About the Company

At Nicholas O'Dwyer, sustainability is at the core of our work. With a proven track record of over 90 years, we are committed to creating a sustainable planet and providing innovative, reliable solutions using cutting‑edge technology and expertise. We deliver infrastructure projects in water, wastewater, transportation, civil and structural engineering, flood protection, and energy—including renewables—across Ireland, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. As part of the RSK Group, an amalgamation of over 200 companies and more than 17,000 employees, we benefit from a global network of opportunities while retaining our brand and autonomy.

About the Role

We are seeking a Principal Consultant – Wastewater to provide senior technical leadership across a portfolio of wastewater infrastructure projects. The role supports the planning, design, procurement, and construction phases of projects, with a strong focus on technical quality, governance, and coordination across multiple project teams. The position will initially focus on UK Water Utility projects, working closely with project teams, clients, and Tier 1 contractors. Opportunities to contribute to Irish and international projects may arise depending on business needs and individual interest.

Key Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a multidisciplinary team of engineers and technicians, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance working environment.
• Provide technical leadership across the design and delivery of wastewater services projects, from initial concept through to completion.
• Manage resources, programmes, and delivery across multiple projects, including programme management, tender management, and business sector support.
• Lead client engagements, provide technical delivery, oversight, and assurance to ensure project and client objectives are met.
• Monitor and control project commercial performance, including cost tracking, variation assessment, change management, and portfolio growth to support continued business development.
• Develop and manage departmental processes to ensure compliance with current technical standards, regulatory requirements, and internal governance.
• Identify, manage, and mitigate technical, commercial, and delivery risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Create, track, and deliver integrated plans across multiple teams and concurrent projects.
• Act as a mentor and coach to junior engineers and emerging leaders across the organisation, supporting technical and professional development.
• Build and lead effective team and group dynamics, promoting ownership, initiative, and proactive working relationships.
• Contribute specialist expertise to develop additional organisational capabilities, including financial management, strategic planning, and service growth.
• Undertake additional responsibilities as required, in line with the evolving needs of the role and the business.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 15 years’ experience in wastewater engineering, including feasibility studies, detailed design, procurement, and construction contract administration for wastewater infrastructure projects.
• Chartered Engineer status or membership of a relevant professional body (essential).
• Proven experience working within Design & Build environments and/or in client‑facing roles.
• Experience working on UK Water Utility projects is desirable but not essential.
• Strong technical knowledge of wastewater engineering principles, relevant standards, regulations, and industry best practice.
• Proficiency in the design of wastewater infrastructure, including the use of appropriate analysis and design software.
• Demonstrated experience delivering wastewater engineering projects of varying scale and complexity.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, coordinate resources, and achieve programme milestones.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads and work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

About Us

Our mission is to deliver sustainable solutions that transform communities and bring about lasting positive change. Through a blend of expertise, innovation and global dedication, we envision a world where sustainable engineering protects growing communities. Nicholas O’Dwyer provides professional services in engineering design, project management, environment and planning, construction supervision and technical and contract advisory. We are one of the most respected Irish consultancies operating in local and international markets, providing professional services to public‑ and private‑sector clients.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Consulting, Information Technology, and Sales

Industries

Civil Engineering