Senior Land Consultant

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working pattern

CPD‑accredited training

Wellbeing & Thrive programmes

Job summary

WSP Land in the UK and Ireland is seeking a Senior Land Consultant to secure land access, manage surveys and engage with landowners across Scotland. You will lead audits, coordinate with engineering and planning teams, and advise clients on land-related risks and opportunities. Travel across UK/Ireland may be required.

Join a diverse, collaborative team delivering major infrastructure projects. We offer hybrid working between Edinburgh/Glasgow/Perth offices and home, with a focus on development,

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Geography, Land/Estate Management, Agriculture or a related discipline.
• Experience delivering land referencing, land access and statutory processes on major infrastructure projects.
• Chartership or professional membership would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Secure land, land access and arrange surveys with stakeholders and landowners.
• Lead audits and QA reviews of land referencing documents and processes.
• Drive integration of land requirements with engineering, planning and environmental strategies.
• Provide senior guidance to clients and project boards on risks and opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with statutory processes and data security obligations.
• Coordinate with landowners, agents, legal reps, planners and clients.

Skills

Geography/land management

Stakeholder engagement

Land acquisition

Negotiation

Project leadership

CPD/Training

Education

Geography or Land/Estate Management

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.

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. See what WSP stands for in 2026 and beyond…

We offer flexible working patterns, competitive salaries and other benefits.

To find out more about our Land business click on the following link and discover what awaits you at WSP: Land referencing and land assembly | WSP

Scotland

Our Scotland team consists of land consultants, property specialists, and utility/topographical surveyors working across our Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth offices. We work closely with over 300+ Land colleagues across the UK, Ireland and India delivering land services on a variety of projects across the energy, water, road, rail and active-travel sectors. Our clients develop major highway, rail, energy and renewable infrastructure projects all of which impact privately owned land. We are the largest land referencing business in the UK and Ireland, with recent high-profile projects include A9 Dualling; SSEN; and various onshore renewable schemes.

As part of our Land team, you will combine office, home and on-site working deliver components for the delivery of land consenting projects ensuring the validity, accuracy and auditability of information collected. You will work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, working with a team of Land Consultants to deliver the necessary information required to identify, notify, engage, and gain access to lands and secure required consents with landowners affected by infrastructure projects.

We work locally, making a difference to projects across the whole of Scotland as well as nationally with other WSP teams, using our in-house land information and consultation databases alongside GIS systems, with a focus on innovation and quality. Our colleagues are from a diverse range of careers backgrounds including estate management, forestry, agriculture, project management, liaison officers, site supervision, land agency and more. The diverse range of skills all combine to provide a full and comprehensive skillset.

The role can be based in one of our offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow or Perth with the flexibility of hybrid working between one of these locations and from home.

Land Referencing

We are the largest and most successful Land business supporting infrastructure development in the UK and Ireland, with 300+ specialist professional colleagues consisting of land consultants, property specialists, project managers and utility and topographical surveyors. We have the widest portfolio of projects available in our industry, offering unrivalled opportunities to both develop and diversify careers, working on some of the most exciting and challenging projects across the whole of the UK and Ireland.

Our clients rely on us to deliver the essential land elements of their infrastructure projects and we enjoy a hard-earned reputation of success. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of this success, delivering land referencing, land acquisition, land access, formal consents, statutory orders and landowner engagement across all infrastructure sectors and make a positive impact on economy and communities these projects serve.

Our land referencing professionals identify land and legal interest in land and use this data to secure powers and/or negotiate land acquisition and land access to support infrastructure development. We provide clients with all the land-related statutory documentation the need to comply with planning processes as they develop, plan, securing and exercise powers to construct, operate and maintain their infrastructure assets. Using the land referencing data, we ensure projects not just comply with legislation but also fulfil their data security obligations, engage meaningfully with landowners and other affected stakeholders, and maximize their benefits of the landed data we provide throughout project lifecycle, ultimately registering the new rights in the name of the client.

WSP Land supports the highest-profile infrastructure projects across the Energy, Highways, Water, Rail, Local Government and Aviation sectors.

Our Energy projects are critical for the deployment of renewable energy and helping the economy to achieve net zero carbon emissions. We support a range of energy generation (nuclear and renewable) and transmission and distribution projects across the UK and Ireland, including distribution and carbon capture.

WSP Land’s history started in the Highway sector in the 1980s and we have been supporting road schemes throughout the UK and Ireland ever since, including the M4 Smart Motorway project, the A5 in Ireland and the A9 in Scotland.

WSP Land has a 30+ year history of supporting major Rail projects including the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL or HS1); Central Railway; the Thameslink Programme, the first major Transport & Works Act project; West Coast Mainline Four Tracking; HS2 Phases 1, 2a and 2b; TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU) and East West Rail (EWR). Our track record also includes successes in light rail and metro schemes including Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, Edinburgh Tram, Luton Translink and the current Dublin MetroLink project, Ireland’s largest ever infrastructure project.

Assisting with the UK’s and Ireland’s Water resilience and distribution needs, WSP Land supports a number of projects promoted by water companies. We were the only land referencing service provider appointed to support the 25km Tideway Tunnel, the first major DCO project, supporting the project from planning, submission and examination to implementation, delivery and operation.

Mirroring WSP’s support of many Local Government authorities across the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland, WSP Land provides support to local government clients in the management of their land and property assets.

In Aviation, WSP Land continues to support the Heathrow Expansion project. Since our original appointment in 2026, we have remained the only land referencing service provider appointed to the project, demonstrating our capacity to address what will be, in land referencing terms, easily the largest project ever undertaken in the UK. We have also supported Birmingham Airport and the successful Luton Airport DCO.

Senior Land Consultant

• The position focuses on securing land, land access, arranging surveys and building strong relationships with stakeholders and landowners via statutory powers and/or negotiation
• Ideally have experience of managing land referencing and land access projects
• Lead audits and quality assurance reviews of land referencing documentation and processes
• Drive integration of land requirements with engineering, planning, and environmental strategies
• Provide senior-level advice to clients and project boards on land acquisition risks and opportunities
• Oversee compliance with statutory processes and ensure projects meet regulatory and legal obligations, including those relating to data security and privacy
• Resolve disputes and elevate sensitive issues with diplomacy and authority
• Contribute to commercial strategy and risk management for land-related contracts
• Establish training programmes and succession planning within the Land team
• People management and team leadership
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage with landowners, communities, and stakeholders
• Ability to arrange and coordinate land surveys, ensuring compliance with legal and environmental standards
• Experience working on infrastructure, utilities, or energy projects (preferred)
• Consulting with landowners to explain proposed scheme, programme, discuss potential impacts and ensure accurate consultation notes are taken and uploaded to our consultation database
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, building trust and maintaining positive relationships
• Ensuring that WSP H&S procedures are adhered to for all site work
• Knowledge of land access permissions, land access, s172s licences and site safety experience (preferred)
• Management of junior members of Land team providing support and technical training by contributing to and participating in our CPD-accredited Land Academy
• Using statutory powers and other available mechanisms to acquire land
• Preparation and quality assurance of technical documents in relation to the identification of land interests and rights, negotiation of access to land for surveys, consents and acquisition of land rights
• Negotiation of Heads of Terms to secure land for projects.
• Liaising with landowners, land agents, auctioneers, legal representatives, planning authorities, key stakeholders, contractors and clients
• Work closely with Land team colleagues and collaborate with internal and external engineering, environmental, and planning teams
• Experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams across a range of sectors and locations across UK and/or Ireland
• Develop efficient working practices and promote innovation in the team to provide industry-leading, best-value services to our clients
• Management and development of a team of early career professionals providing both technical training and career development support
• Contribute to business development and the delivery of the business strategy
• UK and Ireland travel plus the possibility of travel to WSP’s Global Capability Centre (GCC) in India

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate

• Degree or equivalent experience in Geography, Land/Estate Management, Agriculture or a relevant discipline
• Worked to deliver land referencing, land access, landowner engagement services and statutory processes on major infrastructure projects
• Experience of negotiating with landowners and knowledge of the legal process for the acquisition of wayleaves/easements/servitudes desirable
• Experience working with multi-disciplinary teams across a range of sectors and locations across Ireland and/or UK
• Demonstrable experience of reducing land risk for clients and advising them on land related matters throughout all stages of a project lifecycle
• Proven track record of the development of Orders or equivalent and/or acquisition of consents and interests in land, and knowledge of relevant legislation
• Experience of infrastructure development schemes, particularly in the energy, highways, rail, water and/or aviation sectors
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with colleagues, landowners and client at all levels.
• Ability to communicate effectively with strong influencing and negotiating skills
• Knowledge of the urban and/or rural environment and farming practices would be desirable
• Chartership or membership or a professional body would be advantageous
• The ability to travel effectively to various sites/locations is a necessary function of this role.

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.

About Us

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 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 11,000 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

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community.

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.

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. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote a culture of inclusivity.

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.

Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time

To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day.

We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development

We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

#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.