Principal Rail Consultant

Principal Rail Consultant - (PRCNSLTEUK.1)

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Job Title

Location

D IE (Primary)

Category

Consulting

CPCS Advisors to infrastructure leaders
Better infrastructure solutions. Better lives.

Position details

Title: Principal Consultant
Status: New Permanent, Full-Time
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Travel: Regional and international travel required as role demands for business development and project work.
Annual salary range: Salary is dependent on experience.

Who we are
At CPCS, we're collaborative, fun, and deeply dedicated advisors that are shaping the development of infrastructure because the world depends on good infrastructure to function. And good infrastructure can look like this:

Our mission is exactly this: Finding the better solution to any given transportation, energy, and infrastructure challenge or opportunity that ultimately affects peoples' day-to-day lives. Our purpose is clear: Better infrastructure solutions = Better lives. By joining a global employee-owned management consulting firm, you'll tackle big challenges that shape economies and communities worldwide.

Headquartered in Canada with offices around the world, our 180+ CPCSers have completed over 1,700 projects in 120 countries. On any given day, we could be strategizing ways to reduce road congestion, helping governments modernize their energy sectors, or solving freight transportation challenges. If you thrive on intellectual curiosity, problem-solving, and collaboration, you'll find your place at CPCS.

Are you deeply invested in the rail transport sector in Ireland? Do you enjoy tackling complex challenges and turning ideas into real-world impact? If so, this role is for you.

As our Principal Rail Consultant in Ireland, you'll lead the charge in establishing our presence in Ireland, setting up an office, and expanding our client base across the Irish transport ecosystem. As part of our Europe & UK Division, you'll collaborate with colleagues to grow our footprint, lead strategic engagements, and deliver high-impact projects that contribute to Ireland's transport and mobility goals. This is a unique chance to build something from the ground up - supported by a global, purpose-driven team.

Your responsibilities

Under the guidance of our co-Vice Presidents, Europe & UK, you will:

• Lead business development in Ireland, securing engagements with public agencies, consulting partners, and private-sector clients.
• Establish and manage our Dublin office, including operational setup and day-to-day oversight.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with government bodies, transport agencies, regulators, and industry partners.
• Serve as Project Manager on priority consulting assignments.
• Recruit and develop local consultants, building a sustainable Ireland-based team.
• Represent the firm at key industry events, conferences, and stakeholder forums to strengthen our visibility and thought leadership.
• Drive project pipeline development, strategic partnerships, and new market opportunities.
• Bring forward new ideas - innovation and initiative are core to how we work.

What you bring to the team

• Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, economics, public policy, finance, or related field.
• Minimum 9 years of experience in the rail transport sector.
• Strong track record in business development, with experience securing and delivering consulting work.
• Demonstrated project management capabilities, ideally within rail advisory.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Legal right to work in Ireland.

This will set you apart from other candidates

• Experience setting up and managing a new office or local team.
• Strong understanding of Irish transport procurement and delivery processes (e.g., Irish Rail, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, National Transport Authority).
• Prior work with government departments or transport agencies in Ireland.
• Recognised thought leadership, such as conference speaking, technical publications, or industry contributions.

Support for you, professionally and personally

We're not just about work-we're about growth, impact, and meaningful connections.

Professional growth: We support your growth at CPCS and professional development by providing training, coaching, mentorship and regular feedback.

Meaningful connection: We believe in engaging collaboratively with passionate, diverse and motivated clients, team members and stakeholders to understand various viewpoints.

Competitive compensation: We offer all team members competitive base salaries along with a benefits package that includes health and wellness programs. You could be eligible to receive a performance-based bonus. With time and proven excellence, you may be invited to become a company shareholder and benefit from company dividends and profit sharing. We also believe in offering flexible work arrangements and ample, defined time off.

Apply today

Thank you for your interest.

• Applications will be accepted until March 6, 2026
• Only those selected for consideration will be contacted
• A portfolio of relevant graphics/visualizations, projects, participating in a case study or written exercise will be required for shortlisted candidates

Submit a cover letter explaining why you're interested in this role and detailed resume identifying your qualifications. If you have applied to our positions before and already have a profile, please log in here to apply for this position. If you are a new applicant, click Apply below to create your profile and submit your application.

Our Recruitment Process

Our recruitment process includes the following steps:

• Application review: We carefully assess every application
• A phone screening: A quick chat to get to know you better and answer any questions
• Case study: A written test to assess your quantitative analysis and writing skills
• An interview with the hiring team (VP of the division) and potentially other team members: A deeper conversation about your experience, skills, and what excites you about CPCS
• Final discussion: For some roles, we may have an additional step to ensure a great fit
• Offer and onboarding: If it's a match, we'll welcome you to the team!

Please be advised that AI technology is used in the interview process for note recording.

Our recruitment practices

CPCS is an equal opportunity employer. We actively encourage applications from women, persons with disabilities, members of ethnic minority communities, members of the Traveller and Roma communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and other underrepresented groups. We foster an environment where our people feel safe, heard and valued. Our belief is that we all have unique talents, perspectives and backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.