Associate Director

Ayesa Engineering - UK and Ireland; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Flexible working

Pension match

Income protection

Life assurance

Training and development

Enhanced family benefits

25 days annual leave

Recognition awards

Job summary

Ayesa Engineering is seeking an Associate Director to lead the ecology and EIA team in Ireland. The role combines technical leadership, project oversight, client relationship management, and business development to drive profitable growth.

The successful candidate will be a respected ecology expert, delivering complex projects, mentoring a high-performing team, and developing opportunities aligned with Ayesa engineering strategy.

Qualifications

• Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Sciences, or related discipline.
• Extensive experience in ecological assessment, habitat and species surveys, and environmental reporting per Irish/EU legislation.
• Knowledge of EIAR, Habitats Directive, AA Screening, and planning/regulatory processes.
• Proven ability to act as technical lead on large, multidisciplinary projects.
• Ability to provide technical review, QA, and strategic direction on ecological inputs.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for ecological inputs on major EIA/EIAR projects across sectors.
• Oversee project delivery to time, budget, and standards.
• Mentor ecologists and environmental professionals across Ireland.
• Lead client meetings, design reviews, and stakeholder consultations.
• Support business development and development of service offerings.
• Identify opportunities and contribute to forecasting and planning.

Skills

Ecology knowledge

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory knowledge

Mentoring

Education

Ecology degree

Tools

GIS

GIS tools

EIAR reporting tools

Job description

Location: Ireland

Ayesa Engineering is a leading multidisciplinary engineering and project management firm with more than 60 years of experience shaping the future of the built environment. With more than 3,200 professionals in over 16 countries across the globe, the company offers innovative design, construction supervision, and consulting services in key sectors, including transportation, water, buildings and cities, and energy. A Top 50 Global Engineering firm, Ayesa Engineering is recognised for its technical excellence and its ability to manage complex infrastructure projects for public and private clients, combining deep sector expertise with a commitment to sustainability and cutting‑edge solutions.

What You Will Be Doing

Role Overview:

The Associate Director will lead Ayesa engineering EIA and ecology team in Ireland, providing technical leadership, strengthening our market position, and driving profitable growth. This senior role combines team leadership, major project oversight, client relationship management, and business development.

The successful candidate will be a respected expert in ecology and environmental assessment, capable of delivering complex projects, mentoring a high‑performing team, and developing new opportunities aligned with Ayesa engineering strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical Leadership

• Lead ecological and environmental inputs for major EIA/EIAR projects across multiple sectors.
• Ensure technical excellence through high‑quality project design, review, and delivery.
• Provide expert advice on ecological assessments, protected species, habitats, mitigation, and Irish/EU environmental legislation.
• Oversee Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening and Natura Impact Statements and large scale ecology surveys.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of planning policy, regulatory frameworks, and environmental best practice.

2. Project & Operational Management

• Lead and manage multiple concurrent ecology and EIA projects, ensuring delivery to time, budget, and required standards.
• Oversee project financial performance, resource allocation, and risk management.
• Support multidisciplinary collaboration across Ayesa’s engineering, environmental, and planning teams.
• Represent Ayesa engineering at client meetings, design reviews, and stakeholder consultations.
• Line‑manage and mentor ecologists and environmental professionals across Ireland.
• Build team capability through coaching, recruitment, and knowledge sharing.
• Promote a collaborative, high‑performance culture focused on quality and client delivery.
• Support skills development in ecological methods, legislation, and digital environmental tools.

4. Business Development & Growth

• Identify new markets, opportunities, and strategic clients aligned with business objectives.
• Prepare and lead bid submissions, proposals, scopes of work, and fee estimates.
• Build strong relationships with clients, regulators, and industry partners.
• Represent Ayesa engineering at conferences, industry events, and professional forums.

5. Commercial & Strategic Contribution

• Contribute to strategic planning for environmental services within Ayesa engineering Ireland.
• Improve service efficiency, profitability, and client experience.
• Support development of new service offerings, innovation, and digital approaches.
• Provide input into forecasting, business planning, and operational performance management.

What You Bring:

1. Technical Expertise

• Degree (and preferably postgraduate qualification) in Ecology, Environmental Science, Natural Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience in ecological assessment, habitat and species surveys, and environmental reporting in line with Irish and EU legislation.
• Strong working knowledge of EIA/Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) requirements, Habitats Directive (Appropriate Assessment), and relevant national planning and regulatory processes.
• Proven ability to act as technical lead on large, complex, and multidisciplinary projects.
• Ability to provide authoritative technical review, quality assurance, and strategic direction on ecological inputs.

2. Professional Standing

• Chartered Ecologist / Chartered Environmentalist (or working toward chartership) strongly preferred.
• Recognised reputation within the ecology and environmental consultancy community in Ireland or the UK.
• Demonstrable experience representing clients at planning hearings, consultations, and with statutory environmental bodies.
• Experience managing and mentoring multidisciplinary environmental or ecology teams.
• Ability to motivate, coach, and develop staff at different career stages.
• Demonstrated success in resource planning, workload management, and delivering to agreed budgets and timescales.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to build a strong team culture across offices.
• Strong understanding of consultancy commercial drivers, fee structures, and effective project financial management.
• Experience preparing and negotiating proposals, scopes, and contracts.
• Track record of improving project profitability and delivering work efficiently and to high standards.
• Ability to identify commercial risks and implement mitigation strategies.

5. Business Development & Growth

• Successful track record in winning new work and growing client accounts.
• Strong existing network within key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, water, transportation, or development.
• Ability to identify market opportunities and develop service offerings aligned to business strategy.
• Confidence in leading client engagements, preparing tenders, and presenting Ayesa’s capabilities at industry events.

6. Communication & Relationship Management

• Excellent verbal, written, and graphical communication skills.
• Ability to liaise effectively with clients, regulators, local authorities, and internal project teams.
• Skilled at simplifying complex ecological and environmental information for diverse audiences.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.

7. Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance operational delivery with long‑term team and business planning.
• Proactive, solutions‑focused, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• High professional integrity and commitment to environmental best practice.
• Resilient and adaptable, comfortable working in a fast‑paced and evolving consultancy environment.
• Experience working within large engineering or multidisciplinary consultancy environments.
• Understanding of digital environmental tools, GIS, and data‑driven ecological assessment.
• Experience in leading or contributing to innovation, new service lines, or thought leadership within ecology or EIA.

What Success Looks Like in This Role:

• High‑quality delivery of EIA and ecology work across Ireland.
• A motivated and growing team with strong internal capability.
• Strong pipeline of work and improved market presence for Ayesa in environmental services.
• Trusted relationships with clients, regulators, and key stakeholders.

What We Offer:

• Competitive Salary: We offer a competitive salary package to attract and retain top talent in the industry.
• Flexible Working: Enjoy flexible working hours and hybrid working, allowing you to achieve a better work-life balance.
• Employer Pension Match Scheme: We offer a pension match scheme to help you secure your financial future.
• Income Protection: Receive support in safeguarding your income in the event of illness or injury.
• Life Assurance: Gain peace of mind with life assurance coverage.
• Training and Development Programme: Access a range of training and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career.
• Family & Well-Being Support: Benefit from our Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Benefits and our confidential support services to address personal or professional challenges, included in our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Sports and Social: Engage in our vibrant sports and social activities to foster a sense of community and well-being among our team members.
• Increased Annual Leave: 25 days’ annual leave plus statutory bank holidays, enjoy increased annual leave entitlements based on years of service.
• Recognition Awards: Receive recognition for your contributions through our awards program, celebrating achievements and excellence.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.