Associate / Associate Director, EIA - Onshore Renewables (UK Wide)

WSP USA; Guildford; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Thrive health & wellbeing program

Gymflex discounts

Job summary

WSP UK is seeking an Associate or Associate Director to lead environmental contributions across onshore renewables projects. You will direct planning applications, EIA studies and DCO support, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams to deliver high-quality environmental outcomes.

We explore strategic planning, bids, and client engagement, with an emphasis on leadership, stakeholder management, and delivering sustainable design within UK planning regimes.

Qualifications

• Relevant environmental or planning degree and chartership status or active progression toward chartership.
• Experience delivering Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for onshore renewables within UK planning regimes.
• Knowledge of Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) and related consent processes.
• Ability to lead client communications and maintain relationships with regulators and the public.
• Understanding of policy trends and public consultation processes.
• Strong report writing, communication, and quality assurance capabilities.
• Proven people management and team development experience.
• Experience contributing to strategic planning, bids, and business development.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental contributions across project designs and assessments for onshore renewables.
• Direct planning applications, EIA studies, and DCO examination support.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams and manage recruitment, bidding, and project delivery.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships and stakeholder engagement.
• Drive innovation and improve environmental performance across projects.

Skills

Environmental leadership

Client communications

Strategic planning

People management

Attention to detail

Stakeholder engagement

Risk & compliance awareness

Education

Environmental or planning degree

Chartered status / towards chartership

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…

Onshore renewable energy technologies play a leading role in meeting the rising demand for power, maintaining secure and reliable energy supplies, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and delivering future energy schemes to help create a sustainable world.

WSP helps clients plan and execute large-scale renewable energy projects, including solar photovoltaic, onshore wind and battery energy storage systems. Armed with a workforce of highly skilled engineers, scientists and technicians, we partner with clients to meet their clean energy objectives.

As one of the largest environmental consultancies in the UK, you’ll get the opportunity to contribute to major onshore renewable energy projects and support the energy transition towards Net Zero. You’ll be encouraged to explore new ideas in a culture that values curiosity and diverse perspectives.

With increased support at Governmental level across the UK for onshore renewables, the continued growth of this sector will bring increased scrutiny and challenges. As an Associate or Associate Director in our Environmental Consents team, you’ll play a key role in navigating this landscape—supporting the development of onshore renewables projects through strategic planning, environmental advice, and technical studies.

You’ll contribute to some of the UK’s most significant and transformative onshore renewables projects, delivering services such as planning applications and EIA, and support for DCO examinations and planning inquiries to name a few.

This is a post which is of strategic significance for our business and represents a challenging and exciting opportunity to identify, win and deliver multi-disciplinary inputs for onshore renewable projects. We need people with creative spirit, a dedicated approach and a solid grounding in environmental design, assessment and management at any stage of the development project lifecycle.

Join a great organisation

As either an Associate or Associate Director, you will collaborate with a diverse team of technical specialists and design professionals to lead and coordinate environmental contributions across project designs and assessments. You will be instrumental in improving the environmental performance for a range of onshore renewables projects.

The role would suit an enthusiastic individual looking to influence, lead and deliver environmental elements of onshore renewables projects. You will have responsibility for directing and leading projects including tasks relating to recruitment, bidding, project team management, project delivery, and financial management.

• Playing a key role in growing our onshore renewables sector offer, working with sector leads and client account managers to drive thought leadership and win new business.

• Providing environmental advice and support to clients, project managers and colleagues.

• Working with colleagues, environmental specialists, clients and engineering teams to promote sustainable design and environmental enhancement.

• Leading large, multiple, and complex projects, overseeing our performance on technical, quality, commercial, and health and safety.

• Build strong client relationships and identify opportunities to support project strategy, resourcing and delivery.

• Undertaking activities to secure new work, including developing proposals for complex opportunities, delivering strategic level bids and framework opportunities, and undertaking business development opportunities.

• Champion innovation through approaches such as Digital EIA, Technical Excellence and Future Ready EIA.

• Driving performance improvement and career advancement opportunities across team.

• Promote an inclusive and positive team environment, acting as a trusted advisor and mentor.

• Promoting an inclusive workplace, demonstrating an understanding of Health and Safety whilst living the values of our health, safety, and wellbeing culture.

• Undertaking actions that contribute towards the success of the WSP business strategy, whilst being self-motivated towards goals relevant to the role, team, and your projects.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• Relevant environmental or planning degree (or equivalent experience), with chartered status or actively working towards chartership.

• Demonstrable experience in delivering Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for onshore renewables schemes, including under a range of UK planning regimes such as the Town and Country Planning Act and the Planning Act 2008.

• Familiarity with relevant consenting processes associated with onshore renewables projects, including Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). Understanding of how these processes integrate with the planning system and EIA for onshore renewables projects

• Capable of leading client communications and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders, regulators, and the public, with a solid understanding of public consultation and stakeholder engagement processes.

• Knowledge of emerging environmental and planning policy trends.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong report writing and review capabilities, attention to detail, and a focus on quality assurance.

• Proven people management experience and a track record of developing and upskilling internal teams.

• Demonstrated ability to contribute to strategic planning, win new work through bids and proposals, and enhance reputation in the onshore renewables sector.

#LI-JT1

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 11,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

Work-life balance

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community.

Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging

We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote a culture of inclusivity.

Health & Wellbeing

We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme.

Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time

To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day.

We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development

We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

#WeAreWSP

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.