Associate Director / Technical Director, Environmental Policy - Belgium (Brussels)

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.

About the role

The role is in WSP’s Environmental Policy and Economics team based in our Brussels office, working globally in collaboration with colleagues across the UK and Canada. The team provides robust, impartial and influential advice on policy development and strategic response across the full policy lifecycle (policy development and assessment; implementation; review, evaluation and revision). We combine policy analysis skills with in-depth technical knowledge of environmental issues and science, and knowledge of key sectors/industries. We draw on skills from across the business and an extensive international supply chain. We are the leading consultancy in several key fields, including air quality and industrial emissions; chemicals; climate change mitigation and adaptation; water; circular economy; safety; and other fields.

Job Location: Brussels, Belgium. Our team is based across the UK, Belgium, Germany and beyond Europe, in Canada and the US. We are seeking to fill this role in Brussels, Belgium, but the position will involve work with colleagues and partners across our network of offices in Europe and the rest of the world.

Examples Of Recent Projects Delivered By The Team Include:

• Water: Fitness Check of the Water Framework Directive and Floods Directive, a study to support the impact assessment of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
• Air quality and industrial emissions: Ongoing work over many years to support Defra with assessing costs and benefits of measures to reduce air pollutant emissions across multiple sectors; framework contract with the European Commission on industrial emissions; work with European Parliament on mapping and assessing local policies on air quality.
• Deforestation: back-to-back evaluation of the EU Timber Regulation and EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Regulation and impact assessment for measures against deforestation (EUDR).
• Circular economy: various studies at regional, national and international levels (e.g. Zero Waste Scotland, the World Bank) looking at material recovery, recycling and recyclability of packaging, single use plastics, etc.
• Chemicals: Leading projects on review of EU chemicals legislation (fitness check) and on REACH (e.g. the impact assessment for the revision of REACH, studies on introducing a mixture assessment factor and the essential use concept); POPs Regulation; the transition to safe and sustainable chemicals; impacts from chemicals on human health and the environment; transparency across the supply chain; socio-economic analysis for chemical substances; and assessing risk management options for PFAS.

Key responsibilities:

• Build and maintain an extensive existing network of contacts in EU environmental policy and expand that network to win and deliver new contracts with EU institutions and private sector bodies active in EU environmental policy.
• Actively engage with clients and stakeholders from the public and private sectors, building and maintaining relationships to identify new business opportunities.
• Win new environmental policy projects through effective proposal writing and presentations, and represent WSP at relevant EU policy forums, conferences, and meetings.
• Manage and/or direct a diverse range of environmental policy projects within thematic areas, ensuring projects are executed efficiently, on time, and within budget.
• Deliver environmental policy development, and have a deep understanding of processes such as impact assessment and evaluation.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to younger staff members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
• Collaborate with the team to develop and implement long-term strategies for the environmental policy team.
• Drive policy advancements in our thematic areas by leveraging research, data-driven analysis, and evidence-based recommendations.

Technical Experience:

• Postgraduate qualification in environmental policy / science / technology, chemistry, economics, engineering, or similar.
• Professional experience of environmental or policy analysis.
• Relevant work experience in leading and delivering government policy evaluations, impact assessments, or a related area.
• Strong expertise in policy evaluation and impact assessment methodologies, using data-driven approaches to inform decision-making and policy recommendations.
• Proficiency in analysing complex environmental policy issues, identifying challenges, and proposing evidence-based solutions.
• Demonstrable research skills / experience: collection and analysis of data, summarising and critically evaluating literature, stakeholder interviewing, for example.
• Understanding of analytical techniques such as survey design and execution; market analysis; and socio-economic analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to present findings, policy recommendations, and project updates to clients, stakeholders, and the broader public.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to write clear and concise reports in English.

Project Management Experience:

• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage a portfolio of environmental policy projects, ensuring deadlines are met and deliverables are of high quality.
• Experience in budgeting, resource allocation, client and subcontractor management and project planning to achieve successful project outcomes.

Strategy And Commercial Experience:

• A proven network of contacts within EU environmental policy and legislation.
• Proven track record in winning new environmental policy projects and contracts, including successful proposal writing and client engagement.
• Participation in the development and implementation of the team’s environmental policy strategy to drive growth and achieve long-term objectives.

Staff management:

• Communication and interpersonal skills to mentor and develop team members, fostering a cohesive and high-performing team environment.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all. Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.