Principal Environmental Economist

Company Description

At AECOM, we’re delivering a better world.

We believe infrastructure creates opportunity for everyone. Whether it’s improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive.

Our clients trust us to bring together the best people, ideas, technical expertise and digital solutions to our work in transportation, buildings, water, the environment and new energy. We’re one global team - 47,000 strong - driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world.

Here, you will have freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

We will give you the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion - a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

We will encourage you to grow and develop your career with us through our technical and professional development programs and diverse career opportunities. We believe in leadership at all levels. No matter where you sit in the organization you can make a lasting impact on the projects you work on, the teams and committees you join and our business.

We offer competitive pay and benefits, well-being programs to support you and your family, and the development resources you need to advance your career.

When you join us, you will connect and collaborate with a global network of experts - planners, designers, engineers, scientists, consultants, program and construction managers - leading the change toward a more sustainable and equitable future. Join us and let’s get started.

**Job Description**:
The Role

AECOM is actively seeking an Environmental Economist with expertise in natural capital accounting for immediate full-time permanent employment in our growing Nature-based Solutions team within our Sustainability & Resilience Practice, preferably located in Brisbane, but location can be flexible.

We’re looking for someone who is committed to creating positive environmental and sustainability outcomes. Through this role you will be given the opportunity to help grow the business, developing and enhancing relationships with clients, winning and delivering projects. The team works across all aspects of the natural capital agenda including natural capital accounting and assessment, biodiversity assessment, ecological restoration, nature-based solutions including blue carbon on a wide range of projects and markets for ecosystem services. You’ll employ your creativity to develop and support the implementation of ideas and solutions to deliver effective environmental and sustainability outcomes and improved project performance.

While you will be embedded within our Environmental business, we offer the ability for you to work across business lines (particularly our water business) as well as maintain strong links with the economics/ infrastructure advisory team who will be able to provide aspects of your career development including mentoring, technical support and verification. Through this team you would also be able to tap into a network of economics, feasibility and business case specialists around the country.

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
+ Supporting in the delivery of projects relating to natural (and other types of) capital, ecosystem services, biodiversity, TNFD, nature positive strategies and related policy research

+ Assembling and analysing qualitative and quantitative data

+ Contributing to the development of ideas and potential solutions for more effective environmental and sustainability outcomes and improved project performance

+ Keeping up to date with relevant legislation, policy, guidance and best practice relating to natural capital, ecosystem services and environmental valuation

+ Assisting in the delivery of project outputs with direction from senior members of the team including - for example, proposals, literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, project reports, natural capital asset and ecosystem service valuation, natural capital accounts, cost-benefit analyses, and related technical studies

+ In addition, you will play a role in collaborating across AECOM’s business lines to help empower our staff across all relevant disciplines to confidently embed nature-based solutions and natural capital accounting into projects.

We have an extensive portfolio of experience built from working with all levels of government, major infrastructure providers, industry organisations and peak bodies, global and national built and natural asset owning organi