Assistant Soil Science Consultant / Soil Science Consultant

Overview

Assistant Soil Science Consultant / Soil Science Consultant role at WSP in the UK & Ireland. Location is flexible; the role is office and site based with a roughly 50/50 split between site and office work across the year. The work is within the Ground & Water team, part of WSP\’s Earth & Environment business, with opportunities to collaborate with colleagues in Nature Advisory, Landscape, Environmental Planning, and Sustainability Policy & Compliance.

What you will do

• Undertake fieldwork/site visits and support the production of written reports for Agricultural Land Classification (ALC), Soil Resource Assessment, and tailored assessments for inclusion in Environmental Statements.
• Assist in delivering a broad range of projects at various stages, including bidding, project team management, project delivery, and financial management, with appropriate supervision.
• Manage data to support technical reporting, provide advice to colleagues, liaise with clients, landowners, contractors, statutory authorities, and third parties.
• Support on the production of reports for DCOs, EIAs, and other environmental assessments, and assist on data management, survey coordination, and risk assessment for site works across the UK.
• Collaborate with the Ground & Water team and contribute to embedding soil knowledge across the business, helping grow the soils capability within WSP.

Responsibilities and team

The role is office and site based, with significant site work anticipated. The location is flexible; the role offers a hybrid working pattern with some time in a WSP office for team and client meetings/project work. You will be a good relationship builder, highly organized, adaptable, and aware of the commercial demands of consultancy work.

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in Soil Science, or a related field (e.g., physical geology, environmental science) with 3–5 years of relevant practical experience.
• Experience in completing Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) surveys, Soil Resource Surveys, and site supervision during construction works (ideally to BSSS competency standards).
• Solid grounding in health & safety procedures for site work.
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills; able to work with a geographically spread team.
• Registered with a relevant professional body (e.g., British Society of Soil Science).
• Desirable: current working knowledge of UK environmental legislation, implications of construction projects on agricultural land, and understanding of UK agricultural practice and business issues.
• Working knowledge of applied GIS; full driving license; and enjoy working outdoors.

What we offer

• Work-life balance with hybrid working; flexibility to work from home two days a week and collaborate in modern offices across the UK.
• Inclusive and belonging culture with employee resource groups and an emphasis on integrity and respect.
• Health & wellbeing support, including Thrive programme and access to healthcare services.
• Flexible benefits, such as Gymflex, menopause support, and other wellbeing initiatives.
• Flexible working arrangements, part-time options, ability to purchase additional leave, and use of bank holiday entitlement to suit you.
• Development opportunities, mentoring, and potential Chartership support.

EEO statement: We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria and will arrange workplace adjustments on request.