Senior Development / Transport Planner

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Health & wellbeing programmes

Inclusive culture

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Senior Consultant in Development Planning (Transport/Civil Engineering) based in Newcastle to support the regional Development Team from site selection through planning approvals and implementation.

You will deliver concept studies, transport statements and access studies, manage client relationships, mentor staff, and ensure projects meet budget, programme and regulatory standards. hybrid working across UK offices offered.

Qualifications

• Experience leading transport planning projects across development planning, scheme delivery, sustainable transport and active travel.
• Strong communication skills with written work supporting development proposals.
• Knowledge of transport planning guidance and best practice.

Responsibilities

• Deliver concept studies, transport statements, assessments, travel plans, parking studies and access studies, leading to planning applications, post‑permission and discharge of planning condition works.
• Provide proactive management and leadership to secure collaborative relationships with clients, colleagues and staff.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with key clients, achieving excellence in service provision and high levels of technical competence and client satisfaction.
• Keep up‑to‑date with relevant standards and policies; raise WSP profile by networking and attending conferences.
• Provide guidance and support to a team of technical staff of various grades.
• Engage in high‑profile client engagement, stakeholder management, design team liaison and project management.
• Ensure projects are delivered to budget, programme, technical standards and legal requirements.

Skills

Transport planning

Client liaison

Project leadership

Technical reporting

Education

First degree in Transport, Mathematics, Geography, Civil Engineering, Planning

Tools

Junctions 9

PICADY

ARCADY

Linsig

Job description

Overview

Senior Consultant – Development Planning (Transport / Civil Engineering) based in Newcastle. You will support the regional Development Team, providing sustainable development solutions from site selection through to planning approvals and implementation.

Responsibilities

• Deliver concept studies, transport statements, assessments, travel plans, parking studies and access studies, leading to planning applications, post‑permission and discharge of planning condition works.
• Provide proactive management and leadership to secure collaborative relationships with clients, colleagues and staff.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with key clients, achieving excellence in service provision and high levels of technical competence and client satisfaction.
• Keep up‑to‑date with relevant standards and policies; raise WSP profile by networking and attending conferences.
• Provide guidance and support to a team of technical staff of various grades.
• Engage in high‑profile client engagement, stakeholder management, design team liaison (internal and external multidisciplinary professionals) and project management.
• Ensure projects are delivered to budget, programme, technical standards and legal requirements.

Team

• The Development Team is a well‑established, high‑performing discipline within the Planning and Development business unit of over 800 colleagues focused on project delivery through the whole life cycle.
• Our vision is to be recognised as the best Development team in the industry, through continuous improvement and a management structure comprising four pillars: Technical Excellence, People, Clients and Operational Excellence.
• We help clients promote, implement and manage sustainable development from pre‑feasibility through to planning consent, establishing plans and provisions for future development, and developing multi‑disciplinary design from concept to construction.
• We work with public/private sector land promoters, house builders, developers, signature architects, government and local authorities, delivering services such as site appraisal, due diligence, strategic planning advice, transport statements, parking demand studies, access studies, movement and access studies.

Qualifications

• Numerate first degree in Transport, Mathematics, Geography, Civil Engineering, Planning or a related subject.
• Experience operating as a lead client contact for consultancy services and fostering excellent relationships with clients and co‑professionals.
• Strong communication skills with a clear track record of presenting compelling written work to support development proposals.
• Knowledge of appropriate transport planning guidance and best practice.
• Significant experience delivering a wide range of transport planning projects across specialist areas including development planning, scheme delivery, sustainable transport and active travel, junction design (priority, roundabout, signals) and relevant standards.
• Working knowledge of junction modelling software (e.g., Junctions 9, PICADY, ARCADY, Linsig) with ability to mentor others.
• High level of numeracy with problem‑solving skills and innovative thinking.
• Experience in financially and programme managing projects using appropriate business tools.
• Experience of team management responsibilities including line management and day‑to‑day operations.
• Robust knowledge of financial and contractual aspects of planning, bidding, and delivering large and small projects.
• Postgraduate experience and either nearing chartership or having equivalent commercial experience and responsibility.

Benefits

• Hybrid working policy: work from home up to two days a week and collaborate in modern offices across the UK.
• Work‑life balance initiatives: WSP My Hour allows you to take one hour each day for personal activities; part‑time and flexible working arrangements, purchase of additional leave and utilisation of bank holiday entitlement.
• Health & Wellbeing: Thrive programme, virtual GP service, reasonable workplace adjustments, Gymflex scheme (up to 40% off annual gym memberships), comprehensive menopause support package.
• Inclusivity & Belonging: inclusive culture, employee resource groups, support for varied backgrounds.

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.