Nature Lead

Overview

Join Arup in Cork, Ireland, as a senior ecologist dedicated to advancing sustainable development while respecting the natural environment. Work alongside multidisciplinary teams on projects that support communities, enhance biodiversity, and address climate change challenges across infrastructure, energy, water, urban development, and environmental restoration sectors.

Role and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and technical leadership for a team of ecologists across Ireland, promoting an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performance culture.
• Lead ecology-related assessments such as Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Appropriate Assessments (AA) of plans and projects, biodiversity impact evaluations, mitigation planning, and monitoring programs.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert on Irish and EU ecological legislation, including the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, as well as national planning guidelines and environmental agency requirements.
• Ensure ecological deliverables meet high standards of quality, consistency, and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and sustain strong client relationships by providing authoritative advice and contributing to project strategy & commercial objectives.
• Drive business growth by supporting tenders, proposals, and exploring new service avenues such as biodiversity net gain, nature-based solutions, and ecological improvements.
• Mentor and develop ecologists within the team, aiding their professional accreditation and career advancement.
• Collaborate with various disciplines to integrate ecological considerations into design and project executions from early stages.

Candidate Requirements

• A degree or higher qualification in ecology or a related field.
• Full membership or eligibility for the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), ideally holding or progressing towards Chartered Ecologist (CEcol) status.
• Demonstrated experience leading ecological consultancy projects within Ireland, particularly complex EcIA and AA cases.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Irish planning procedures and environmental consenting processes.
• Proven leadership abilities in managing teams, projects, and client relationships.
• Strong communication skills enabling effective representation of ecological considerations in multidisciplinary teams and external forums.

Additional Attributes

• Passion for business development within ecology-related services.

Why Choose Arup?

• Opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects in an employee-owned consultancy that values purposeful work aligned with social and environmental goals.
• Access to continuous professional development including training, mentoring, and global collaboration opportunities.
• Competitive salary packages coupled with a unique global profit-sharing program.
• A supportive culture emphasizing wellbeing through health insurance, flexible working arrangements, wellness programs, and employee assistance services.
• A strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equality, creating an environment that values differences and ensures accessibility.

Diversity and Inclusion

Arup embraces diversity and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals regardless of age, gender identity or expression, disability, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics. They maintain accessible recruitment and workplace practices to foster an inclusive environment.

Join Us

If you are motivated to lead ecological efforts that make a positive impact on communities and the environment, consider joining Arup’s extraordinary team dedicated to shaping a better world.