Principal Land Consultant

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 curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives, and shape a career as unique as you.

WSP’s Land team is seeking a Principal Land Consultant to support infrastructure development in the UK and Ireland. The successful candidate will be part of the largest and most successful Land business in the region, working on major strategic infrastructure projects across all sectors.

• Ensure the successful delivery of projects securely, on time, within budget and to high standards.
• Be a trusted advisor to clients (externally and internally) and manage relationships.
• Advise on land issues across the UK and Ireland, including statutory processes to acquire land such as DCOs, DNOs, hybrid Bills, Scottish Bills, TWA, T&CPA, CPOs, Motorway Orders, Vesting Orders, etc.
• Secure land rights for high-profile, strategic infrastructure projects across all sectors.
• Liaise with landowners, land agents, legal representatives, planning authorities, key stakeholders, contractors and clients.
• Collaborate with engineering, environmental and planning teams within WSP and as part of project supply chains.
• Undertake quality assurance of deliverables related to land interests and rights, negotiation of access for surveys, consents and acquisition of land rights for large-scale development projects, and planning applications.
• Support knowledge sharing and lessons across regions and projects.
• Manage, motivate, mentor and develop staff; contribute to the development and delivery of the business strategy.
• Support the writing of bids/tenders to secure opportunities from internal and external clients.
• Deliver training on technical topics by contributing to and participating in WSP’s CPD-accredited Land Academy.
• Travel within the UK and Ireland; possible travel to WSP’s Global Capability Centre in India.

• Expertise in urban and/or rural environment, property, communities and stakeholders.
• Experience working on infrastructure development schemes with multidisciplinary teams across various sectors and locations.
• Experience negotiating commercial terms with landowners and knowledge of the legal process for acquisition of wayleaves, easements and negotiated access.
• Demonstrable experience reducing land risk for clients and advising on land-related matters throughout all project lifecycle stages.
• Track record of developing orders, acquiring consents and interests in land, and knowledge of relevant legislation.
• Strong communication, influencing and negotiating skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team, under pressure, delivering high-quality outputs.
• Strong landowner and public engagement skills.
• Good business and IT skills.
• Adherence to quality assurance and good document management.
• A degree in Geography, Land/Estate Management, Agriculture or a related field.
• Chartership or membership of a relevant professional body is advantageous.
• The ability to travel to various sites/locations is a necessary function of this role.

The role is based in our Leeds or Newcastle offices, with hybrid working between one of these locations and from home. Ideal candidates are located within North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, County Durham, Teesside, Tyne and Wear or North Lincolnshire.

WSP offers extensive development and training support. The Land Academy provides professional development and CPD across GIS, Data Management, Valuations, Negotiations, Referencing, Access and Project Management, enabling you to broaden your capabilities and advance your career.