Padraig is a Principal Ornithologist in our Ornithology team. Padraig joined MKO in 2015 and now acts as the technical lead on the team. Padraig discusses how MKO supports his need for flexibility.
Can you share a little about your background and what brought you to MKO?
MKO provided me with the opportunity to help grow a team and develop a career in an area of interest. I grew up loving the natural world. This led me to pursue that interest through my studies. Following university, I worked for environmental consultancies in Scotland, primarily in the renewable industry. The fates somewhat aligned to bring me to MKO. The experience I gained in survey design and execution in Scotland was lacking in Ireland at the time. I was offered the opportunity to use that experience to help build (with Dervla O’Dowd) the ornithology team at MKO. From those humble beginnings, the team now numbers over thirty people.
How does MKO support your need for flexibility, especially with family commitments and other personal responsibilities?
The ability to work from home at MKO has had a very positive impact on my work life balance. Working from home allows me to avoid a long commute, which frees up my evenings to see more of my young family.
Beyond traditional office hours, what does a flexible workday look like for you at MKO and how has this benefited you?
I have a young family at home. At times, balancing work and the needs of my family can be difficult. MKO has always been very flexible when the need arises, whether that be creche drop offs, sick days or childcare issues, my manager has always worked with me to build in flexibility to the workday. If I’ve missed a few hours, I’m free to work them back as opportunity allows over the following few days.
MKO offers remote working and has people based nationwide. How do you stay connected and collaborate effectively with your colleagues and project teams, whether they’re in the office or elsewhere?
Its not news to anyone, but technology has been a game changer for remote workers. Most of my collaborative work is run through Microsoft Teams. Our team schedules weekly check-in call to plan for the week’s work and to address any issues that have arisen. Team cohesion is a key focus for teams with a lot of remote workers. To that end, one of the things done very well at MKO is the company days. There are several in-person company, and within team days throughout the year. These are really great events for getting to know other people in the company, and particularly so, for remote workers who might have fewer opportunities than the office based staff.
What excites you most about the variety of projects you get to work on at MKO?
The biodiversity and climate crisis are two of the big challenges of our time. At MKO, we strive to be part of the solution. MKO is increasingly involved in exciting habitat restoration projects, like the recently permitted Derryclare Peatland Restoration project in Connemara. These projects have their challenges, but it’s very rewarding to feel like you’re making a difference.
As a senior team member, how do you contribute to the growth and development of more junior team members at MKO?
At MKO, there is an open-door policy. We all endeavour to help each other out, in as much as our level of knowledge and experience allows. One thing we’ve found to be immensely beneficial is project debriefs. This practice has meant that the experience gained on a project is not restricted to those directly involved but is instead shared throughout the team at large.
For someone looking to build a long-term career at MKO, what opportunities does MKO offer?
Throughout the teams of MKO, we have developed a clear team structure, which shows a pathway to progression through the various grades. Many of the more senior people at MKO, including me, have been promoted from junior positions to the more senior roles we hold today. I was initially hired in 2015 to carry out field work and now act as technical lead on the team, as Principal Ornithologist.