Manager – Environment & Planning

Bluefin Company Limited; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 83,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Bluefin Resources partners with the High Speed Rail Authority to recruit a Manager – Environment & Planning for the Sydney–Newcastle project. You will lead environmental assessment workstreams, coordinate specialists and manage external consultants to deliver EIS and environmental approvals.

Based in North Sydney with a hybrid arrangement, the role requires experience in major infrastructure environmental planning, strong NSW/EPBC knowledge, and the ability to drive outcomes through pre- and

Qualifications

• Experience in environmental impact assessment and EIS preparation.
• Strong knowledge of NSW environmental planning frameworks and EPBC Act.
• Experience delivering environmental approvals for major linear infrastructure.
• Proven project management including external consultants and schedules.
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary environmental studies.

Responsibilities

• Manage environmental planning, impact assessment and statutory approvals activities.
• Support preparation and delivery of Environmental Impact Statements and approvals docs.
• Oversee external environmental consultants and technical work packages.
• Review biodiversity, ecology, contamination, noise, air quality studies.
• Integrate findings into assessments, planning and risk registers.
• Engage with regulators, advisers and project partners.
• Prepare briefings, reports and responses to information requests.
• Monitor schedules, deliverables and approval milestones.

Skills

Environmental impact assessment

EIS preparation

Statutory approvals

Stakeholder management

Project coordination

Education

Environmental Science

Environmental Planning

Engineering or related discipline

Job description

High Speed Rail Authority | Major Transport Infrastructure | Sydney (Hybrid)
Contract Opportunity | Competitive Hourly Rate + Superannuation

About the Opportunity

Bluefin Resources is partnering with the High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) to recruit a Manager – Environment & Planning to support the Development Phase of the Sydney–Newcastle High Speed Rail project.

This role will contribute to the environmental assessment and statutory approvals activities required to progress a major national transport infrastructure program towards construction readiness.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Environment & Planning, you will take ownership of environmental assessment workstreams, coordinate technical specialists and manage external consultants delivering environmental approvals documentation.

This opportunity is particularly suited to an environmental planning or approvals professional with experience across major rail, road, tunnel or other linear infrastructure projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate environmental planning, impact assessment and statutory approvals activities for major infrastructure project packages.
• Support the preparation, review and delivery of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and associated environmental approvals documentation.
• Manage external environmental consultants, specialist advisers and technical work packages to achieve project milestones.
• Review technical studies covering biodiversity, ecology, contamination, noise and vibration, air quality and other environmental disciplines.
• Integrate specialist environmental findings into environmental assessments, project planning, risk registers and decision-making.
• Apply knowledge of relevant NSW planning and Commonwealth environmental legislation, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act).
• Identify environmental risks and coordinate appropriate mitigation strategies throughout planning and design.
• Engage with government agencies, regulatory authorities, technical advisers and project delivery partners.
• Prepare technical briefings, reports and responses to environmental and regulatory information requests.
• Monitor environmental assessment schedules, consultant deliverables and approval milestones.
• Support the integration of environmental requirements into project design, procurement and future construction activities.

About You

We are seeking an environmental planning and approvals professional with experience managing environmental assessments and technical deliverables on major infrastructure projects.

You will ideally bring:

• Demonstrated experience in environmental impact assessment, EIS preparation and statutory approvals.
• Strong understanding of NSW environmental planning frameworks and relevant Commonwealth environmental legislation, including the EPBC Act.
• Experience delivering environmental approvals for major linear infrastructure, ideally rail, metro, road or tunnelling projects.
• Proven project management capability, including managing external consultants, technical scopes, schedules and deliverables.
• Experience reviewing and coordinating multidisciplinary environmental studies.
• Ability to independently manage environmental assessment packages and identify project risks.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, including engagement with regulatory agencies, consultants and project teams.
• Understanding of environmental requirements across both pre-approval and post-approval stages.
• Relevant qualifications in Environmental Science, Environmental Planning, Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.

Pre-approval environmental assessment experience is highly preferred.
However, candidates with strong post-approval construction environmental management experience on major transport projects may also be considered, particularly where they demonstrate a sound understanding of environmental approvals and strong consultant management capability.
Candidates with specialist backgrounds in ecology, contamination or other environmental disciplines who have progressed into broader environmental approvals roles are also encouraged to apply.
Experience gained with major engineering consultancies, environmental advisory firms, infrastructure contractors or government project delivery organisations will be highly regarded.

Employment Details

• Location: North Sydney, NSW
• Working arrangement: Hybrid, with approximately three days per week in the office for full-time contractors, subject to agreement
• Engagement: Contract / labour hire, with employment arrangements to be confirmed
• Remuneration: Competitive hourly rate, negotiable based on experience and approved budget
• Commencement: December 2026 preferred; flexibility for suitable candidates with notice periods
• Eligibility: Australian citizenship required
• Screening: National Police Check required before commencement; existing Baseline security clearance is not required for labour-hire candidates

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to contribute to the environmental planning and approvals of one of Australia's most significant future transport infrastructure projects.

You will work closely with experienced technical advisers, engineering consultants and delivery partners, with the opportunity to influence environmental outcomes during the early stages of project development.