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.
Overview
We are the largest and most successful Land business supporting infrastructure development in the UK and Ireland, with 300+ 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.
We are looking to add further expertise to our growing team and seek talented individuals with varying levels of knowledge of Land Referencing.
Joining WSP, you will have access to our Land Academy which is designed and delivered by our expert Land team for our Land team, with a focus on providing the best standard training and CPD across the industry and support and guidance to achieve your chartership. With a network of experts available to guide, we support your management and ownership of your own projects, client advisory, line management, presentation, training and leadership skills. We will support you to hone and develop your skills to deliver the most exciting projects in the UK - your work with us really makes a difference to the legacy of infrastructure in the UK.
The role can be based in one of WSP’s many offices across the UK or Ireland including with the flexibility of hybrid working between one of these locations and from home.
Core Functions
- The position focuses on securing land, land access, arranging surveys and building strong relationships with stakeholders and landowners via statutory powers and/or negotiation
- Ideally have experience of 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 those relating to data security and privacy
- Resolve disputes and escalate sensitive 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
- Ability to arrange and coordinate land surveys, ensuring compliance with legal and environmental standards
- Experience working on infrastructure, utilities, or energy projects (preferred)
- Consulting with landowners to explain proposed scheme, programme, discuss potential impacts and ensure accurate consultation notes are taken and uploaded to our consultation database
- Skilled in stakeholder engagement, building trust and maintaining positive relationships
- Ensuring that WSP H&S procedures are adhered to for all site work
- Knowledge of land access permissions, land access, s172 licences and site safety experience (preferred)
- Management of junior members of Land team providing support and technical training by contributing to and participating in our CPD-accredited Land Academy
- Using statutory powers and other available mechanisms to acquire land
- Preparation and quality assurance of technical documents in relation to the identification of land interests and rights, negotiation of access to land for surveys, consents and acquisition of land rights
- Negotiation of Heads of Terms to secure land for projects
- Liaising with landowners, land agents, auctioneers, legal representatives, planning authorities, key stakeholders, contractors and clients
- Work closely with Land team colleagues and collaborate with internal and external engineering, environmental, and planning teams
- Experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams across a range of sectors and locations across UK and/or Ireland
- Develop efficient working practices and promote innovation in the team to provide industry-leading, best-value services to our clients
- Management and development of a team of early career professionals providing both technical training and career development support
- Contribute to business development and the delivery of the business strategy
- UK and Ireland travel plus the possibility of travel to WSP’s Global Capability Centre (GCC) in India
What we will be looking for you to demonstrate
- Degree or equivalent experience in Geography, Land/Estate Management, Agriculture or a relevant discipline
- Worked to deliver land referencing, land access, landowner engagement services and statutory processes on major infrastructure projects
- Experience of negotiating with landowners and knowledge of the legal process for the acquisition of wayleaves/easements/servitudes desirable
- Experience working with multi-disciplinary teams across a range of sectors and locations across Ireland and/or UK
- Demonstrable experience of reducing land risk for clients and advising them on land related matters throughout all stages of a project lifecycle
- Proven track record of the development of Orders or equivalent and/or acquisition of consents and interests in land, and knowledge of relevant legislation
- Experience of infrastructure development schemes, particularly in the energy, highways, rail, water and/or aviation sectors
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with colleagues, landowners and clients at all levels
- Ability to communicate effectively with strong influencing and negotiating skills
- Knowledge of the urban and/or rural environment and farming practices would be desirable
- Chartership or membership of a professional body would be advantageous
- The ability to travel effectively to various sites/locations is a necessary function of this role
- Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Apply, and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities within the team. Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.
Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Apply, and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities within the team. 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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