Senior Consultant - Sustainable Agriculture

Ricardo is now a member of WSP. As we complete our integration, you may see references to both WSP and Ricardo during the application and interview process.

We are expanding our Agriculture and Land Use capability within our Land Practice. We are seeking an experienced Senior Consultant to play a key role in delivering high-impact projects across the interfaces between the environment and agricultural and land use systems. We help shape policy through sound evidence and expert understanding of the unique requirements of land management and the interaction with the wider environment and economy. Agriculture and land use are at the centre of some of the most urgent global challenges: climate change, food security, nature recovery and sustainable economic growth. The sector is undergoing the most significant policy transformation in over 50 years across the UK and Europe and globally – making this a uniquely exciting time to influence the future of farming and land management.

In this role, you will work at the interface of science, policy and practice, helping governments, institutions and businesses develop evidence-based solutions that support sustainable agricultural systems while maintaining productivity. Your work will directly inform policy design, regulatory development and long‑term system change.

What You’ll Do

• Leading and managing projects from inception to delivery, including client engagement, work planning, budgeting and quality assurance.
• Delivering robust evidence and analysis to support policy and regulatory development relating to greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, water, soils and wider environmental outcomes.
• Working closely with clients, including national governments, the European Commission and private‑sector organisations, acting as a trusted technical advisor.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across Ricardo and the wider WSP network to deliver innovative, integrated solutions.
• Contributing to business growth, including proposal development, thought leadership and relationship building.
• Supporting capability development within the team, including mentoring junior colleagues and improving delivery processes.

This is a varied role offering exposure to high‑profile, purpose‑driven work with real-world impact.

What We’d Like You to Demonstrate…

You are a motivated and commercially aware consultant with strong technical credibility and a passion for sustainable agriculture and land use. You enjoy managing complex projects, engaging with diverse stakeholders and translating evidence into practical outcomes.

Essential Experience & Capabilities

• A degree (2:1 or above), Master's or PhD in a relevant scientific or environmental discipline.
• Proven experience in project and client management, ideally within consultancy, or a project and outcome focused environment.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to scrutinise data and evidence and present clear, defensible conclusions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience writing high‑quality reports for professional audiences.
• A track record of working with or advising government bodies, public institutions or commercial clients.
• Confidence engaging with stakeholders ranging from technical specialists to policymakers and practitioners.

Advantageous Experience

• Experience in a consultancy or in a customer‑facing commercial environment.
• Knowledge of agricultural and environmental policy, and how it interacts with the wider food system.
• Understanding of farming systems and environmental interactions, particularly greenhouse gases, air quality, water and soils and climate impact and resilience.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and an established network within the agriculture or land‑use sector.