- $150,000 – $170,000 + super | Brisbane or Sunshine Coast

- Build a dedicated Offsets function from an existing pipeline

- Lead the technical process from field data through MHQA to Offset Management Plans

Principal Ecologist – Ecological Offsets Leader to take an area of work that is already busy and turn it into a properly structured service line.

The consultancy is currently pushing through multiple EPBC referrals across major infrastructure, renewables, transport, pipelines and development projects. The offset work follows naturally, but without a dedicated Offsets specialist, the existing Ecology team is spending too much time working through the finer points of the process.

That is the opportunity here.

You aren't being hired to find a market that may or may not exist. There are 5–6 EPBC referrals moving through in the immediate pipeline, an Ecology team already delivering the underlying work, and Directors operating at the pointy end of State and Federal environmental policy.

Your job is to make Offsets work better, then build something around it.

The Role

This is a technical leadership role. You'll pick up the existing offset requirements, give the Ecologists confidence around what needs to happen at each stage and create a much cleaner pathway from field assessment through to the final Offset Management Plan.

You'll:

- Lead ecological offset delivery associated with existing EPBC referrals and approvals.

- Guide field teams on exactly what data needs capturing, how it should be captured and how it feeds into subsequent assessment.

- Take field data through the Modified Habitat Quality Assessment (MHQA) process and relevant calculations.





- Translate technical outputs into broader Offset Management Plans and approval documentation.

- Review existing workflows and remove the bottlenecks currently slowing project delivery.

- Mentor and educate Ecologists around offset approval requirements, assessment protocols and documentation.

- Work across linear infrastructure, renewables, transport, pipelines and major urban development.

- Bring a commercial lens to offsets, including how offset mechanisms can work for proponents and landholders and considerations around long-term legal protection.

- Over time, build a dedicated Offsets team underneath you and develop this into a standalone service offering.

- Where appropriate, help attract standalone offset work, although your first priority is servicing the substantial existing project pipeline.

The Team

This is a 39-person ecological, environmental planning and spatial consultancy operating across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Northern NSW.

There are around 10 Ecologists across the business, alongside Environmental Planning and Spatial specialists. Despite its size, the consultancy is trusted with significant infrastructure, renewables, transmission, pipeline and major development work.

The Directors come from top-tier engineering consultancy backgrounds,



so there is a strong expectation around technical quality without creating a business buried under corporate layers.

More importantly for this role, senior people within the business are actively involved in industry advocacy and State and Federal policy discussions. You'll be joining a team that understands where environmental approvals are heading rather than simply responding once the rules change.

The Offsets capability will initially sit within Ecology. Get it working well, build confidence internally and, over time, you'll have the opportunity to establish a dedicated team around it.

Experience

We're looking for someone who understands ecological offsets beyond the theory.

- Principal-level Ecologist or environmental qualified with strong offset experience.

- Strong understanding of EPBC offset requirements and approval processes.

- Highly competent with MHQA and the data feeding into offset calculations.

- Able to guide Ecologists on field data requirements and translate that information through the entire offset process.

- Leadership matters. The existing team has capability; they need someone who can give them clarity and confidence.

$150,000 – $170,000 + super depending on experience.

Brisbane is preferred, although the Sunshine Coast office is absolutely on the table for the right person.

If you're interested in this position please don't hesitate to hit Apply or to contact me for further information. Your approach will be held in confidence.

__________________________________

Brett Clemenson
Director & Founder of ALRA – 18+ years in Environmental Recruitment

04•• ••• 446
••••@alra.com.au

#SCR-brett-clemenson

📌 Principal Ecologist – Ecological Offsets Leader (Brisbane)
🏢 Australia's Leading Recruitment Agency
📍 Brisbane