Permanent Contract (after a 12 month probationary period).  Member of Port EHS Group reporting to the Chief Executive.

Context:

• Dublin Port is the busiest port in the country with 16,500 annual vessel movements
• The Port handles 88% of national Ro-Ro and 73% of national Lo-Lo traffic and approaching two-thirds of petroleum consumed in Ireland comes through the Port.
• Port volumes are growing and increasing the environmental impact from road haulage and ship emissions
• The basic infrastructure of the Port is upgraded and added to on the basis of Masterplan 2040 and it is envisaged that the Port will reach full capacity by 2040.
• In addition to the objective of providing sufficient port capacity to cater for projected growth, Masterplan 2040 also has a core objective to re-integrate the Port with the City based on the Port’s heritage and culture.
• Dublin Port is located in the environmentally sensitive and protected area of Dublin Bay and is surrounded on the land side by densely populated urban and suburban communities.
• Port operations and construction works potentially impact the environment in a number of aspects including air quality, water quality and noise.
• The requirement to understand, measure, report and mitigate environmental impacts (whether due to operations or construction) is increasing and Dublin Port needs to be at the forefront in understanding its environment in all of these dimensions.
• Port plans and projects are subject to detailed environmental analysis including SEA, EIA and AA and these require comprehensive, authoritative and lengthy data time series of multiple environmental aspects.
• DPC actively engages with local communities and groups to tell the story of the Port to ensure that key stakeholders understand the Port’s importance and relevance.

DPC’s environmental management is based on a systematic approach founded on international standards

Qualifications, experience & required skills/expertise

• NFQ Level 8 (or equivalent) science qualification in a relevant area
• Relevant Masters or doctoral qualification is desirable 
• Ten years’ experience in a senior scientific role involving the measurement, analysis and reporting of environmental parameters relevant to Dublin Port’s situation.
• A record of preparing and presenting scientific reports and papers and actively participating in national and international organisations to identify and learn from best practice and keep abreast with current up to date thinking.
• An ability to authoritatively make scientific research and findings relevant and accessible to non-scientific audiences.
• Knowledge and experience in managing environmental management systems to recognised standards such as ISO 14001
• An understanding and belief in the Natural Capital approach to compensate for the consumption of non-renewable resources and environmental degradation caused by port operations and development
• A proven ability to enthusiastically and convincingly communicate verbally and in writing

DIMENSIONS

Environmental data

• It is essential that all relevant environmental parameters are identified and programmes instituted to systematically collect and analyse measurements of these parameters
•  A comprehensive data base of all environmental parameters must be maintained and available for the preparation of reports needed for a variety of consent processes
• Statutory limits for key environmental parameters must be understood and trends measured against these limits

Systems and standards

• It is essential that DPC maintains certification to environmental standards such as ISO 14001
• Objectives and targets for environmental improvement must be reviewed and updated at least annually
• Environmental audits must be planned and completed in collaboration with EHS specialists in the various functional areas (Land Operations, Engineering Services and the Harbour Office)
• Corrective actions and preventative actions (CAPAs) must be identified, recorded and acted on.

Improvement initiatives

• Measures to improve DPC’s environmental performance must be identified and programmes designed to implement these measures
• Best practices in other ports must be understood and approaches successful elsewhere adapted and introduced in Dublin Port

Port tenants

• The environmental obligations of tenants under leases and other agreements with DPC must be understood and performance against these obligations monitored and audited.

Natural Capital

• Data on the consumption of non-renewable natural capital and on environmentally damaging emissions must be gathered and analysed in collaboration with colleagues in the Engineer Services function and Harbour Office

Representation

• DPC must be professionally represented in meetings with State / public bodies such as DCC, Dublin Bay Biosphere and the EPA and solid relationships developed and maintained.
• Solid relationships must be maintained with organisations such as ESPO and the BPA which give access to best practice in other ports around the world.
• DPC must work closely with universities and partake in and promote research.

Communication

• DPC’s environmental performance must be communicated to a wide range of stakeholders including in an annual Sustainability Report.
• Periodic scientifically robust and detailed reports on DPC’s performance on selected environmental aspects are essential to ensure that the organisation gives appropriate focus in areas of specific increasing interest or in areas where problems are emerging.

Consent process

• It is essential comprehensive data is available for the preparation of environmental analysis for consent processes of various types.
• The work of external experts in the preparation of applications for consents must be rigorously evaluated and challenged to ensure DPC maintains a robust and coherent approach to environmental management.

TOP ACCOUNTABILITIES

• The collection of all relevant environmental data and the maintenance of a comprehensive database of data over time to inform consent processes and to provide a basis for measuring performance over time and trends.
• Analysis and reporting
• Identification and mitigation of potential future environmental problems
• Response to and management of environmental impact from accidents or incidents.
• Maintenance of certifications and management of the company’s environmental management system
• Environmental audits within DPC functional areas and of tenants
• Preparation of an annual Sustainability Report in collaboration with others

BARRIERS TO SUCCESS IN ROLE

• DPC breaches statutory or other environmental limits
• DPC is unprepared and slow in responding to new and emerging environmental obligations and requirements
• DPC exhibits negative trends or shows no improvements in areas of environmental performance amenable to control and influence by DPC
• There is a lack of co-ordination of effort across different disciplines and functional areas in DPC to achieve company-wide strategic objectives
• DPC does not routinely publish indicators and analysis of trends against key environmental parameters