Associate Director Environmental Impact Assessment

Your role

As an Associate Director – EIA, you will:

• Lead Major EIA Projects: Provide senior environmental expertise as the EIA lead on a diverse range of major infrastructure projects (with a focus on transport and other linear infrastructure), ensuring all environmental deliverables are technically robust while also meeting project objectives and stakeholder expectations.
• Optioneering Assessments: Provide senior environmental expertise in the feasibility and optioneering stages of a Project. Be familiar with Multi-Criteria Assessment procedures for major infrastructure projects.
• EIAR Screening: Provide senior environmental expertise in EIAR screenings for Projects. Ensure that the screening process follows planning and environmental legislation and guidelines.
• EIA Coordination & Technical Quality: Coordinate and review complex environmental documentation – including planning applications, EIARs, Natura Impact Statements (NIS), and related studies – to ensure technical excellence, accuracy, and full compliance with Irish planning laws and national/EU environmental legislation (including the EU EIA Directive and associated guidelines and waste legislation). Lead rigorous quality assurance and peer review processes for all EIA deliverables to uphold high technical standards.
• Consenting Strategy & Compliance: Develop and implement effective environmental consenting strategies for projects, aligning EIA activities with statutory requirements and best practices. Guide projects through Ireland's planning approval processes, leading the environmental components of Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) and local Part 10 planning applications for major projects (e.g. national road and rail schemes), and liaising with An Coimisiún Pleanála and local authorities to facilitate successful consents. The candidate will also be required to lead projects through the MAC application process with MARA.
• Multidisciplinary Team Leadership: Assume a senior leadership role on large, complex multi-disciplinary projects. Coordinate inputs from a wide range of technical specialists – including ecologists, planners, engineers, hydrologists, air quality and noise experts, landscape architects, cultural heritage consultants, contaminated land experts, GIS analysts, and others – to produce cohesive, comprehensive EIARs and environmental reports. Provide clear direction and mentorship to project teams, ensuring all members work collaboratively and effectively towards project goals.
• Waste Management: You will provide expertise in waste management and be familiar with waste management legislation and guidelines.
• Engagement with Engineering Teams: Assume a senior leadership role in coordinating with in-house and external engineers throughout the EIAR process. Working with the Client and engineers to pre-empt risk and to advise the Client and engineers on suitable design to de-risk it. The candidate will have experience in liaising with engineers on major infrastructure projects.
• Engagement with Third Party Specialists: Proactively work with 3rd party consultants by preparing a Scope of Work, agreeing budgets, providing project updates,
• Innovation & Risk Management: Proactively identify and implement innovative solutions to de-risk the environmental consenting process, improve programme certainty, and enhance environmental outcomes. Monitor and manage environmental and planning risks throughout project development, advising on mitigation measures and adaptive strategies to address potential issues early in the project lifecycle.
• Client Engagement & Advisory: Serve as a senior environmental advisor to clients by providing strategic guidance on EIA scope, planning and consent implications, and environmental best practices. Represent AtkinsRéalis in engagements with stakeholders, regulators, and the public – including leading environmental presentations at pre-planning meetings, public consultations, and hearings as needed.
• Business Development: Champion business growth by contributing to and leading tender proposals and bids for new projects. Work closely with our market leads to win new commissions, including developing pricing and delivery strategies for EIA services. Strengthen client relationships through exceptional project delivery, and identify opportunities for expanding our environmental services portfolio in line with AtkinsRéalis' strategic objectives.
• Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams across AtkinsRéalis – particularly with transportation planners, design engineers, and other environmental discipline leads – to ensure integrated project delivery. Coordinate with colleagues across our Ireland and UK offices to leverage specialist expertise. You will also engage and manage external environmental sub-consultants, maintaining excellent working relationships to complement our in-house capabilities.
• Project & People Management: Oversee project planning, budgets, and resources for environmental work streams, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest quality standards. Manage and mentor team members, fostering a positive and inclusive team environment. You will develop junior staff through knowledge sharing and guidance, and contribute to resource planning and recruitment to build capacity in our EIA team.