Location
Manchester with hybrid working flexibility between office and home. The ideal candidate will be based in the greater Manchester area. UK and Ireland travel required, with possible travel to WSP’s Global Capability Centre in India.

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
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’s Land team is the largest and most successful in the industry, supporting infrastructure development across the UK and Ireland. We deliver major strategic projects through land referencing, urban and rural landowner engagement, consultation management, land access, formal consents, statutory orders, compensation agreements, and land acquisition.

As a Principal Land Consultant, you will ensure successful delivery of projects securely, on time, within budget, and to high standards. You will be a trusted advisor to clients, managing relationships and advising on land issues across the UK and Ireland, including statutory processes such as DCOs, DNOs, hybrid Bills, Scottish Bills, TWA, T&CPA, CPOs, Motorway Orders, and Vesting Orders.

You will liaise with landowners, land agents, legal representatives, planning authorities, key stakeholders, contractors, and clients. Collaboration with colleagues across land, engineering, environmental, and planning teams within WSP and project supply chains is essential.

Your responsibilities will include quality assurance of deliverables such as books of reference, land plans, and statements of reasons related to consents and acquisition of land rights for large-scale development projects. You will support knowledge sharing and quality standards across regions and projects.

As a leader and role model, you will manage, motivate, mentor, and develop staff while contributing to business strategy and supporting bid and tender writing. You will also deliver training on technical topics through our CPD-accredited Land Academy.

Local projects include TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU), HS2, the HyNet carbon capture project, and Project Union. Many projects support the UK’s net zero carbon ambitions and infrastructure investment in rail, water, highways, and energy sectors.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals passionate about making a positive impact. With over 69,000 employees globally, WSP offers a world of opportunity to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

Experience
- In-depth knowledge of land referencing practices including detailed HMLR interpretation and book of reference production
- Experience working on infrastructure development schemes with multi-disciplinary teams across various sectors and locations
- Proven track record in reducing land risk for clients and advising on land-related matters throughout project lifecycles
- Experience developing Orders and/or acquiring consents and interests in land, with knowledge of relevant legislation
- Strong landowner and public engagement skills
- Ability to communicate effectively with strong influencing and negotiating skills
- Experience in quality assurance and good document management practices

About you
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, managing pressure and delivering high-quality outputs
- Strong business and IT skills
- Commitment to quality and continuous improvement
- Effective people management skills including mentoring and developing staff
- Willingness and ability to travel across the UK, Ireland, and potentially internationally

Qualifications
- Degree in Geography, Land/Estate Management, Agriculture or a related discipline
- Chartership or membership of a relevant professional body is advantageous
- Relevant professional training and CPD participation encouraged

If you don’t meet all criteria, we encourage you to apply to explore how your experience aligns with this role or other opportunities within the team.