How to apply for Principal, Human Health Risk Assessment, Community Health Impact Assessment, Emerging Contaminants

About Ramboll Management Consulting

Ramboll is a global engineering, architecture, and consultancy firm with a strong focus on sustainability and decarbonization. Its Management Consulting arm helps clients navigate complex environmental, health, and sustainability challenges, making it a compelling place for those passionate about creating sustainable business models. The company's commitment to shaping a sustainable future and its collaborative, expert-driven culture are key draws.

About the role

As a Principal in Human Health Risk Assessment, you will lead business development and technical delivery for clients facing complex environmental and public health challenges. You'll work at the intersection of science, strategy, and business development, helping clients navigate regulatory and stakeholder environments. This role is pivotal in growing Ramboll's Health Sciences practice and making a tangible impact on community health and sustainable development.

A typical day

A typical day might involve leading a client meeting to discuss a human health risk assessment for a contaminated site, mentoring junior staff on technical approaches, and developing a proposal for a new business opportunity. You could also spend time reviewing regulatory updates on emerging contaminants and collaborating with colleagues from other practices to integrate solutions for a client. The role blends technical expertise, strategic thinking, and relationship-building.

Who Ramboll Management Consulting is looking for

• Advanced degree (PhD, MS, or MPH) in toxicology, environmental health, epidemiology, or a related field, with 10+ years of experience in human health risk assessment and community health impact assessment.
• Proven track record in business development and client relationship management within the environmental consulting sector, including experience with industry, government, and legal clients.
• Deep technical expertise in emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS), regulatory frameworks (e.g., CERCLA, RCRA), and risk communication.
• Strong leadership skills and experience mentoring junior staff, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines such as water, site solutions, and sustainability.

Tips for this application

• Highlight your experience in business development and client management, specifically mentioning revenue growth or major client wins in environmental health consulting.
• Tailor your resume to emphasize projects involving human health risk assessment, community health impact assessment, and emerging contaminants like PFAS.
• In your cover letter, explicitly reference Ramboll's focus on decarbonization and sustainable business models, and explain how your work aligns with their mission.
• If you have experience working with legal-sector clients (e.g., providing expert testimony or litigation support), make sure to showcase it, as this is a key aspect of the role.
• Use the preferred locations to your advantage: if you are near one of the listed hybrid locations, mention your willingness to work hybrid; if not, emphasize your ability to work remotely effectively.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your specific experience in leading human health risk assessment projects, including any work with emerging contaminants and community health impact assessments.', 'Concrete examples of business development successes, such as growing client accounts, winning proposals, or expanding service offerings.', "Your ability to work at the intersection of science, strategy, and business development, and how you've helped clients navigate complex regulatory and stakeholder environments.", "Your alignment with Ramboll's mission of driving decarbonization and sustainable business models, and your passion for protecting communities while supporting sustainable development."]

Research before applying

• Explore Ramboll's Health Sciences practice area on their website to understand their service offerings, key projects, and thought leadership in human health risk assessment.
• Research Ramboll's recent projects or publications related to emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS) and community health impact assessments to speak knowledgeably about their work.
• Understand Ramboll's broader sustainability and decarbonization initiatives, as these are central to their brand and may come up in interviews.
• Look into the backgrounds of the leaders in the Global Health Sciences team to understand their expertise and potential synergies with your own experience.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach business development in the human health risk assessment space, particularly for emerging contaminants like PFAS?
• Describe a complex environmental health project you led, including how you managed client relationships, regulatory challenges, and stakeholder engagement.
• What is your experience with community health impact assessments, and how do you ensure that community concerns are addressed in risk assessments?
• How do you stay current with emerging contaminants and evolving regulatory frameworks, and how do you translate that knowledge into client solutions?
• Give an example of how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams (e.g., water, sustainability) to deliver integrated solutions for clients.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on technical skills without demonstrating business development or client management experience, which is crucial for this principal-level role.
• Ignoring Ramboll's emphasis on sustainability and decarbonization; candidates who don't show alignment with these values may be seen as a poor cultural fit.
• Providing generic examples of risk assessment work without highlighting experience with emerging contaminants or community health, which are specific to this role.