Senior Land Consultant

WSP’s Land team is seeking talented Land professionals to join the largest and most successful team in the industry. This role offers an exciting opportunity to support the delivery of major infrastructure projects across the UK and Ireland through land referencing, urban and rural landowner engagement, consultation management, land access, and compensation agreements.

• The position focuses on securing land, land access, arranging surveys, and building strong relationships with stakeholders and landowners via statutory powers and negotiation.
• Experience in 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 data security and privacy.
• Resolve disputes and escalated 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.
• Arrange and coordinate land surveys, ensuring compliance with legal and environmental standards.
• Experience working on infrastructure, utilities, or energy projects is preferred.
• Consult with landowners to explain proposed scheme, programme, and potential impacts, ensuring accurate consultation notes are captured.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, building trust and maintaining positive relationships.
• Ensure WSP H&S procedures are adhered to for all site work.
• Knowledge of land access permissions, licences, and site safety experience is preferred.
• Manage junior members of the Land team, providing support and technical training through CPD‑accredited programmes.
• Use statutory powers and other mechanisms to acquire land.
• Prepare and QA technical documents related to land interests, rights, and negotiations.
• Negotiate Heads of Terms to secure land for projects.
• Liaise with landowners, agents, auctioneers, legal reps, planning authorities, contractors, and clients.
• Work closely with internal and external multidisciplinary teams across UK and Ireland.
• Develop efficient working practices and promote innovation to deliver best‑value services.
• Manage and develop a team of early‑career professionals, providing technical training and career development support.
• Contribute to business development and delivery of the business strategy.
• UK and Ireland travel, plus possible travel to WSP’s Global Capability Centre in India.

• Degree or equivalent experience in Geography, Land/Estate Management, Agriculture, or a relevant discipline.
• Delivery of land referencing, land access, landowner engagement services and statutory processes on major infrastructure projects.
• Negotiation experience with landowners and knowledge of the legal process for acquiring wayleaves/easements/servitudes.
• Experience with multidisciplinary teams across various sectors and locations in Ireland and/or UK.
• Demonstrable experience reducing land risk for clients and advising them throughout all project stages.
• Track record of developing Orders or equivalent and/or acquiring consents and land interests, with knowledge of relevant legislation.
• Experience with infrastructure development schemes, especially in energy, highways, rail, water, and/or aviation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Effective communication, influencing, and negotiating skills.
• Knowledge of the urban and/or rural environment and farming practices is desirable.
• Chartership or membership of a professional body is advantageous.
• Ability to travel effectively to various sites and locations.

The role is based in Leeds or Newcastle with hybrid working between these sites and from…