Land and Consents Consultant (all levels)

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Health and Wellbeing programs

Development and training opportunities

Inclusivity and belonging initiatives

Discount gym membership

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland seeks a Land and Consents Consultant to join its established teams across various locations. This role involves negotiating and acquiring complex land for major infrastructure projects, providing strategic land advice, and liaising with landowners and stakeholders. Candidates should have excellent interpersonal skills and a proven track record in land services. Flexible hybrid working arrangements are offered. Join a team dedicated to making a positive impact on communities through large projects.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal skills for building relationships at all levels.
• Proven track record in delivering land and property services.
• Experience negotiating with complex landowners and legal processes.
• Understanding UK landownership and its implications for agreements.
• Managing voluntary and compulsory purchase compensation claims.
• Experience in high-profile infrastructure projects.
• Broad knowledge of legislation and procedures relating to land.
• Effective communication and strong influencing skills.
• A full UK driving licence is essential.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and acquire complex land for strategic projects.
• Secure land rights for development projects.
• Utilise statutory powers for land acquisition.
• Negotiate heads of terms for landowners.
• Liaise with landowners, agents, and planning authorities.
• Manage and settle compensation claims.
• Support and develop a team of early career professionals.
• Participate in management team for team growth.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Proven track record in land services delivery

Negotiation with complex landowners

Understanding of UK landownership implications

Experience in managing compensation claims

Knowledge of infrastructure development schemes

Broad knowledge of relevant legislation

Effective communication and influencing skills

UK driving licence

Education

Membership to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

Job description

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.

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

WSP is one of the UK's largest suppliers of Land Services and is looking to broaden and strengthen its team of experienced land professionals across the UK with immediate vacancies for Land and Consents Consultant (all levels) to join our established teams.

Are you ready to contribute to major infrastructure projects in the UK and Ireland? We’re excited to offer opportunities within our multidisciplinary firm. As a valued member of our Land team, you’ll play a crucial role in delivering essential services related to land acquisition, valuation, compulsory purchase, compensation, landowner engagement, land access, wayleaves, consents, and negotiations.

We are currently delivering an exciting portfolio of projects across the UK and Ireland, driving expansion across all areas to expand our current teams and locations. We deliver land services across various sectors and with a variety of clients such as National Grid, East West Rail Co, Network Rail, Heathrow Airport, Eirgrid, Transport for Infrastructure Ireland, National Gas, SSE, Transport Scotland, amongst others.

To find out more about our Land business, please click on the following link: https://www.wsp.com/en-gb/services/land-referencing-and-land-assembly

This role can be based in any of our offices across the UK and Ireland with the flexibility of hybrid working between one of these locations and home. There is scope for a suitable candidate to be located away from the current office locations, but with availability for regular travel to site and appropriate office location.

YOUR NEW ROLE, WHAT’S INVOLVED?

• Negotiating access to and acquiring complex land for high profile, strategic infrastructure projects across the UK, including drafting and preparing consent documents
• Securing appropriate land rights for large scale development projects and providing strategic land advice to our clients
• Utilising statutory powers and other available mechanisms to acquire land (such as DCO, CPO, TCPA, TWAO, Hybrid Bills) on behalf of WSP clients across highways, rail, aviation, water, gas and all energy sectors including renewables
• Negotiation of Heads of Terms for large scale, complex landowners to secure land for projects in timely fashion utilising the appropriate mechanism
• Liaising with major landowners’ land agents, legal representatives, planning authorities, key stakeholders, contractors and clients
• Managing and settling compensation claims (eg DCO, CPO, land damage, voluntary etc)
• Experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams across a range of sectors and locations across the UK
• Demonstrated experience in supporting and/or developing a team of early career professionals providing both technical training and career development support
• Participation within the management team, propelling the team forward and advancing its growth and development

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU HAVE

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Proven track record in the leading delivery of land and property related services
• Experience of negotiating with complex landowners and robust knowledge of the legal process for the acquisition of property and rights
• Understanding of landownership and occupation across the UK and the implication this can have for securing agreements for DNOs and developers, including structure of agricultural tenancies/agreements
• Experience of managing and settling a range of voluntary and compulsory purchase compensation claims (e.g., HOTs, wayleave, easements, EA Agreements, Option Agreements)
• Experience of high-profile infrastructure development schemes in particular the road, rail, gas, electricity or renewable energy sector
• Broad knowledge across any of the relevant legislation and procedures
• Town & Country Planning Act, Electricity Act, Transport and Works Act Orders, Hybrid Bills, Development Consent Orders
• Effective, concise communication with strong influencing and negotiating skills
• A full UK driving licence is required
• Associate or full Membership to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or other professional membership (desirable but not essential)

We will consider candidates that have relevant transferable skills in land and consents management; therefore fully demonstrating all of the above role requirements is not essential.

YOUR TEAM

As part of the WSP Land Team you would work to deliver land acquisition, land access, formal consents, statutory orders and compensation agreements. You will work as part of a team of Land Specialists assisting in the liaison with landowners that may be affected by development, obtaining the appropriate land consents, gaining access and where necessary compensating them for the impact caused by the scheme. You will combine office, home and on-site working to support the delivery of land access and land acquisition projects through the identification of land ownership, consultation with landowners, undertaking property valuation, assessing and negotiating compensation, combining skills in GIS, data management and landowner engagement.

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.

About Us: We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 72,800 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 9,000 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: 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. We offer part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

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. Our employee resource groups promote our culture of inclusivity.

Health & Wellbeing: We are committed to supporting our people through our Thrive programme, including access to a Virtual GP service and workplace adjustments where needed. The Gymflex scheme offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships, plus a menopause support package.

Flex your time: We offer WSP My Hour, allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the option to make up the time earlier or later. We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development: We invest in training, mentoring, and Chartership opportunities to support your growth.

#WeAreWSP

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 and we will provide workplace adjustments upon request.