Environmental Impact Assessment Lead

  • Full-time
  • State/Province: Queensland
  • Business Group: DCS
  • Legal Entity: AECOM Australia Pty Ltd
  • Business Line: Environment
  • Work Location Model: Hybrid
  • Operating Group: International
  • Primary Location: AU - Townsville, QLD

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

“AECOM has given me the opportunities, support and trust to build a career that's aligned with my ambitions and interests.” Lauren Spring, Environment Manager, Perth

Come grow with us.

AECOM's environmental practice is dedicated to helping industries, clients and governments meet their environmental responsibilities while protecting the natural environment. We provide advisory and technical services to ensure compliance, manage impacts, and reduce risks, including obtaining permits and approvals, decommissioning and restoring contaminated sites, and tackling climate change challenges and resilience. We focus on preserving habitats, water quality, stakeholder engagement and cultural resources, promoting a holistic approach to environmental impact management at every project stage.

Shape the future of environmental approvals through the lens of ecology.

We're looking for a senior environmental professional who can connect ecology with project approvals, helping clients navigate complex environmental challenges and deliver meaningful outcomes. Whether you're an experienced ecologist looking to influence strategy and approvals, or an approvals specialist passionate about biodiversity, this role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of science, policy and decision-making.

You'll lead high-profile projects, advise clients and regulators, mentor talented professionals, and help grow a market-leading ecology and environmental approvals practice. If you're motivated by solving complex problems, building trusted relationships and making a positive impact on both projects and the environment, we'd love to hear from you.

In this role, you will bring together ecological expertise, environmental impact assessment and approvals strategy to support sustainable development of energy transition, water security and transport projects.

How you’ll make a difference

  • Lead environmental impact assessments and State and Commonwealth approval processes.
  • Apply ecological values, biodiversity risks and sensitive design to develop practical approval strategies.
  • Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and oversee the preparation of environmental assessments, management plans and approval documentation.
  • Provide strategic advice to clients while managing project scope, budgets, programs, resources and technical quality.
  • Build trusted relationships with clients, regulators and stakeholders, while contributing to proposals and business development.
  • Mentor team members and support the continued growth of AECOM’s Ecology and Impact Assessment & Permitting practices.

Qualifications

The qualities that help you thrive

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.

  • A bachelor’s degree in ecology, environmental science, environmental management, natural resource management, planning or a related discipline.
  • Significant environmental consulting experience, ideally at Senior,  Principal or comparable level.
  • Experience in ecology and biodiversity assessment with exposure to environmental impact assessment or approvals.
  • Knowledge of Commonwealth and relevant Queensland environmental and planning approval frameworks.
  • Experience managing complex projects, multidisciplinary teams, budgets, programs and client relationships.
  • Strong communication, leadership and mentoring skills, with the ability to contribute to proposals and business development.

Additional Information

Why you’ll love working with us

  • Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, 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 lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around 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/.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

 

AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around 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 $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. 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.

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