Environmental Scientist – Peatlands Restoration

Environmental Scientist – Peatlands Restoration

Restore Landscapes. Protect Climate. Shape a Sustainable Future.

We’re proud to be delivering nationally significant peatland restoration programmes across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, supporting ambitious national strategies for nature recovery and climate action. With long‑term government frameworks and a growing pipeline of restoration projects, we currently have an opportunity for an Environmental Scientist – Peatlands Restoration to join our specialist team in Belfast.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute directly to climate resilience, carbon sequestration, biodiversity enhancement, and sustainable land management. If you are passionate about environmental science, fieldwork, and GIS‑based restoration planning, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful impact within a collaborative, mission‑driven environment.

As an Environmental Scientist, you will play a key role in developing and delivering peatland restoration plans for government agencies, water authorities, and private clients. This role is a balance of field‑based work—typically 30–40%—and desk‑based GIS analysis, reporting, and restoration planning. You will carry out site surveys to measure peat depth, assess restoration features, and collect data using digital tools, often working in remote upland environments.

You will analyse peatland topography, hydrology, and land‑use constraints using ArcGIS Pro, LiDAR data, and aerial imagery to produce robust restoration plans that align with national peatland strategies. The role also involves preparing tender documentation for contractors, supporting project delivery, and engaging with stakeholders such as clients and landowners through meetings and workshops. You will collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team of specialists across ecology, hydrology, engineering, and GIS.

In the short term, you will contribute to high‑quality site surveys and develop GIS‑based restoration plans for active frameworks. Over the medium term, you will take greater ownership of key restoration project components, leading aspects of data collection, analysis, and reporting. In the long term, you will have the opportunity to contribute to national peatland strategies, influence best practice approaches, and support Tetra Tech RPS in growing its role as a leader in peatland restoration and environmental resilience across the island of Ireland.

At RPS, we recruit using core capabilities—the essential skills, experience, and responsibilities required to perform the role effectively. But here’s the secret: there’s no such thing as the perfect candidate. If you feel you meet around 75% of the requirements, we’d love to hear from you.

You will have experience developing peatland restoration plans that integrate ecological principles, hydrological processes, and land management considerations. You will understand how to design restoration measures that support national climate commitments, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity enhancement. Your technical expertise will enable you to deliver robust, site‑specific plans that improve long‑term environmental resilience.

Fieldwork is a central component of this role. You will undertake detailed peat depth surveys, map restoration features, and work across remote and challenging terrains while maintaining high standards of accuracy and safety. This role requires resilience, excellent fieldwork capability, and the flexibility to work long days or occasional overnight stays during survey periods. Your ability to adapt to varying weather and ground conditions will ensure the collection of reliable data to support effective restoration planning.

You will bring strong GIS skills and advanced proficiency in ArcGIS Pro to manage complex spatial datasets and create accurate restoration maps. You will interpret LiDAR datasets to understand peatland topography, drainage patterns, and…