Associate Director Land

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Health & Wellbeing programmes

Time flexibility

Part‑time and flexible working arrangements

Support for personal and professional development

Inclusive culture and diversity groups

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland is seeking an Associate Director to lead land projects, manage stakeholder engagement, and drive business development in the Energy, Water, and Rail sectors. The ideal candidate will have proven leadership in land services and experience in navigating land consents, providing strategic advice, and delivering major projects efficiently.

This role offers a hybrid working policy and comprehensive health and wellbeing programs, promoting a supportive culture focused on personal and professional development.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in land services delivery and strategic level land acquisition.
• Experience in navigating land consents and stakeholder engagement for infrastructure projects.
• strong communication and negotiation skills, fostering client relationships.
• Ability to manage business development initiatives within various sectors.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction on WSP Land projects.
• Champion a high‑performance team culture and excellent stakeholder engagement.
• Oversee the successful delivery of major projects on time and within budget.
• Lead business development initiatives within Energy, Water, and Rail.

Skills

Leadership and direction

Stakeholder engagement

Business development

Project oversight

Client relationship management

Risk mitigation

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Commercial acumen

Education

Degree in Geography, Agriculture, Land and Estate Management or related

Chartered status or membership of a professional body

Job description

Overview

WSP Land is one of the largest and most successful land teams in the UK and Ireland, supporting a wide portfolio of major strategic infrastructure projects. We are looking for talented Land professionals to join our team and contribute to the delivery of land referencing, urban and rural landowner engagement, consultation management, land access, formal consents, statutory orders, compensation agreements, and land acquisition.

Responsibilities

Associate Director level responsibilities include:

• Provide leadership and direction on WSP Land projects.
• Provide excellent stakeholder engagement to ensure successful land identification, securing of land rights and land acquisition using landowner agreements and statutory powers.
• Champion a collaborative and high‑performance team culture, driving collective purpose and alignment with project and organisational goals, and fostering excellent partnership with senior leadership across WSP Land.
• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to both external and internal clients, proactively engaging with client capture teams and Key Client Managers (KCMs) to enhance client relationships and secure business opportunities.
• Oversee the successful delivery of major projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and to exemplary quality standards.
• Lead business development initiatives for WSP Land within the Energy, Water, and Rail sectors, securing new projects, project extensions, and cultivating new client relationships.
• Work in close partnership with WSP’s Engineering, Engagement, Environmental, and Planning disciplines to identify and capitalise on multidisciplinary and strategic opportunities, supporting the growth of our business.
• Enhance the reputation and visibility of WSP Land across the public sphere, target business sectors, and academic settings through thought leadership and sector engagement.
• Direct and oversee the preparation of compelling bids and tenders, ensuring the highest quality submissions to secure new business opportunities.
• Implement effective resource strategies, including talent retention, succession planning, and recruitment, ensuring the team’s capabilities align with project requirements.
• Lead regular reviews to identify and manage risks and opportunities, ensuring robust project governance and proactive issue resolution.
• Maintain rigorous oversight of project delivery, ensuring alignment with client objectives, actively seeking and integrating client feedback to drive continuous improvement and client satisfaction.
• Promote WSP culture of health, safety & wellbeing (HS&W).
• Promote adherence to Quality Assurance and development of our processes.
• Promote adherence to Data Protection and development of our processes.
• Promote growth of key markets, expanding delivery and quality culture and pursuing digital innovation and excellence.
• Travel within Ireland and the UK.

Qualifications

What we are looking for you to demonstrate:

• Proven leadership in managing and directing the delivery of comprehensive Land services, including land identification, access, and acquisition, at a strategic level.
• Extensive and demonstrable expertise in navigating land consents, consultation processes, and landowner engagement for major infrastructure development projects.
• Experience collaborating with multi‑disciplinary teams across various sectors and locations, guiding projects through all stages of scheme development.
• Advanced capability in mitigating land risk for clients and providing strategic advice on land‑related matters throughout the entire project lifecycle.
• Experience representing clients at public inquiries and oral hearings, including effective management of objections.
• Strong record of fostering repeat business and expanding services with established clients.
• Proven success in securing and cultivating new business opportunities and client relationships.
• Demonstrable expertise in leading bid management, including bid writing, review, and approval, ensuring high‑quality submissions.
• Experience in developing and implementing resource strategies, including talent retention, succession planning, and recruitment for high‑performing teams.
• Exceptional skills in engaging with landowners and the public, underpinned by robust stakeholder management and communication capabilities.
• Outstanding communication, influencing, and negotiation skills, with the ability to drive consensus and deliver positive outcomes.
• Highly effective collaborator, able to work seamlessly within teams at all organisational levels.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with senior clients and management colleagues.
• Resilient under pressure, consistently delivering high‑quality outputs in demanding environments.
• Excellent commercial acumen and proficiency with IT systems relevant to business operations.
• Rigorous commitment to quality assurance, data protection, and Health and Safety standards.
• Educated to degree level in Geography, Agriculture, Land and Estate Management, or a related discipline.
• Chartered status or membership of a recognised professional body is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Hybrid working policy: two days from home with access to modern offices across the UK.
• Health & Wellbeing programmes: Thrive, Virtual GP, Gymflex scheme, and comprehensive menopause support.
• Time flexibility: WSP My Hour allows you to take one hour each day for personal activities.
• Part‑time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use bank holiday entitlement.
• Support for personal and professional development, including training, mentoring, and chartership pathways.
• Inclusive culture, belonging, and employee resource groups that celebrate diversity.

Equal Opportunity Employer

WSP is an equal‑opportunity employer. Opportunities and employment are not restricted on the basis of gender, marital or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religious or moral convictions, or any other protected characteristic.

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.