Technical Director Land

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Flexible working patterns

Health and wellbeing programmes

Hybrid working policy

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland is hiring for a senior role focused on leading Land services. The successful candidate will drive strategic direction, ensure stakeholder engagement, and oversee project delivery in the Energy, Water, and Rail sectors.

Applicants should have extensive experience in land acquisition, superior communication skills, and a degree in a relevant discipline. Benefits include competitive salaries and hybrid working options.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in overseeing and directing the delivery of Land services at a senior level.
• Comprehensive expertise in land consents and stakeholder consultation for major projects.
• Significant involvement in managing objections and complex stakeholder issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and technical direction on WSP Land projects.
• Drive a high-performance culture within the team.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to internal and external clients.

Skills

Leadership in Land services

Stakeholder engagement

Project delivery

Business development

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Education

Degree in Geography, Agriculture, Land and Estate Management

Job description

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and technical direction on WSP Land projects.
• Demonstrate excellent stakeholder engagement to ensure successful land identification, securing of land rights and land acquisition through landowner negotiation and/or statutory powers.
• Drive a high‑performance culture within the team, fostering collaboration and a shared sense of purpose to deliver exceptional project and organisational outcomes.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to both internal and external clients, proactively engaging with client capture teams and Key Client Managers (KCMs) to strengthen client relationships and identify new opportunities.
• Oversee the successful delivery of projects, ensuring they are completed on schedule, within budget and to the highest technical and quality standards.
• Lead business development initiatives for WSP Land in the Energy, Water and Rail sectors, targeting the acquisition of new projects, extensions and clients by leveraging technical expertise and industry insight.
• Collaborate closely with other WSP disciplines—including Engineering, Engagement, Environmental and Planning teams—to identify and capitalise on multidisciplinary and strategic growth opportunities.
• Champion the profile and technical reputation of WSP Land across public forums, social media, targeted business sectors and professional and academic circles.
• Lead the preparation and review of high‑quality bids and tenders, ensuring technical excellence and competitiveness in securing new business.
• Implement succession planning and engage in targeted recruitment to maintain and enhance the technical capabilities of WSP Land.
• Conduct high‑level project and business reviews to support effective risk and opportunity management, ensuring long‑term success and resilience.
• Champion our WSP culture of health, safety & wellbeing (HS&W).
• Ensure our adherence to quality assurance and development of our processes.
• Ensure our adherence to data protection and development of our processes.
• Champion one of our core pillars – grow key markets, expand delivery and quality culture and pursue digital innovation and excellence.
• Provide travel across Ireland and the UK as required.

Qualifications and Experience

• Proven leadership in overseeing and directing the delivery of Land services, including site identification, land access and acquisition strategies at a senior level.
• Comprehensive and practical expertise in land consents, stakeholder consultation and landowner engagement for major infrastructure development projects.
• Extensive experience collaborating with multi‑disciplinary teams across diverse sectors and geographies, guiding projects through every stage of development.
• Demonstrated success in mitigating land‑related risks for clients and providing strategic advice on land matters throughout the entire project lifecycle.
• Significant involvement in public inquiries and oral hearings, including effective management of objections and complex stakeholder issues.
• Consistent track record in fostering repeat business and expanding service offerings with existing clients.
• Proven ability to secure and develop business opportunities with new clients, contributing to the growth of the organisation.
• Substantial experience in authoring, managing and approving bids and tenders at a senior level.
• Expertise in resource strategy, including talent development, succession planning and aligning team capability with business growth objectives.
• Outstanding engagement skills with landowners and the public, with a focus on building trust and fostering positive relationships.
• Exceptional communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to represent the business at the highest levels.
• Strong team leadership and collaborative working skills, engaging effectively at all organisational levels.
• Ability to cultivate robust relationships with senior clients, key stakeholders and executive management colleagues.
• Resilience and composure under pressure, consistently delivering high‑quality outputs to demanding deadlines.
• Advanced business acumen and IT proficiency, ensuring efficient and innovative project delivery.
• Commitment to quality assurance, data protection and exemplary health and safety standards.
• Degree qualified in Geography, Agriculture, Land and Estate Management or a closely related discipline.
• Chartered status or membership of a recognised professional body is highly desirable.
• Full, clean driving licence is essential.

Benefits

WSP offers competitive salaries, flexible working patterns, a hybrid working policy, health and wellbeing programmes including a virtual GP service, gym flex scheme and comprehensive menopause support.

EEO Statement

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.