Associate / Associate Director – Minerals and Waste

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Work-life balance initiatives

Health & wellbeing programmes

Professional development

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland is seeking an Associate / Associate Director to join its minerals and waste team. The role involves leading and delivering planning projects while providing expert environmental advice to clients.

Qualified candidates must have a relevant degree and experience in delivering minerals and waste projects in the UK. Join a collaborative team promoting innovation and inclusivity while working on impactful projects to make a difference in the community.

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.

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.

Skills

Project management

Client relationship management

Communication skills

Team management

Planning systems knowledge

Education

Degree in planning, environmental or related discipline

Job description

Associate / Associate Director – Minerals and Waste

We’re looking for an Associate / Associate Director to join our growing minerals and waste team. This strategic role offers a challenging growth opportunity to direct, manage and deliver minerals and waste inputs across a range of projects for a diverse client base, working on complex and high‑profile schemes.

What You'll Do

• 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

Why Join Us

You’ll be part of a collaborative, forward‑thinking team working on complex, high‑impact projects, with opportunities to lead, grow and shape the future of the minerals and waste sector. You’ll work on landmark projects worldwide and make a meaningful impact in the communities you care about.

Benefits

• Hybrid working policy – flexibility to work from home up to two days a week and collaborate in modern UK offices
• Work‑life balance initiatives – “WSP My Hour” and flexible time‑off options
• Health & wellbeing programmes – virtual GP service, Gymflex scheme, menopause support package
• Inclusivity & belonging – inclusive culture, employee resource groups and support for diverse backgrounds
• Professional development – training, mentoring and chartership pathways

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our passionate people are united by a 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 local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

Applicants may be considered without regard to 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 during your application.