Role: Principal Consultant (Water Infrastructure) 

Location: Adelaide, Melbourne or Brisbane (Hybrid)  

Role ID: 2025-2904

Our vision is to create a safe and sustainable world  

Ricardo plc is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company, listed on the London Stock Exchange. With over 100 years of engineering excellence and employing close to 3,000 employees in more than 20 countries, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading-edge and innovative cross-sector sustainable products and solutions. Every day, we enable our customers to solve the most complex and dynamic challenges to help achieve a safe and sustainable world.  

We are seeking a Principal Consultant with an engineering background, and preferably with a focus on asset planning in the water sector, to join our Infrastructure team. This role is ideal for someone with project leadership experience across industries such as water, energy and utilities, with demonstrated expertise in a relevant engineering discipline, municipal infrastructure, asset planning, and project management. 

This role offers the opportunity to take on both technical leadership and team management responsibilities, shaping project outcomes while mentoring and guiding members of our high-performing team.  

We welcome applicants from all engineering disciplines, with a preference for civil, chemical or mechanical engineering but all disciplines will be considered. Experience in the water sector is highly desirable for this role. Experience within the mining industry will also be highly regarded.  

The role may be based in one of three office locations – Adelaide, Melbourne or Brisbane – with options for hybrid working. However, the preference is for the candidate to be based in Adelaide. 

Key responsibilities  

• Lead and manage a team of consultants to deliver high-quality work on time and on budget, and offer guidance, support, and professional development opportunities. 

• Lead the delivery of multidisciplinary infrastructure projects with a focus on water and/or mining sector assets.  

• Direct bid preparation and proposal development. 

• Serve as primary client contact on projects, managing scope, schedule, quality, safety, and financial performance. 

• Generate new opportunities and relationships with prospective clients by developing strategies and initiatives to further grow the business.  

• Proactively seek out development opportunities to strengthen your reputation as a Subject Matter Expert. 

Key competencies and experience  

• Minimum Bachelor degree in Engineering (all disciplines considered with preference for civil, chemical or mechanical engineering). 

• Relevant experience (9+ years) in a similar role within a consulting or professional services environment will be valuable, as will demonstrated client-side experience. 

• Experience leading a team and managing multiple projects with competing demands. 

• Demonstrated experience managing projects to completion, within budget and to a high standard. 

• Ability to provide clear direction and leadership, ensuring high performance and team cohesion. 

• Proven track record of high-quality technical outputs. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, and ability to learn new systems and software quickly. 

• Experience with water and/or sewer hydraulic modelling software will be highly regarded 

Skills and behaviours  

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills; able to produce high quality reports as well as communicate confidently with a variety of clients and stakeholders. 

• Strong research and analytical skills. 

• Well-developed customer service capabilities with the ability to develop and nurture stakeholder relationships at all levels, both internally and externally. 

• Team player, able to provide support to the wider team on projects. 

• Growth mindset and willingness to learn and improve expertise. 

• Excellent project management and client relationship skills. 

• Interest in strengthening client relationships and business development. 

• Embraces Ricardo’s values – Create Together, Be Innovative, Aim High, and Be Mindful – and aims to lead others towards high standards of performance and behaviour. 

Working with Ricardo 

Ricardo is an exciting and rewarding place to work and you will have the opportunity to make a difference. You will work with teams of talented, dedicated, and supportive individuals. Ricardo provides opportunities to develop your career through involvement in a diverse range of projects, mentor/mentee relationships and a personalised approach to your learning and development. We are always keen to hear from people who have drive, ambition and a flair for innovative thinking. 

Next steps 

Once you have submitted your application, a member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch. Please be aware that the timing can vary dependent on the volume of applications that we receive for each role and in some cases, we may start to review applications prior to the closing date. 

Please advise the recruitment team if you require any adjustments to support you throughout the recruitment process. 

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion statement 

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer – we believe in each person's potential, and we'll help you reach yours. We have an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach. We value diversity, recognising that a more diverse workforce creates a richer and more varied working environment. Diversity also drives innovation, by allowing us to offer our clients the best consultancy service that we can. As part of our commitment to engage positively and pro-actively with all our employees and ensure a culture of inclusivity, we are a recognised as a 'disability confident' employer.  

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