Terrestrial Ecosystems Ireland Principal

Are you a senior environmental consultant or ecologist looking for the opportunity to work across a broader environmental consulting landscape? Do you have a strong ecological background, but want to apply your expertise across major infrastructure, renewable energy, EIA, restoration and biodiversity projects? Are you ready for a senior role where you can combine technical leadership, project delivery, client relationships and business development, whilst helping reshape the future direction of a growing environmental consultancy?

This is an opportunity to join APEM and play a key role in the continued development of a wider environmental consulting offer in Ireland. While ecology and terrestrial ecosystems are at the heart of the role, the opportunity is much broader than a traditional ecology position. Our work spans complex EIARs, major infrastructure and renewable energy projects, habitat restoration, biodiversity planning and long-term monitoring.

We’re looking for someone who can strong technical skills, but who is also interested in the bigger picture of environmental consulting. That could be through a specialism such as freshwater, bats, birds, restoration or natural capital, or through a broader environmental consultancy background with experience across impact assessment and major projects. In this role, you’ll lead complex projects, provide trusted technical advice and work closely with clients, design teams and project stakeholders. You’ll also have the opportunity to build senior relationships, contribute to business development, manage teams and help develop the next generation of environmental consultants.

To be successful in this role, you’ll need:

• 6+ years’ post-graduate experience in environmental consultancy or a similar environment.
• Strong environmental assessment experience, ideally across major infrastructure or other large-scale projects.
• A strong ecological background, with either broad environmental capability or a recognised technical specialism.
• Excellent knowledge of ecological legislation and planning policy across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the EU.
• Proven project management, technical report writing and team leadership experience.
• Strong commercial awareness, with experience managing budgets, clients and project delivery.
• The confidence to build client relationships, contribute to business development and provide pragmatic environmental advice.

Bonus points if you have:

• A specialism in freshwater, bats, birds, restoration, natural capital or another related ecological discipline.
• Experience across renewable energy, infrastructure, transport, restoration or biodiversity projects.
• Experience with EIARs, Natura Impact Statements or major infrastructure proposals.
• Chartered CIEEM membership or equivalent professional membership.
• Experience in business development or key client management.

We’re open to hearing from candidates across Ireland, with remote working available. If you choose to work remotely, you’ll need to be comfortable working independently from home and have proven experience of managing and supporting teams remotely, while maintaining strong communication and collaboration with colleagues and clients.

For the right person, this is about more than leading ecology projects, defined by a technical specialism. It’s an opportunity to operate across ecology, aquatic environments, EIA, infrastructure, renewable energy, restoration and biodiversity, while building trusted client relationships and helping shape the next phase of our consultancy.

If you’re looking for a principal-level role where your technical expertise is valued, but you also want the influence, variety and commercial exposure that comes with helping grow an environmental consultancy, we’d like to hear from you.