Associate / Associate Director – Minerals and Waste

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working (2 days WFH)

Flexible leave and work-life balance

Wellbeing programmes and virtual GP

Gymflex and menopause support

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland is seeking an Associate/Associate Director for our minerals and waste team in the UK. You will lead projects, win work, and shape sector growth with a diverse client base on complex schemes.

You will provide expert planning and environmental advice, manage performance across technical, commercial, H&S and quality, and mentor colleagues while fostering an inclusive team culture.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in planning, environmental or related discipline.
• Experience delivering minerals and waste projects in the UK.
• Strong understanding of UK planning systems and EIA.
• Ability to lead projects and manage client relationships.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills.
• Proven people management experience and a track record of developing and upskilling internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver minerals and waste planning projects across the full lifecycle.
• Provide expert planning and environmental advice to clients and project teams.
• Manage project performance (technical, commercial, H&S and quality).
• Build strong client relationships and support business development activity.
• Contribute to bids, frameworks and new opportunities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver sustainable outcomes.
• Mentor and support colleagues, fostering an inclusive team culture.

Skills

Minerals & waste project delivery (UK)

UK planning systems & EIA

Lead projects & client relationships

Communication & report writing

People management

Business development awareness

Policy & stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in planning/environmental or related discipline

Chartered or working towards Chartered (RTPI/IEMA/RICS)

Job description

Role Overview

Associate / Associate Director in our growing minerals and waste team. This strategic role involves winning work, leading projects, and shaping sector growth with a diverse client base on complex, high‑profile schemes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver minerals and waste planning projects across the full lifecycle.
• Provide expert planning and environmental advice to clients and project teams.
• Manage project performance (technical, commercial, H&S and quality).
• Build strong client relationships and support business development activity.
• Contribute to bids, frameworks and new opportunities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver sustainable outcomes.
• Mentor and support colleagues, fostering an inclusive team culture.

Essential Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in planning, environmental or related discipline.
• Experience delivering minerals and waste projects in the UK.
• Strong understanding of UK planning systems and EIA.
• Ability to lead projects and manage client relationships.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills.
• Proven people management experience and a track record of developing and upskilling internal teams.

Desirable

• Chartered or working towards chartership (RTPI, IEMA, RICS or similar).
• Experience in business development and winning work.
• Knowledge of emerging policy and stakeholder engagement.

Benefits

• Hybrid working policy – work from home two days a week with flexible scheduling.
• Work‑life balance initiatives including 'WSP My Hour', flexible leave options and bank holiday entitlement adjustments.
• Health & wellbeing programmes such as the Thrive programme and a virtual GP service.
• Gymflex scheme with up to 40% off annual gym memberships and a comprehensive menopause support package.

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms, committed to inclusivity and a culture of integrity. We support development through training, mentoring and chartership opportunities.

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.