Principal Environmental Scientist - Sydney Area Manager

ALRA | Australia's Leading Recruitment Agency; Sydney; On-site; AUD 220,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

ALRA | Australia's Leading Recruitment Agency in Sydney seeks a Sydney Area Manager / Principal Environmental Scientist in Contaminated Sites to lead the Sydney business unit operationally and commercially.

You’ll own team delivery, client outcomes and project performance for a 50+ consultant operation, reporting to the CEO, with a national platform backing infrastructure, power, desalination and complex industrial sites.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in contaminated land consulting, operating at Principal / Director level.
• Proven experience leading teams, projects and client relationships.
• Strong technical grounding across investigations, remediation & reporting.
• Ability to manage delivery, people and commercial outcomes simultaneously.
• EPA Auditor (or working towards), or CEnvP SC / similar level of technical standing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of 50+ consultants across Sydney.
• Take ownership of project delivery, resourcing and performance across the business unit.
• Act as the senior client interface across key infrastructure, industrial and government projects.
• Oversee technical quality, reviewing outputs and setting delivery standards.
• Mentor Principals, Seniors and emerging leaders within the team.
• Drive project strategy, commercial outcomes and operational efficiency.
• Work closely with the CEO on business direction, growth and team structure.

Job description

• $220,000 - $250,000 + Employee Profit Share
• Sydney Area Manager – Lead a 50+ Consultant Team
• National consultancy with major infrastructure, power & industrial clients

As the Sydney Area Manager / Principal Environmental Scientist in Contaminated Sites, join a national consultancy where you’ll lead the Sydney business unit operationally and commercially.

This is a role for someone who wants to step beyond pure technical oversight and take ownership of a team, clients, and delivery outcomes. You’ll be responsible for shaping the direction of a 50+ person Sydney operation, backed by a national platform and reporting directly to the CEO.

The work is already there; major infrastructure, power, desalination, and complex industrial/residential sites. Your role is to lead the team delivering it, strengthen client relationships, and ensure the business continues to perform at a high level.

The Role

You’ll operate as the Sydney lead – accountable for team performance, client outcomes, and project delivery across contaminated land & remediation, reporting directly into the CEO.

• Lead and manage a team of 50+ consultants across Sydney
• Take ownership of project delivery, resourcing and performance across the business unit
• Act as the senior client interface across key infrastructure, industrial and government projects
• Oversee technical quality, reviewing outputs and setting delivery standards
• Mentor Principals, Seniors and emerging leaders within the team
• Drive project strategy, commercial outcomes and operational efficiency
• Work closely with the CEO on business direction, growth and team structure

Who You’ll Work With / Culture Fit

This is a consultancy built on technical credibility and consistent delivery. The Sydney team is well established, busy, and trusted by major clients – what’s needed now is strong leadership to bring it all together.

You’ll be surrounded by technical specialists across CLM, auditing, occupational hygiene and climate, giving you depth across projects while you focus on leading people, clients and outcomes. The structure is open, direct and low on hierarchy – you’ll have the autonomy to run Sydney as your own.

What You’ll Bring

• 15+ years in contaminated land consulting, operating at Principal / Director level
• Proven experience leading teams, projects and client relationships
• Strong technical grounding across investigations, remediation & reporting
• Ability to manage delivery, people and commercial outcomes simultaneously
• EPA Auditor (or working towards), or CEnvP SC / similar level of technical standing
• Comfortable operating as the senior leader of a business unit