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Group Environmental Officer

Dawn Meats • Ireland • Added on Aug 18, 2026
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This role places you at the operational heart of environmental management for a major food producer. You will take ownership of site-level compliance, overseeing everything from EPA licensing and waste management to the technical performance of effluent treatment plants. It is a hands-on position that bridges the gap between high-level group strategy and daily facility operations across multiple Irish sites.

The impact here is significant because the meat industry faces intense scrutiny regarding its environmental footprint. By driving the ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 systems, you directly contribute to the group’s decarbonization pathway and resource efficiency goals. Your work ensures that sustainability is not just a corporate claim but a verified operational reality at the factory gate.

This suits someone who possesses a strong engineering or environmental science background and enjoys the rigor of technical auditing and data analysis. You should be comfortable navigating industrial settings and communicating complex regulatory requirements to diverse operational teams.

Job-FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary focus is ensuring full compliance with EPA licenses and environmental regulations across various production plants. You will oversee the technical and financial performance of onsite Effluent Treatment Plants, ensuring wastewater management meets strict quality standards. Beyond compliance, you will act as a lead for the energy and resource team. This involves measuring and reporting on carbon, water, and waste KPIs to drive group-wide reduction targets. You are also responsible for maintaining and continuously improving formal management systems like ISO 14001 and ISO 50001.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain deep expertise in industrial-scale environmental management within the food and beverage sector. You will be exposed to the complexities of the EPA regulatory environment in Ireland and the practical application of international standards like ISO 50001 for energy management. Working across multiple sites provides a unique perspective on how different operational environments tackle climate resilience and resource scarcity. You will also develop skills in strategic carbon reporting and large-scale utility auditing, which are highly valued in the evolving ESG landscape.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal profile holds a degree in Environmental Science or Engineering and brings at least three years of experience in an industrial or energy-focused role. Technical literacy is vital, particularly regarding mechanical and electrical engineering techniques used in resource management. You should be a data-driven professional who is proficient in Excel and comfortable writing technical reports for governing bodies. Since the role involves liaising with site managers and external contractors, strong communication skills and the ability to work independently across different locations are essential.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, highlight your direct experience with EPA licensing or similar regulatory frameworks. Use your application to demonstrate a track record of improving resource efficiency—be specific about kilowatt-hour reductions or waste diversion rates you have achieved in previous roles. Since this is a group-level role, show that you can balance the technical details of a single site with the broader strategic goals of a large organization. Mentioning your familiarity with the specific environmental challenges of the meat or agri-food industry will also give you a significant advantage.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

This role is central to the company’s decarbonization and circularity efforts. It focuses heavily on reducing the environmental intensity of meat processing, specifically through improved effluent treatment, water recycling, and energy efficiency. You will also contribute to climate change resilience by auditing sites to identify vulnerabilities in resource supply and waste streams. Your work directly feeds into the group’s sustainability reporting, ensuring that carbon reduction claims are backed by rigorous, site-level data.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

Balancing compliance rigour with operational demands is a frequent challenge in high-volume food production. You may face pressure to maintain effluent plant performance and energy targets while the facility meets intense production schedules. Managing data across multiple locations can also be complex. Ensuring consistency in reporting and KPI tracking across different teams requires persistence and a highly organized approach to documentation and stakeholder management.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might start with reviewing effluent treatment plant performance data and addressing any anomalies in site compliance. You might then transition to an energy audit at a production facility, walking the floor to identify opportunities for resource savings. Afternoons are often spent in meetings with the Group Environmental Manager or external contractors to discuss ongoing sustainability projects. You will likely spend significant time analyzing utility data and drafting reports to ensure that all EPA and ISO requirements are meticulously documented.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

As an international business with a €4.5bn revenue, Dawn Meats offers a wide playing field. Success in this role could lead to senior management positions within the Group Environmental or Sustainability departments. There are also opportunities for lateral moves into operations or engineering management, given the technical nature of the role. As the company expands its sustainability initiatives, you could oversee larger strategic projects related to renewable energy or supply chain decarbonization.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will report directly to the Group Environmental Manager while working closely with site-based environmental teams and plant managers. These internal relationships are key to implementing new energy and waste initiatives. Externally, you will be the primary point of contact for regulatory bodies like the EPA and local authorities. You will also manage relationships with specialized contractors, utility providers, and waste management service partners.

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