Principal Environmental Consultant

Jacobs; Brisbane; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Jacobs in Brisbane seeks an Associate/Senior Associate Environmental and/or Planning Professional to join our Environmental Planning and Approvals Team. You will lead environmental impact assessments, manage projects and client relationships, and mentor junior staff while benefiting from hybrid work arrangements and flexible full/part-time options.

The role offers diverse projects across transport, renewables, power, water and defence.

Qualifications

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in Environmental Science, Environmental Planning, or related discipline.
• Approximately 8–15 years of experience in environmental impact assessment and approvals within Queensland.
• Statutory planning experience or knowledge would be highly regarded.
• Strong knowledge of Queensland and Commonwealth environmental legislation and approvals processes.
• Demonstrated experience delivering environmental approvals projects and managing competing priorities.
• Excellent communication skills with team members, clients and stakeholders and in report-writing.
• Strong organisational and project management capabilities.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team culture.
• Commitment to mentoring and supporting the development of junior team members.
• Experience with defence projects would be desirable.

Responsibilities

• Partnering with clients from project inception to develop environmental approvals strategies and define environmental assessment requirements.
• Managing planning and environmental studies, specialist investigations and survey programs.
• Leading environmental impact assessments across a range of sectors and project scales.
• Preparing high-quality environmental approval and planning applications, referral documentation and environmental management plans.
• Managing project delivery, budgets, schedules and client expectations.
• Leading and contributing to bids and proposal preparation.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external clients, regulators and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Mentoring and supporting early-career professionals.

Skills

Excellent communication

Organisational and project management

Independent working with collaboration

Mentoring juniors

Client relationship development

Defence project experience (desirable)

Education

Degree or postgraduate in Environmental Science/Planning

Job description

Your impact

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

An exciting opportunity is available for anAssociate/Senior Associate Environmental and/or Planning Professionalto join our growing Brisbanebased Environmental Planning and Approvals Team.

Working within a highly regarded team of planners and environmental specialists, you will play a leading role in the delivery of environmental impact assessments and approvals for projects across a strong and diverse pipeline of work. Although the role is Brisbane based, our projects span across Australia across all tiers of government and the private sector, with a focus on transport, renewable energy, power, water and Defence.

This role is ideal for a consultant looking to take the next step in their career, with the opportunity to lead projects, build trusted client relationships and develop technically within a supportive and collaborative team environment.

We offer genuine flexibility, including hybrid working arrangements and full-time or part-time options, helping you balance professional growth with personal commitments.

The role:

Working alongside highly experienced planning and environmental professionals, you will contribute to and lead a broad range of environmental and planning approvals as well as impact assessments for projects.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Partnering with clients from project inception to develop environmental approvals strategies and define environmental assessment requirements.
• Managing planning and environmental studies, specialist investigations and survey programs.
• Leading environmental impact assessments across a range of sectors and project scales.
• Preparing high-quality environmental approval and planning applications, referral documentation and environmental management plans.
• Managing project delivery, budgets, schedules and client expectations.
• Leading and contributing to bids and proposal preparation.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external clients, regulators and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Mentoring and supporting early-career professionals.

Here’s what you’ll need

We are looking for a motivated and capable environmental and/or planning professional who enjoys working on complex projects, building strong client relationships and delivering practical environmental outcomes.

You will bring:

• A degree or postgraduate qualification in Environmental Science, Environmental Planning, or a related discipline.
• Approximately 8-15 years of experience in environmental impact assessment and environmental approvals within Queensland.
• Statutory planning experience or knowledge would be highly regarded.
• Strong knowledge of Queensland and Commonwealth environmental legislation and approvals processes, as well as an understanding of planning legislation and the interactions between environmental and planning legislation
• Demonstrated experience delivering environmental approvals projects and managing competing priorities.
• Excellent communication skills with team members, clients and stakeholders and in report-writing.
• Strong organisational and project management capabilities.
• The ability to work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative team culture.
• A commitment to mentoring and supporting the development of junior team members.
• Experience with defence projects would be desirable.

Why Join Us?

This role will allow you to:

• Work on a diverse portfolio of high-profile projects across key industries.
• Be part of a growing and supportive team with strong technical leadership.
• Access structured career development, mentoring and progression opportunities.
• Enjoy genuine workplace flexibility, including hybrid working arrangements.
• Take ownership of your work and make a meaningful contribution to projects that shape Australia’s future.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs here.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of diverse perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Our meticulously curated employee benefits support ALL employees throughout every stage of life. From paid parental leave to a lifetime financial allowance for you and your partner to access family forming Fertility & IVF treatment, adoption and surrogacy assistance along with menopause and Low T treatment.

We are steadfast in our commitment to the wellbeing of you and your loved ones with a comprehensive suite of wellbeing resources supporting you physically, emotionally and financially. This is demonstrated in our company being recognised by WGEA for 12 consecutive years as an employer of choice for gender equality along with our industry leading GOLD employer status by the Australian Workplace Equality Index.

Cultural Support:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are strongly encouraged to apply. Jacobs aims to provide cultural safety at our interviews. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are invited to nominate a cultural representative to participate on the interview panel; please let your recruiter know in your application. No matter what drives you, you'll discover a way to cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals – all at a single global company.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.