Associate/ Associate Director

WSP; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading company as an Associate or Associate Director in Transport Planning. You will manage diverse projects, coach junior staff, and develop client relationships in a collaborative environment. This role offers hybrid working and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of managing transport planning projects.
• Experience in leading Transport Assessments and Travel Plans.
• Strong commercial awareness and effective financial management.

Responsibilities

• Support senior leaders in driving growth and expanding market share.
• Manage transport planning projects with a focus on technical excellence.
• Develop and maintain client relationships in the Eastern Region.

Skills

Client Relationships

Transport Planning

Project Management

Analytical Skills

Communication

Tools

MS Office

TRICS

Junctions 10

LinSig

Job description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.
A little more about your role…

We are seeking to recruit an Associate or Associate Director (dependent upon experience) to join our Transport Planning team in our busy Cambridge or Hertford offices. The typical day-to-day responsibilities include the following:

• Support senior leaders in the Mobility Business to drive growth and expand market share with clients across the East of England, with a particular focus on continuing to grow the Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire markets.
• Being present in the office at least 3 days a week (hybrid working) alongside colleagues to help develop and coach junior members of staff.
• Support in the management of the Cambridge/Hertford team, both technically and pastorally. Responsibility for attending resourcing meetings, securing team workload and maintaining utilisation expectations.
• Leading and/or managing a broad range of transport planning projects, with responsibility for project team management and collaboration, budgeting, programming and technical excellence.
• Making an active contribution to four key pillars (People; Clients & Growth; Operations; and Technical Excellence) and supporting the Pillar Leads in these roles.
• Developing and owning new client relationships in the Eastern Region
• Identifying and grasping further opportunities with our existing clients.
• Leading and supporting in the preparation of bids, fee proposals and project programmes.
• Attending and presenting at internal and external technical knowledge sharing events.
• Supervising junior colleagues in undertaking technical tasks and coaching them in acquiring new skills, supporting the growth of our Mobility teams in Cambridge/Hertford.
• Working in a large multi-disciplinary office with access to a range of people at a similar career stage across a variety of fields.

You will have an experience of leading major transport planning commissions, and the versatility to apply your skills and knowledge in transport policy and scheme development. You would also be expected to have experience of managing transport projects and the commercial aspects of bidding, winning and delivering successful schemes.

YOUR TEAM

Our Cambridge and Hertford Mobility Teams consists of transport planning and modelling professionals who work on a diverse portfolio of multidisciplinary and cross-sector projects for both public and private sector clients. These projects include business case development, public and active travel solutions, transport strategies, master planning, access support, and development planning. While our primary focus is on the East of England, we also provide support for projects across the UK and internationally, collaborating closely with our planning, infrastructure design, structures, and environmental teams.

With a strong local and regional pipeline of work, the successful applicant will play a key role in delivering an exciting and challenging range of projects for regional clients, including Local Authorities, Mayoral Combined Authorities, Local Delivery Bodies and Sub-National Transport Bodies.

You will be supported by senior members of the Mobility Team as well as our virtual UK-wide specialist teams, which include industry-leading experts. We embrace a flexible working approach that aligns with individual lifestyles and commitments, prioritising employee well-being.

Our multidisciplinary Cambridge office accommodates approximately 100 desks and is conveniently located, just a 10–15 minute walk from the city centre and a 5–10 minute walk from Cambridge Railway Station. Our Hertford office, is located on the edge of the town and has around 70 staff with good road and rail access.

To find out more about ourMobility business click on the following link and discover what awaits you at WSP: https://www.wsp.com/en-GB/services/transport-planning

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• A proven track record of managing transport planning projects within the East of England and/or the UK.
• A proven ability to act in client facing roles and maintain good client relationships.
• Expertise in active travel, public transport, scheme development, business case development, transport studies, strategies and appraisals.
• Experience in leading the preparation of Transport Assessments and Travel Plans, including providing design advice to developers and architects.
• Experience in leading the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Transport Chapters.
• The ability to work effectively at both strategic and detailed levels, with up-to-date knowledge transport policies and legislations, national and local authority design standards (DMRB, Manual for Streets, Active Travel Act Guidance) and planning processes applicable to the UK.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills and excellent working knowledge of MS Office tools, excel spreadsheets, transport data analysis and presentation and transportation software including TRICS and junction modelling programmes (Junctions 10 and LinSig).
• Familiarity with strategic and microsimulation models would be advantageous.
• The ability to produce technical project and non-technical public reports and presentations for a range of clients and stakeholders to a high technical standard.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with confidence in engaging with clients, stakeholders, and colleagues, as well as presenting at meetings, workshops, and public forums.
• Project management expertise, including reviewing client briefs and tenders, developing fee proposals, and leading project delivery through workload supervision, task delegation, junior staff mentoring and managing client expectations.
• Strong commercial awareness including effective financial management.

Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Apply, and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities within the team.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

With us, you can. Apply today.
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