Associate Director, Engagement

Apex Contracting Co.; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company that values your contributions and offers a unique opportunity to lead engagement in significant infrastructure projects. As part of a dynamic team, you will provide strategic advice, manage stakeholder relationships, and ensure successful project delivery while championing inclusivity and diversity. With a hybrid working approach, you can balance your professional and personal life effectively. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and developing your career in a supportive environment, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Health and wellbeing programs

Employee resource groups

Training and development opportunities

Work-life balance initiatives

Qualifications

• Experience in leading complex engagement processes for infrastructure projects.
• Degree-qualified or extensive experience in a related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead consultation engagement services for planning applications.
• Provide strategic advice on stakeholder strategies for projects.

Skills

Stakeholder Management

Project Management

Communication Skills

Negotiation Skills

Team Leadership

Problem Solving

Education

Degree in a related field

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 have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our growing Engagement team. We drive best practice in engagement, community relations, consultation and stakeholder management in the delivery of some of the country’s largest infrastructure projects. We are particularly keen to hear from talented individuals with experience of delivering consultation and engagement within the water, energy (renewables, nuclear and transmission) sectors.

Within our Engagement business unit, your primary focus will be leading the consultation engagement services to support the development of planning applications, across several significant infrastructure projects across the UK. You will do this by:

• Providing strategic advice to project teams and clients on stakeholder and community strategies for large scale multi-disciplinary projects.
• Working in accordance with all legislative and regulatory requirements of planning application processes, including those outlined in the Planning Act 2008, Town and Country Planning Act and Electricity Act 1989.
• Planning and delivering stakeholder communications and consultations, including managing risks and issues, organising and managing public information events, and managing outputs to achieve engagement and consultation objectives.
• Line managing and enabling members of the team to successfully deliver engagement and consultation activities across a range of multidisciplinary projects.
• Taking project management and commercial responsibility for programmes within the team including managing tender production and business development opportunities, project management of schemes including resourcing, budget management, managing risk and ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery to programme.
• Identifying opportunities to embed global communications and engagement best practice into our everyday.
• Championing health and safety, wellbeing, inclusion, and diversity.

You will be joining a UK-wide team of 60+ communication and engagement specialists who are passionate about what we do. We work on projects across WSP’s portfolio locally and nationally; no two projects are the same.

You will report to the Head of Engagement – leading and inspiring a regional team of communication and engagement experts. You will manage existing projects and client relationships and build new partnerships.

You will be supported in your personal development, be assigned a mentor and a buddy and participate in WSP global employee engagement initiatives.

You will love the flexibility of our hybrid approach – team days in the office mixed with days from home. Our offices are designed to provide exceptional working conditions and a collaborative environment.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• Demonstrated experience in leading the DCO/complex engagement process across large multidisciplinary infrastructure projects.
• At least degree-qualified or extensive experience in a related field.
• Experience in the road, rail, utilities, water, environment or energy sectors.
• Strong team player with an enthusiastic and motivated attitude.
• Proven line management experience including delivery of training initiatives.
• Proven experience of effectively managing and building stakeholder relationships in complex environments.
• Effective decision-maker with ability to act on own initiative.
• Persuasive influencer with ability to strike rapport and exert strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Well-ordered, structured approach to delivery of tasks, and flexible with ability to adapt within demanding and fast-changing environment.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills to manage a varied workload.

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.

We are WSP - Join us and make your career future ready!

In today’s world it’s important to work for a company that has clear purpose, giving back to communities and supporting what is truly important in the world.

When considering a career move it’s vital to work for a business that is aligned to your values and goals, a place where you can belong.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU

Work-life balance?

WSP recognises that work is only one part of your life and making time for other things is important – whether that’s for your families, friends, or yourself.

Our hybrid working policy allows the flexibility to work from the comfort of your own home as well as collaborating in our contemporary offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Diversity?

We want our people to achieve rewarding careers, bringing their whole selves to work. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing diversity to create a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP.

Our employee resource groups VIBE (LGBTQ+ employees), CREED (Championing Racial Equality and Ethnic Diversity) and our Gender Balance Group, in tandem with WSP’s Neurodiverse Community Group, WSP Connect Group (visible and non-visible disabilities) help us promote the right environment for you to reach your full potential.

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.

Med24 gives you and your family unrestricted telephone access to an NHS doctor where you can call day or night or have a face-to-face video consultation.

Flex your time?

For improved work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP Hour” which enables you to take one hour per day to do as you wish and make up the time earlier or later that day. We also offer part-time and flexible working arrangements plus the option to flex your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development?

We appreciate that development and training are important to you and that’s why we have a supportive environment that invests in your development, whether that’s chartership, training or mentoring.

APPLY NOW AND BE THE FUTURE OF WSP!

#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.

Please note WSP reserves the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date.