Principal Environmental Planner

AECOM; Newcastle City Council; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave

Continuous learning and growth opportunities

Job summary

A global infrastructure consultancy in Newcastle seeks a Principal Environmental Planner to lead environmental assessments for significant infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate will have an environmental science degree, strong assessment experience, and proven project management skills. This position offers flexible work arrangements and opportunities for mentorship and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Strong environmental impact assessment experience across multiple sectors.
• Solid project management/coordination skills.
• Drive to mentor junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead timely, high-quality environmental impact assessments.
• Oversee constraints analyses and environmental management plans.
• Manage project resources, budgets, and schedules.

Skills

Environmental impact assessment

Project management

Mentorship

Client relationship management

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental science or equivalent

Job description

Company Description

“Growing my career at AECOM has meant being exposed to amazing experiences - from support and mentorship from my peers and senior business leaders to exciting opportunities working on major and complex EIS projects across NSW including Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport and Great Western Highway Upgrade. I’ve felt trusted and inspired!” - Alice Thurgood, Team Leader - Environmental Impact Assessment, Sydney

Come grow with us.

What will your legacy be? Are you excited to be part of the renewable energy transition, or keen to influence city shaping projects or passionate about delivering environmental solutions on some of Australia’s most significant projects? If so, we would love to hear from you!

Everyone belongs at AECOM

We’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - because great ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company, a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, #Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer.

Job Description

We have a unique opportunity for a Principal Environmental Planner to join our 'Impact Assessment and Permitting’ team in Newcastle.

We are a passionate team of environmental impact assessors working within an organisation creating meaningful change both in Australia and globally. This role offers the chance to lead diverse, high-profile infrastructure assessment projects across energy, transport, and water sectors.

Being part of AECOM means applying your knowledge and expertise to influence positive environmental outcomes. With Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) principles embedded in everything we do, our Environment team works closely with designers and engineers to drive real change from the earliest stages of a project.

Some of your duties will include:

• Lead the delivery of timely, high-quality environmental impact assessments and related studies
• Oversee constraints analyses, strategic planning pathway assessments, and environmental management plans
• Manage project resources, budgets, and schedules, maintaining effective delivery and quality standards
• Mentor and guide juniors, including graduates and undergraduates, supporting their technical and professional development
• Build and maintain strong client and stakeholder relationships, applying commercial acumen and emotional intelligence to project leadership.

Qualifications

The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes, you could still be a perfect fit for this role. Please apply; all applications will be considered.

For this Principal Environmental Planner position in our team, we require someone with:

• A bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental planning, or environmental engineering
• Strong environmental impact assessment experience across numerous market sectors and a good industry reputation.
• Solid project management/coordination skills, commercial acumen and emotional intelligence to develop and maintain positive peer and client relationships and effectively manage resources, timelines, quality and budgets.
• A drive to mentor junior and mid-level consulting staff to develop their skill sets in the environmental planning and approvals technical area.

Additional Information

Why you’ll love working with us

• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, part-time, job-sharing and hybrid work options
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year
• Swap public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better
• Continuous learning and growth - lunch and learns, professional development courses, financial study assistance, 5 days paid study leave, global career opportunities

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, additional health or mental health needs, and/or neurodiverse conditions. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.

Applications are reviewed as they come in, and the role may close earlier than expected, so if this opportunity sounds like you, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Learn more about life at AECOM: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube - explore our AECOM voices, employee stories, latest projects, and much more!

AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we, our clients and our communities live and work in Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: https://aecom.com/au/our-vision-for-reconciliation/.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $13.1 billion in fiscal year 2022. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options.Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.