Pre-Contracts Manager, Sustainability & Environment

Downer is seeking a Pre-Contracts Manager, Sustainability & Environment to play a critical leadership role in shaping how sustainability, environmental performance and decarbonisation are embedded into major infrastructure, energy and utilities projects from the earliest stages.

Reporting to the Sustainability & Environment Director, this role sits within Downer’s Energy & Utilities Business Unit and is responsible for integrating environmental and sustainability expertise into Early Contractor Involvement, bids and tenders.

You will partner closely with Pre-Contracts, Estimating, Commercial and Operational teams to ensure environmental risks, approvals pathways and sustainability opportunities are identified early and incorporated into competitive, compliant and innovative tender solutions.

This is a unique opportunity to influence how large-scale infrastructure projects are shaped before delivery begins.

About the Role

As the Pre-Contracts Manager, Sustainability & Environment Manager, you will provide strategic leadership and technical expertise across the tender lifecycle, ensuring sustainability and environmental considerations are embedded into project design, methodology and commercial strategy.

You will support the volume and complexity of bids undertaken across the Energy & Utilities business while positioning Downer to meet statutory environmental planning requirements, client sustainability expectations and our decarbonisation commitments.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading sustainability and environmental input across ECI phases, bids and tenders
• Identifying environmental approvals pathways, planning risks and regulatory requirements during the pre-contract phase
• Developing high-quality sustainability methodologies, tender returnables and management plans
• Embedding decarbonisation initiatives and sustainability outcomes into tender solutions
• Supporting the development of environmental and sustainability cost estimates and risk pricing
• Advising bid teams on environmental legislation, approvals processes and compliance requirements
• Managing specialist consultants supporting bids and tenders
• Partnering with operational teams to translate practical sustainability strategies into project delivery models
• Strengthening tender submissions through knowledge sharing and lessons learned from major projects
• Contributing to the ongoing improvement of Downer’s environmental and sustainability bid frameworks and documentation

About You

You are a strategic sustainability and environmental professional who understands how to translate complex regulatory, environmental and sustainability considerations into practical, commercially viable project solutions.

You thrive in fast-paced bid environments, can influence senior stakeholders and bring a balance of technical expertise and commercial awareness.

You will bring:

• Tertiary qualifications in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Sustainability, Planning, Energy or similar
• 10+ years’ experience in environmental or sustainability roles within infrastructure, energy, utilities or major projects
• Experience supporting bids, tenders, ECI or pre-contract project phases
• Strong knowledge of Australian and New Zealand environmental legislation and approvals processes
• Demonstrated experience translating client sustainability requirements into compliant tender solutions
• Strong written communication skills with experience developing methodologies, management plans and tender submissions
• Commercial awareness and the ability to identify environmental risks, opportunities and cost implications
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing capability across technical and operational teams

Desirable:

• ISAP accreditation or infrastructure sustainability training
• Experience with ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems
• Knowledge of sustainability rating tools such as IS Rating

Why Join Downer?

This role offers the opportunity to influence sustainability outcomes across major energy, water and infrastructure projects of national significance.

You will work alongside industry experts and contribute to shaping how sustainability and decarbonisation are embedded into future projects across Australia and New Zealand.

We offer:

• The opportunity to influence major infrastructure and energy projects
• A collaborative and supportive leadership environment
• Flexible work options and wellbeing programs
• Career development and leadership pathways

If you are passionate about shaping the next generation of sustainable infrastructure, we encourage you to apply.