WSP in the UK & Ireland
Technical Director Land

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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.
WSP Land is seeking a talented Land Consultant or Delivery Manager, at Associate Director level, to provide regional leadership across Manchester and Leeds. This is an exciting opportunity to play a visible leadership role within our Land team, supporting the delivery of land referencing, landowner engagement, consultation management, land access, formal consents, statutory orders, compensation agreements and land acquisition for strategic infrastructure development projects across the North of England and wider UK and Ireland.
We support high-profile infrastructure projects across the Energy, Water, Road, Rail and Local Authority sectors, with particular focus on regional growth, client relationships and delivery capability across Manchester, Leeds and the wider northern market. Many of our projects are critical to the deployment of renewable energy, infrastructure resilience, economic growth and the transition to Net Zero carbon emissions.
We are the largest Land Referencing business in the UK and Ireland, with over 390 Land colleagues. As part of WSP Land, you will work closely with colleagues across Manchester, Leeds and our wider UK and Ireland offices, alongside multidisciplinary teams made up of land consultants, highways engineers, environmental and planning specialists, engagement professionals and water engineers.
Associate Director role – regional leadership in Manchester and Leeds…
- Lead the delivery of WSP Land business development across Manchester, Leeds and the wider northern region, focusing on electricity, highways, rail, water, telecoms, gas and renewable energy sectors to secure new projects, extensions to projects and new clients.
- Work closely with WSP disciplines including Engineering, Engagement, Environmental and Planning teams, to identify multidisciplinary opportunities, strengthen regional collaboration and grow our business.
- Raise the profile of WSP Land across Manchester, Leeds and the wider northern market, building visibility with clients, partners, public bodies, target sectors and regional professional networks.
- Be a trusted advisor to clients (externally and internally). Actively engage with client capture teams and Key Client Managers (KCMs).
- Lead the writing of bids/tenders to secure opportunities.
- Manage regional resource strategy, including staff retention, succession planning, recruitment and workload planning, to ensure the Manchester and Leeds teams have the skills, capacity and leadership needed to deliver successful projects and grow the business.
- Lead at Project Director level, successful delivery of projects on time, within budget and to the highest standards.
- Undertake project reviews to support risk and opportunity management as appropriate. Routinely review task/project delivery to ensure alignment with client needs and objectives. Seek client feedback, proactively share it, and ensure feedback is acted on.
- Provide technical direction on Land projects across the North of England and wider UK, including relevant statutory processes to acquire land and land rights such as CPO, DCO, Transport and Works Act Orders, compulsory acquisition, wayleaves and access arrangements.
- Contribute to positive team & project outcomes. Engender collective purpose to achieve project/team goals. Excellent team working with other members of senior leadership in WSP Land.
- Promote our WSP culture of health, safety & wellbeing (HS&W).
- Promote our adherence to Quality Assurance and development of our processes.
- Promote our adherence to Data Protection and development of our processes.
- Act as a regional champion for a core pillar such as sector strategy, client growth, people development, operational excellence or technical leadership.
- Regular travel between Manchester, Leeds and other UK offices and project locations.
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What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate…
- Experience managing/directing the delivery of Land services including land referencing, Orders production, acquisition of consents, consultation and landowner engagement on infrastructure development schemes.
- Experience working with multi-disciplinary teams across a range of sectors and locations and through all stages of scheme development.
- Experience of reducing land risk for clients and advising them on land related matters throughout all stages of a project lifecycle.
- Experience of Public Inquiries/Oral Hearings and managing Objections.
- Experience of developing business and services with existing clients.
- Experience of securing and developing business with new clients.
- Knowledge of the target regional market across Manchester, Leeds, the North of England and relevant UK infrastructure sectors.
- Experience in Bid writing and approvals process.
- Experience of regional resource strategy, team development, succession planning and recruitment.
- Knowledge of rural environment, property, communities and agricultural working practices.
- Strong landowner and public engagement skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with strong influencing and negotiating skills.
- Excellent team working skills at all levels.
- Ability to develop strong relationships with senior clients, regional stakeholders, management colleagues and multidisciplinary teams across Manchester, Leeds and the wider UK and Ireland business.
- Ability to work under pressure and deliver high quality outputs.
- Good business and IT skills.
- Excellent adherence to quality assurance, data protection, Health and Safety.
- A degree in Geography, Agriculture, Land and Estate Management or similar.
- Chartership or membership or a Professional body would be advantageous.
- The ability to travel effectively to various sites/locations is a necessary function of this role.
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.


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About Us
We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 11,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
Work-life balance
At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community.
Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.
Inclusivity & Belonging
We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote a culture of inclusivity.
Health & Wellbeing
We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme.
Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.
Flex your time
To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day.
We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.
Your development
We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.
#WeAreWSP
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.
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