consultants, technical specialists and internal stakeholders as required.
• Provide clear advice to project leadership on regulatory requirements, approval status and environmental risks.

About You

You are an experienced environmental professional with a strong understanding of statutory approvals and regulatory compliance within major projects, ideally in oil and gas, LNG, resources or energy infrastructure.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated experience managing environmental approvals, environmental management plans and approval conditions for major projects.
• Strong knowledge of environmental legislation, regulatory processes and statutory compliance requirements.
• Experience engaging directly with environmental regulators and government authorities.
• Ideally, direct experience working within Papua New Guinea, including familiarity with local environmental legislation and the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA).
• Candidates with substantial international or cross-border regulatory experience may also be considered.
• The ability to interpret complex technical and regulatory requirements and translate them into practical project deliverables.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• The confidence to manage sensitive regulatory discussions and work effectively with senior project stakeholders.
• The ability and willingness to travel to PNG approximately once every six weeks.
• A current passport and ability to meet applicable international travel requirements.