Environmental Scientist / Engineer (Acoustics)

Transport Infrastructure Ireland 

Background

The Environmental Policy and Compliance (EP&C) Section provides technical, legal, and policy support on environmental matters to all TII departments, as well as to National Roads Offices, Project Offices, and Local Authorities. Its areas of responsibility include sustainability, climate change and carbon assessment, biodiversity (including ecology, ecological survey methods, landscape planning and maintenance, and invasive alien plant species), waste and the circular economy, air quality, noise and vibration, soils and geology, water resources, and drainage, among others.

In addition, the EP&C Section ensures that TII complies with national and EU environmental legislation and policy. It also promotes best practice in project design and delivery through project reviews, research, standards development, and participation in international working groups.

Under the European Union (Roads Act 1993) (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2019, TII is designated as an “environmental condition enforcement authority” for national road projects requiring Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and proposed by road authorities. Where An Bord Pleanála (ABP) issues an order for such projects, the relevant road authority must notify TII of the environmental conditions attached to that order. TII is then required to take “reasonable steps” to ensure compliance with those conditions.

Reporting to the Head of Environmental Policy and Compliance, this role provides environmental expertise to support the Section’s processes and procedures for integrating environmental considerations into the planning, construction, and operation/maintenance of the national roads programme and other public transport infrastructure projects.

The role requires specialist knowledge in road and light‑rail acoustics, as it will play a significant part in meeting the Section’s commitments to deliver strategic noise mapping for TII’s road and light‑rail networks.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide expert technical leadership and day‑to‑day oversight to the Environmental Policy & Compliance (EP&C) Section, with responsibility for leading, reviewing, and contributing to acoustic assessments for major transport infrastructure projects across the planning, construction, and operational phases.

• Manage the strategic noise-mapping programme for transport networks and, working closely with different departments across the organisation, undertake strategic noise mapping using specialised modelling software and cloud-computing platforms. Activities include:

o Undertaking health-effects assessments for submission to relevant authorities.

o Preparing narrative reports for issue to statutory bodies.

o Engaging with Local Authorities as they prepare and implement Noise Action Plans.o Engaging with the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Environ- mental Protection Agency in meeting TII’s obligations under the European Communities (Environmental Noise Regulations) 2018, as amended.

o Liaising with network management teams to address general queries related to

noise mitigation measures.

• Provide expertise, technical knowledge in reviewing environmental impact assessment documentation for transport infrastructure projects to ensure best-practice environmental principles are consistently applied.

• Manage the implementation of new noise standards for proposed national transport in- frastructure including engagement with delivery partners and regulatory stakeholders, provision of technical leadership, and monitoring adoption to ensure consistent application and improved environmental outcomes across national road projects.

Provide acoustic advice during the review of project environmental audits to ensure that commitments identified during the planning stages are delivered in accordance with relevant environmental regulations.

• Manage and contribute to national and international research, innovation and knowledge- transfer initiatives that advance environmental best practice across the transport sector. Activities may include:

o Identifying emerging environmental acoustic risks, technologies and opportunities relevant to transport infrastructure planning, construction and operation.

o Managing research programmes and translating findings into practical standards, guidance and policy for implementation across TII projects and networks.

o Procuring and developing updated environmental standards and specifications, including noise mitigation and noise barrier design standards.

o Collaborating with universities, research institutions and industry partners on the development of innovative assessment, modelling and monitoring tools.

o Representing TII within national, European and international technical working groups, research forums and professional networks.

o Publishing, presenting and promoting research outcomes to support evidence-based decision making and continuous improvement across the transport sector

• Liaise with government departments, environmental agencies, local authorities, and other stakeholders on environmental matters related to the planning, construction, and operation of major transport infrastructure projects.

• Oversee research into noise-abatement measures, including innovative barrier designs, and support network-operations teams in addressing day-to-day issues associated with operational noise management across the transport network.• Act as a technical leader within the organisation by identifying emerging trends, risks and innovations in environmental acoustics, assessing their relevance to TII's transport programmes, and promoting their adoption where they deliver measurable environmental and operational benefits.

• Assist in preparing responses to parliamentary questions and public queries and support the Section in preparing materials required under Freedom of Information (FOI) and Access to Environmental Information (AIE) legislation.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of environmental content on the organisation’s website.

• Attend or present at relevant conferences on behalf of the organisation.

Other tasks

• Undertaking such other tasks, activities or other duties as may be required or assigned as appropriate to the grade.

Education & Experience

Essential

• An honours degree (National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Level 8 (or equivalent level)) in Environmental Science (or equivalent discipline).

• Seven (7) years’ experience in working as an environmental professional and be a member of the Institute of Acoustics or membership of an equivalent professional body that represents professional acousticians or be in a position to attain membership within two years from appointment to the position.

• Experience in the planning, design and/or delivery of transport infrastructure projects, particularly from a noise perspective.

• Awareness of the interaction of road and light rail engineering and environment with particular emphasis on acoustics.

• A high standard of technical training, analytical skills and IT proficiency.

• A strong commitment to promoting environmental best practice and ensuring that environmental mitigation measures (especially noise mitigation) implemented on major transport infrastructure projects deliver the functions that they were designed for.

• Excellent communication skills – (verbal, written and presentation).

• Excellent organisation and administrative skills and an ability to work on own initiative.• Excellent working knowledge of environmental legislation related to environment.

• Fluency in the English language, both written and oral.

• Full driving licence.

Desirable:

• A master’s degree in Acoustics (or equivalent discipline) (NFQ Level 9 (or equivalent level).

• Have technical knowledge of, and be up to date with, relevant legislation, policy and TII environmental standards for road construction, the relevant EIA planning legislation and the criteria for evaluation and classification of the significance of impacts.

• Excellent working knowledge of environmental legislation related to environment.

• Knowledge of and experience in sustainable asset management including the design and construction of noise mitigation measures such as noise barriers and low noise pavements.

• Excellent organisation and administrative skills and an ability to work on own initiative.

To apply for, or to locate further information on, these posts please visit our website:

https://www.tii.ie/en/about/careers/

The closing date for applications is Thursday 15th October at 12pm.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland is committed to a policy of equal opportunity.