MKO Planning & Environmental

With 10 positions across Galway, Dublin, and regional offices, jobs at MKO span the environmental and planning consultancy's core disciplines — ecology, planning, environmental impact assessment, and renewable energy consulting. As one of Ireland's largest specialist environmental consultancies, MKO works on wind farms, solar projects, infrastructure programmes, and strategic housing developments, and the current openings reflect strong demand across all these sectors.

Ecology is MKO's signature discipline, and the listings include positions for Ecologists and Senior Ecologists who conduct field surveys, habitat assessments, and species monitoring across project sites nationwide. If you're wondering what specific expertise is needed, jobs at MKO in ecology frequently require experience with bird surveys (vantage point, breeding, wintering), bat surveys, habitats directive assessment, and ecological impact assessment (EcIA) — skills directly applicable to the planning consent process for wind energy and infrastructure projects.

Environmental consulting roles complement the ecology positions. Environmental Scientists and EIA Coordinators prepare environmental impact assessment reports (EIAR) for planning applications, coordinating inputs from noise, air quality, hydrology, and landscape specialists. These roles suit environmental professionals with experience in Irish and EU environmental legislation, including the Birds and Habitats Directives, Water Framework Directive, and EPA licensing requirements.

The planning consultancy side includes Planners and Planning Consultants who manage strategic planning applications for energy, housing, and commercial developments. Working closely with clients and regulatory bodies — including An Bord Pleanála, NPWS, and local planning authorities — these roles require strong report-writing skills and an understanding of national planning policy.

Jobs at MKO also extend into GIS and data analysis, with positions for GIS specialists who manage spatial data, produce mapping outputs, and support environmental assessments with geospatial analysis. Proficiency in ArcGIS, QGIS, and environmental datasets is highly valued.

With offices in Galway and Dublin and project sites spanning the entire country, MKO offers an alternative to the larger multidisciplinary consultancies — providing focused environmental and ecological expertise within a growing, Irish-owned firm that plays a central role in the country's renewable energy and infrastructure development programmes.