Associate Director

Overview

WSP Land is seeking a talented Land Consultant, at Associate Director level, to join our team in Ireland with offices based in Belfast and Naas. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of our Land team in the delivery of land referencing, landowner engagement, consultation management, land access, formal consents, statutory orders, compensation agreements and land acquisition in support of strategic infrastructure development projects across Ireland and the UK.

We support high-profile infrastructure projects across the Energy, Water, Road, Rail and Local Authority sectors such as Dublin Metrolink, North South Interconnector, A5 Western Transport Corridor, NM20 Cork to Limerick and numerous electricity transmission upgrade schemes, as well as HS2 and many other high-profile infrastructure development schemes in GB. Many of our Energy projects are critical for the deployment of renewable energy, helping Ireland and the UK economies to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions.

We are the largest Land Referencing business in the UK and Ireland, with over 250 Land colleagues. As part of WSP in Ireland you will enjoy the support of Land colleagues as well as our multidisciplinary teams made up of land consultants, highways engineers, environmental and planning specialists and water engineers in our Belfast, Naas and wider GB offices.

Associate Director role

• Lead the delivery of WSP Land business development in Ireland across the electricity, highway, rail, water, telecoms, gas and renewable energy sectors to secure new projects, extensions to projects and new clients.
• Work closely with our other WSP Disciplines in Ireland, including Engineering, Engagement, Environmental and Planning teams, to exploit opportunities at multidisciplinary and strategic level and grow our business
• Raise profile of WSP Land in Ireland across public, target business sectors and academia.
• 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 Resource Strategy including staff retention, planning for succession and recruitment to ensure that the Ireland team has the necessary skills and resources 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 within Ireland and UK, including the relevant statutory processes to acquire land and land rights including Vesting Order, CPO, Motorway Order, Wayleaves etc
• 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
• UK/Ireland-wide Champion of a core pillar eg sector strategy, people development
• Ireland and UK travel

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 target business market in Ireland
• Experience in Bid writing and approvals process
• Experience of resource strategy and development
• 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 and Management colleagues
• 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.
• A full drivers' licence is essential

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all. Work on landmark projects around the world and embrace opportunities to make an even bigger impact in the communities you care about. What if you could do the best work of your life and create a legacy for yourself? With us, you can. Apply today.