Location
London, with some UK and international travel required for client engagements, conferences and business development activities.

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
What if you could shape a career as unique as you? At WSP, you can always find opportunities to grow and do what matters to you. Make the most of our global reach to discover new challenges and work with diverse, talented individuals who will help you expand your horizons. With your help, we can become a leader in the energy transition to net zero through the adoption of innovative technologies, renewables, and the transformation of existing assets on the journey to a decarbonised society.

As a Principal Consultant within our Energy Advisory team, you will take a leading role in shaping and growing our policy, regulation and markets offering across the UK and internationally. You will lead complex, high-profile engagements, develop strategic client relationships, win and direct major projects, and provide technical and people leadership across the team. You will play a key role in defining our market position, mentoring consultants and senior consultants, and helping to drive long-term business growth.

Your Role – We are looking for a Principal Consultant – Policy, Regulation and Markets to join our Energy Advisory team and help lead the delivery and growth of our UK and global portfolio of energy transition, energy market reform, and regulatory projects.

Projects – You will lead advisory engagements across the electricity sector, including:
- Regulated businesses with regulatory and commercial strategy development, appraisal and delivery, including business plans, price control design/operation and funding.
- Market participants with market/policy appraisal including commercial evaluation and analysis to support strategic responses and engagement with regulators and policy makers.
- Investors, lenders, governments and project developers with economic, regulatory and commercial analysis underpinning business strategies, investment decisions and sector reforms.

Responsibilities and expectations – You will be a recognised technical and market leader supporting stakeholders across the electricity sector, including:
Project Delivery and Management
Lead the delivery of complex and strategically important energy sector projects, ensuring exceptional technical quality, client satisfaction, and commercial performance. Act as Project Director or Senior Project Manager on major assignments, overseeing governance, financial performance, resource allocation, risk management, and delivery excellence. Lead multidisciplinary project teams across geographies, coordinating technical specialists to deliver integrated client solutions. Take ownership of developing and securing major proposals, frameworks and strategic pursuits, contributing significantly to revenue growth and market expansion. Provide oversight and quality assurance for project outputs, ensuring alignment with WSP standards and client expectations.
Technical Delivery & Leadership
Act as a subject matter expert in energy market regulation and market design, providing strategic technical direction across projects and programmes. Lead the development of innovative analytical approaches, methodologies and models to address client challenges in rapidly evolving energy markets. Produce and review complex technical reports, business cases, regulatory submissions and strategic advisory documents to an exceptional professional standard. Provide technical leadership, coaching and mentoring to consultants and senior consultants, supporting capability development and knowledge sharing across the team. Drive continuous improvement in technical excellence, regulatory insight and market knowledge within the Energy Advisory business.
Client Relationships & Thought Leadership
Build, maintain and expand senior-level relationships with regulators, utilities, policymakers, investors and other key stakeholders across the energy sector. Identify, shape and convert business opportunities through trusted advisor relationships and a deep understanding of client challenges and market dynamics. Support key account management activities and contribute directly to strategic growth plans for priority clients and sectors. Represent WSP at industry conferences, forums and stakeholder events, enhancing our profile and market position. Develop and deliver thought leadership through publications, industry presentations, market insights, white papers and conference speaking opportunities. Support the development of WSP's Policy, Regulation and Markets and energy advisory strategy, helping to identify emerging market opportunities and future service offerings.

Experience
Degree level or higher in Economics, Engineering, or another relevant STEM discipline, or substantial directly relevant industry experience. Significant experience in energy sector regulation/policy and market design, including price control processes and mechanisms; market arrangements and their operation; economic appraisal and assessments. Proven consultancy, advisory or industry experience leading complex projects for regulators, utilities, investors, governments or infrastructure developers. Strong understanding of energy systems, regulation and markets, specifically electricity, with knowledge extending beyond a single jurisdiction. Demonstrable experience leading project teams and managing complex stakeholder environments. Proven track record of developing client relationships and securing new work. Excellent commercial awareness and understanding of project financial management. Outstanding analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines.

About you
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing, presentations and stakeholder engagement. Ability to build and maintain senior-level relationships with regulators, utilities, policymakers, investors and other key stakeholders. Strong leadership skills with experience coaching and mentoring consultants. Commercially aware with a proactive approach to business development and revenue growth. Adaptable and able to work across international markets and multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications
Degree or higher qualification in a relevant field or equivalent industry experience.

Desirable
- Established network of industry contacts within the regulatory, utility, government, investor or energy advisory communities.
- Experience leading business development activities and delivering measurable revenue growth.
- Experience supporting regulatory reform, market design, energy transition programmes and clean energy investment.
- Experience working across international markets.
- Ability to utilise sector contacts to create new opportunities and develop strategic partnerships.
- Experience managing multidisciplinary international teams.

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.