Technical Director/Principal

Technical Director/Principal

RPS has an opportunity for an experienced Technical Director – Ecology to join our Environmental Approvals & Management team. This is a senior role for an industry leader who brings deep ecological expertise, strong commercial acumen and a genuine passion for developing people and shaping exceptional client outcomes.

About RPS

RPS is a connected global professional services firm of 5,000 people across 125 countries. We define, design and manage projects that create positive impact in a complex and fast-changing world. We are confidently pragmatic, solutions focused and known for making complexity easy.

The opportunity

This role leads high-level ecological technical delivery across large and complex projects, providing strategic advice, technical direction, mentoring, troubleshooting and commercial guidance. You will work seamlessly across disciplines and geographies, helping position RPS as a preferred supplier through excellence in service delivery.

As a key leader within our Ecology Practice, you will also contribute to business strategy, champion cross-collaboration, and build relationships that support sustainable growth.

Key responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Provide advanced technical leadership across multiple sectors and regions
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and interface with other business units
• Lead strategic business development and identify new opportunities
• Offer expert advice on complex ecological issues, reporting and project risks
• Ensure best practice in quality, commercial performance, and client satisfaction
• Mentor, coach and develop technical staff and assist with workforce planning
• Contribute to the development and implementation of practice-level strategy
• Uphold and champion RPS’s commitment to health, safety and wellbeing

About you

You will be an industry leader who brings:

• Extensive ecological experience across a range of sectors and geographies
• Recognised expertise with a reputation for high-quality technical delivery
• Proven experience delivering complex, multidisciplinary projects
• Strong commercial insight and an ability to develop long-term client partnerships
• Well-honed communication and presentation skills
• A collaborative, people-focused leadership style
• The ability to coach, mentor and nurture technical capability within your team

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in a relevant field
• Professional certification as required (including BAM Accreditation in NSW or equivalent)
• Active engagement in professional development, industry forums and conferences

The benefits of working with RPS

When you join RPS, you will be part of a team that invests in your growth and wellbeing. Our standard benefits include:

• 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
• $250 active lifestyle allowance per annum
• 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, employee assistance program, service recognition and more.

Ready to apply?

If you are an ecological leader who thrives on delivering technical excellence, guiding teams and shaping meaningful environmental outcomes, we welcome your application. Apply now and help us continue to make complex easy.

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.