Technical Director, Land & Infrastructure — Hybrid

WSP Global Inc.; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working patterns

Competitive salaries

Health and wellbeing support

Gymflex scheme

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Greater Manchester is seeking Land professionals to support major infrastructure projects across the UK and Ireland. This role focuses on delivering land services including land referencing and acquisition strategies. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Geography or a related field and strong leadership and negotiation skills. The position offers a competitive salary, flexible working conditions, and a collaborative workplace culture focused on wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in overseeing land services and acquisition strategies.
• Comprehensive expertise in land consents and stakeholder consultation.
• Demonstrated success in mitigating land-related risks for clients.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on WSP Land projects.
• Ensure successful delivery of land identification and acquisition.
• Champion health, safety & wellbeing culture within the team.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Negotiation

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Degree in Geography, Agriculture, Land Management or a related discipline

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.

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 celebratesnew ideasand diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

WSP’s Land team is seekingtalentedLand professionals to join what is already the largest and most successful team in our industry. This is an exciting opportunity to develop or begin a career with a team that enjoys a successful reputation for the successful delivery of major strategic infrastructure projects across the UK and Ireland through the support provided by land referencing,urban and rural landowner engagement,consultation management,land access, formal consents, statutory orders,compensationagreementsand land acquisition. Apply and come and discuss the contributions you can make in the delivery of the widest portfolio of projects across all sectors in the UK and Ireland.

In today’s worldit’simportant to work for a company that has clear purpose, giving back to communities and supporting what istruly importantin the world.

When considering a career moveit’svital 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 2026and 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

We are the largest and most successful Land business supporting infrastructure development in the UKand Ireland, with300+ 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, statutoryordersand landownerengagement 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.

Alongside our land referencing capabilities, our team of surveyors secures powers and/or negotiates land acquisition and land access to support infrastructure development. We provide clients with Property Cost Estimates, agree Heads of Terms and compensations, manage disposals, payments and client accounts, and offer the full range of property-related services to assist our clients in the planning, securing and exercise of powers to construction, operation and maintenance of their infrastructure assets.

WSP Land supportsthe highest-profileinfrastructureprojectsacross the Energy, Highways, Water, Rail, Local Government and Aviation sectors.

Our Energy projectsare critical for the deployment of renewable energy and helpingthe economyto 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.

• 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. Demonstrate exemplary leadership in working with senior colleagues across WSP Land.

• 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.

• Ireland and UK travel

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• 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 the 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.

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.

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