Graduate / Early Career Environmental Consultant - Approvals And Permitting

Aventus Consulting Pty Ltd (Aventus) is a Melbourne-based consultancy specialising in providing environmental and safety approvals, auditing and management services to the energy industry (with a focus on the upstream petroleum sector and offshore renewables). We cover all onshore and offshore exploration and production-related activities. Aventus is respected for delivering high quality tailored client advice. 

Aventus does not work on roads, rail, mines or other infrastructure projects. We are experts in the energy industry. We are passionate about the energy industry. 

We’ve worked on a frontier drilling campaign in the Great Australian Bight, a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, an Australian-first offshore gas storage project, a transition zone (onshore and offshore) seismic survey and Australia’s first offshore wind farm project. We are currently gearing up to work on several offshore wind farm projects. 

The role

The Environmental Consultant reports to the Managing Director and the role involves the following: 

• Undertaking desktop research to support and prepare environmental impact assessment (EIA) documents such as:
  • Offshore Environment Plans (EPs);
  • Onshore Environmental Management Plans (EMPs); 
  • Offshore Management Plans (under the new Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021); and
  • EPBC Act Referrals. 
• Coordinating (scope, manage and review) specialist consultants to deliver technical studies used to support EIA (e.g., ecology, cultural heritage, oil spill, underwater sound, produced formation water, drill cuttings and muds dispersion modelling) and summarising and interpreting results for EIA reports. 
• Contributing to the preparation of Oil Spill Emergency Plans (OPEPs) and Operational and Scientific Monitoring Programs (OSMPs).
• Participating in project risk assessment workshops.
• Assisting with or undertaking stakeholder consultation, which involves: 
  • Preparing and maintaining stakeholder registers.
  • Preparing and disseminating stakeholder collateral.
  • Participating in stakeholder meetings. 
  • Providing environmental and regulatory advice to stakeholders in plain English. 
  • Analysing the results of stakeholder engagement to determine issues for consideration in EIA.
  • Recording meeting outcomes and summarising stakeholder engagement for inclusion in EIA documents.
• Liaising with government regulators. 
• Providing environmental and regulatory advice to clients. 
• Working closely with clients’ engineering teams to refine project designs. 
• Assisting clients with project implementation (compliance management, inductions, end-of-project reporting).
• Assisting with inspections and audits and preparing audit reports.
• Networking with external parties/professional bodies for technical knowledge enhancement.
• Building relationships with clients to promote the business.
• Working to a high standard within time and budget.
• Contributing to the preparation of project proposals.
• Supporting the Managing Director with other duties as required.

This role is a full-time staff position based in the Melbourne office (Cheltenham). 

Required qualifications 

• Tertiary qualification in Environmental Management, Marine Ecology/Biology, Environmental Engineering, Natural Resources Management or similar.

Skills and experience 

This is a graduate or Early Career role that requires the following skills and experience: 

• Fresh out of university or up to two years consulting experience. 
• Well-developed technical writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Well-developed computing skills. 
• Ability to read and interpret legislation.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Desktop research skills.
• Vehicle driving licence. 

Personal qualities 

In this role, you are expected to possess the following personal qualities: 

• Be career-focused and willing to put in the hard yards.
• Strong work ethic.
• Strong attention to detail. 
• Personable and friendly.
• Ability to work independently as required.
• Must be prepared to travel by vessel and helicopter offshore.
• Ability to meet project requirements in a deadline-driven working environment (adaptability and flexibility are a must).

Benefits and perks

• You will be working in a small team where you are highly valued both by the business and its clients.
• You will be joining the business during an exciting growth phase. We are working on a number of exciting projects. 
• Informal, fun and flexible workplace. 
• Interesting projects; no two days are the same. 
• Support to develop your professional and technical skills.
• Office is located a short stroll to open green space, heathland, pool and gym facilities.