Job Description

Principal Marine Scientist

At RPS, a Tetra Tech company, we define, design and manage projects that create shared value for our communities. We solve complex environmental challenges through technical excellence, collaboration and innovation.

As our Marine Science and Approvals team continues to grow, we are seeking an accomplished Principal Marine Scientist to join our Perth team.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced marine consultant to take a leading role in the continued growth of our Marine Science capability. Working alongside nationally recognised specialists, you will lead the delivery of complex marine environmental projects while developing client relationships, mentoring technical staff and helping shape the future direction of our team.

Our Perth Marine Science and Approvals team delivers projects across ports and coastal infrastructure, government and the energy sector, with a particular focus on water quality, sediment quality and benthic ecology.

The opportunity

As a Principal Marine Scientist, you will provide both technical and commercial leadership across a diverse portfolio of marine and coastal projects.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the delivery of complex marine environmental and coastal projects from proposal through to completion
• Providing technical leadership across multidisciplinary project teams
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with government and private sector clients
• Identifying opportunities for business development and preparing successful proposals and tenders
• Leading water quality, sediment quality and benthic ecology investigations, analysis and reporting
• Implementing quality assurance processes against industry and regulatory guidelines and standards
• Providing strategic technical advice to clients on marine environmental management and approvals
• Planning and overseeing marine field programmes, including vessel-based environmental surveys both in Western Australia and interstate
• Preparing and reviewing high-quality technical reports, environmental assessments and management plans
• Managing project commercial performance, including budgets, scheduling and risk management
• Mentoring senior, graduate and early-career marine scientists to support technical excellence across the team
• Collaborating nationally with specialists across hydrodynamic modelling, metocean studies, marine ecology, coastal engineering, environmental approvals and other technical disciplines

About you

You are an experienced marine consultant with a strong technical reputation, commercial acumen and a passion for developing people and building long-term client relationships.

You will ideally bring:

• A degree in Marine Science, Marine Biology, Environmental Science, Oceanography or a related discipline
• A postgraduate qualification or PhD would be highly regarded
• Extensive experience delivering marine environmental monitoring projects
• Demonstrated expertise in water quality, sediment quality and marine environmental assessments
• Strong understanding of coastal infrastructure, ports, or offshore energy projects
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary projects and complex client programmes
• Demonstrated success in business development, proposal preparation and client relationship management
• Experience leading and mentoring technical teams
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and report writing skills

Highly regarded experience includes:

• Ports and coastal infrastructure projects
• Offshore baseline environmental surveys
• Environmental approvals and regulatory processes
• Benthic ecology and marine environmental monitoring
• Experience using GIS, Python, MATLAB or environmental modelling software
• Coxswain certification
• Australian baseline security clearance

Why join RPS?

Joining RPS means becoming part of a nationally recognised team delivering some of Australia's most significant marine and coastal projects. You will have the opportunity to influence the direction of our Marine Science capability, develop emerging technical talent and build lasting relationships with clients across government and industry.

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
• $250 active lifestyle allowance per annum
• Additional annual leave purchase scheme and salary packaging options
• Professional and technical development programmes, including study assistance, online learning and mentoring across portfolios
• Active office social events, employee assistance programme, service recognition and more

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.