Principal Scientist - Environmental Planning and Management

Principal Scientist – Environmental Planning & Approvals

Perth, WA

Who we are

RPS, a Tetra Tech company, is a leading global professional services consultancy focused on creating solutions that support sustainable communities and environments. With 27,000 employees across 550 offices worldwide, we combine local expertise with global capability to deliver complex projects across the environment, infrastructure, energy and urban development sectors.

Within our Australia Asia Pacific business, our Environmental Planning & Approvals team partners with clients to deliver practical, science-led solutions across marine and coastal environments, environmental approvals, impact assessment, planning and sustainability.

Our people are passionate about helping clients balance environmental responsibility with project success, contributing to projects that protect and enhance natural systems for future generations.

We are currently seeking an experienced Principal Scientist to join our Environmental Planning & Approvals team in Perth.

This is an opportunity for an accomplished environmental professional to provide senior technical expertise across complex multidisciplinary projects, develop practical approvals strategies and contribute to high-quality outcomes for our clients across Western Australia.

The opportunity

As a Principal Scientist, you will be a trusted senior technical specialist within our Environmental Planning & Approvals team.

You will provide expert environmental advice across a diverse portfolio of projects, supporting clients to navigate State and Commonwealth environmental legislation, approvals processes and environmental management requirements.

Working collaboratively with environmental specialists, project managers and multidisciplinary teams, you will contribute to the planning and delivery of complex projects from early strategy and assessment through to approvals and implementation.

This role will suit someone who enjoys solving complex environmental challenges, preparing high-quality technical advice and building trusted relationships with clients, regulators and project stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Provide environmental approvals advice and develop practical strategies to help clients navigate State and Commonwealth legislative requirements

• Deliver senior technical input across environmental planning, impact assessment and management projects

• Prepare and review environmental assessments, approvals documentation, technical reports and management plans

• Provide technical advice, analysis and support across complex and multidisciplinary projects

• Coordinate technical inputs from environmental specialists and other project disciplines

• Engage with clients, regulators, consultants and other project stakeholders

• Support the preparation of proposals, scopes of work and project methodologies

• Contribute to project planning, quality assurance and effective risk management

• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to colleagues

• Contribute to innovation, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement across the team

Who you are

You will be an experienced environmental professional with a strong background in environmental planning, impact assessment, approvals or environmental management, ideally gained within a consulting environment.

You will also bring:

• Degree qualifications in environmental science, environmental management, planning, ecology or another relevant discipline

• Strong knowledge of Western Australian and Commonwealth environmental legislation and approvals processes

• Demonstrated experience delivering complex environmental assessments and approvals projects

• High-quality technical writing, analysis and report review skills

• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills

• The ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary project teams

• Sound project management and commercial awareness

• A practical and solutions-focused approach to environmental consulting

• Professional certifications and active involvement in relevant industry organisations will be highly regarded.

• Why RPS?

• We are committed to creating shared value for our clients, communities and people. At RPS, you will be part of a connected and collaborative team where technical excellence, practical thinking and innovation are genuinely valued.

We offer:

• Professional development and career progression opportunities

• A supportive team culture that celebrates collaboration and success

• Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance

• Active wellbeing and community engagement initiatives

• Annual professional membership reimbursement

• Paid parental and partner leave

• A $250 active lifestyle allowance each year

• An additional annual leave purchase scheme and salary packaging options

• Professional and technical development programs, including study assistance, online learning and mentoring across portfolios

• Active office social events, an employee assistance program, service recognition and more

If you are looking to apply your technical expertise to meaningful and complex environmental projects within a globally connected business, we would love to hear from you.

Our Approach 

Our people live our purpose, deliver our promise, and demonstrate our behaviours every day. Our behaviours define who we are. Developed by our people, they underpin everything that we do. They create the memorable experiences we are known for and make RPS a great place to do great work. 
Stronger together is one of our five core behaviours and it is key to building a collaborative workplace. We encourage everyone to bring their best and to support others to do the same. By sharing knowledge, challenging each other to think differently, and fostering an environment of trust and respect, our people can learn, grow and thrive – and share in our success. 

Recruitment Agencies

We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on this list. Please refer to the careers page on our website if you require any further information.