Principal Arboricultural Consultant

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Naas; On-site; EUR 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Principal Arboricultural Consultant to lead complex arboricultural projects, advise on planning and environmental assessments, and mentor the national team. You will set technical direction, review deliverables, and build strong relationships with clients across major infrastructure schemes.

The role emphasizes leadership, safety, and delivering high-quality input to NSIPs and planning teams, with opportunities to shape projects from early concept through to implementation.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in arboricultural consultancy, planning and project delivery.
• Strong technical expertise in BS5837 assessments and reporting.
• Proven experience advising multidisciplinary design and project teams.
• Experience managing complex projects, programmes, budgets and client expectations.
• Commercial awareness, including scope management and budget control.
• Strong relationship-building skills with clients, stakeholders and internal teams.
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing technical professionals.
• A positive approach to health, safety and wellbeing, with the ability to promote safe working practices across project teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and technically review Arboricultural Impact Assessments, Arboricultural Method Statements, Tree Protection Plans, EIA inputs and other specialist arboricultural advice.
• Deliver arboricultural services on NSIPs and other complex developments.
• Manage client relationships, project programmes, budgets, scopes and delivery risks.
• Provide strategic arboricultural advice to multidisciplinary design teams and stakeholders.
• Support recruitment, mentoring, career development and succession planning within the team.
• Manage and develop consultants and senior consultants, acting as a coach and trusted mentor.
• Support and advise the senior leadership team on technical and operational matters.
• Lead the preparation of tenders, fee proposals, scopes of work, assumptions and commercial reviews.
• Provide specialist advice relating to veteran and ancient trees, woodland constraints, statutory protections and mitigation strategies.
• Drive quality, consistency and technical excellence across project delivery.

Skills

Arboricultural consultancy

BS5837 assessments

Stakeholder management

Mentoring

Project delivery

Education

Chartered Arboriculturist

Chartered Forester

Chartership in progress

Tools

Digital survey technologies

Canopy cover assessments

AI-enabled workflows

Job description

Principal Arboricultural Consultant – Overview

Lead with expertise. Influence major projects. Shape the future of arboriculture. At WSP, we're committed to delivering sustainable solutions that make a lasting difference to communities and the environment. As a Principal Arboricultural Consultant, you will play a pivotal role in leading complex projects, developing client relationships, mentoring talented professionals and driving technical excellence across our national arboriculture team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and technically review Arboricultural Impact Assessments, Arboricultural Method Statements, Tree Protection Plans, EIA inputs and other specialist arboricultural advice.
• Deliver arboricultural services on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and other complex developments.
• Manage client relationships, project programmes, budgets, scopes and delivery risks.
• Provide strategic arboricultural advice to multidisciplinary design teams and stakeholders.
• Support recruitment, mentoring, career development and succession planning within the team.
• Manage and develop consultants and senior consultants, acting as a coach and trusted mentor.
• Support and advise the senior leadership team on technical and operational matters.
• Lead the preparation of tenders, fee proposals, scopes of work, assumptions and commercial reviews.
• Provide specialist advice relating to veteran and ancient trees, woodland constraints, statutory protections and mitigation strategies.
• Drive quality, consistency and technical excellence across project delivery.

Essential Requirements

• Extensive experience in arboricultural consultancy, planning and project delivery.
• Strong technical expertise in BS5837 assessments and reporting.
• Proven experience advising multidisciplinary design and project teams.
• Experience managing complex projects, programmes, budgets and client expectations.
• Commercial awareness, including scope management and budget control.
• Strong relationship-building skills with clients, stakeholders and internal teams.
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing technical professionals.
• A positive approach to health, safety and wellbeing, with the ability to promote safe working practices across project teams.

Desirable Requirements

• Chartered Arboriculturist, Chartered Forester status, or be working towards chartership.
• Significant experience supporting NSIP/DCO projects, major infrastructure schemes or EIA delivery.
• Experience supporting public inquiries, expert witness services or planning appeals.
• A strong track record in work winning, tender preparation and client development.
• Knowledge of forestry considerations within the planning system.
• Experience using digital survey technologies, canopy cover assessments and emerging AI-enabled workflows.

What’s In It For You

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced arboricultural professional looking to influence project outcomes, develop future talent and contribute to the growth and direction of a nationally recognised team. You'll have the autonomy to lead, the support to grow and the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to some of the UK's most important infrastructure, environmental and development projects.

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.