Principal Environmental Scientist - Contaminated Land

• Technical leadership role shaping QLD delivery as pipeline scales rapidly
• Complex contaminated land work emerging beyond standard dig & dump
• CBD-based team at critical growth phase with hires locked in
• Salary upwards of $200,000 + super, negotiable depending on experience.

Technical Principal Environmental Scientist - Contaminated Land, step into a role where the QLD team has hit critical mass and is now shifting gears. The pipeline is there, the projects are landing, and the focus is moving from volume delivery to technical depth, oversight, and smarter execution.

You’re not coming in to build from scratch. A team of 4 is already humming, a Consultant and Senior flat out delivering, and two juniors about to join. The job now is to lift the technical bar, review work, and free up the QLD Lead to focus on growth, operations, and client expansion.

The work itself is evolving quickly. What was historically dig and dump is now transitioning into more complex contaminated land challenges month by month.

The Role

You’ll sit as the technical backbone of the QLD team, ensuring quality, consistency, and confidence across all delivery.

• Technical review and sign-off across PSI, DSI and remediation projects
• Provide oversight and mentoring to a growing team (Consultant, Senior + incoming juniors)
• Support complex site work as projects evolve beyond straightforward remediation
• Work closely with the QLD Lead to separate delivery from growth and operations
• Engage in technically challenging projects including fuel infiltration and infrastructure-led contamination
• Input into methodology, QA/QC and raising technical standards across the team
• Collaborate with broader national specialists across geotech, hazmat and LAA disciplines

Project exposure includes:

• PSI, DSI and remediation programs across development and infrastructure
• Fuel, energy and industrial contamination projects
• Civil, water and defence-related sites
• Airport tenders involving monitoring and PFAS management
• Increasingly complex works including fuel infiltration and high-risk contamination sites

Who You’ll Work With

You’ll be stepping into a team that is already performing. The QLD Lead is strong commercially and operationally, with high-quality proposals and a clear plan for growth. The addition of LAA capability has lifted the overall offering, and the wider group brings depth across geotech, occupational hygiene and hazmat.

It’s a team environment where people contribute, engage and take ownership. No passengers. The expectation is you’ll add to that, not sit above it.

What You’ll Bring

• 10+ years in contaminated land consulting

• Strong technical capability across PSI, DSI and remediation

• Experience reviewing reports and mentoring junior staff

• Comfortable stepping into a leadership position without needing a title to do it

• QLD project experience highly regarded

• Ability to handle complex contaminated land scenarios as project scope evolves

If you're interested in this position please don't hesitate to get in touch for further information. Your approach will be held in confidence.

Peter Dakers

Associate Director – Environmental Recruitment

0405 487 560

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