Associate / Associate Director - Transport Decarbonisation Consultant in Cardiff

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.

A Little More About Your Role… We are seeking an Associate Transport Decarbonisation Consultant who can be based out of any of our UK offices. You will be responsible for:

• Advising government (local, regional, national, international) on how to decarbonise transport in line with carbon budgets and net zero
• Aligning transport decarbonisation with other client policy agendas
• Supporting the development and continual improvement of WSP’s transport decarbonisation, spatial planning, and vision led planning offers.
• Providing technical leadership, expertise, and quality assurance across all transport strategy decarbonisation commissions.
• Collaborating with other teams in our Mobility business and other Disciplines to identify the optimal solutions for addressing the decarbonisation challenge and their associated impacts
• Leading complex, innovative projects for high-profile clients, including development of new decarbonisation services and tools
• Supporting business growth by shaping new service lines, winning work, and strengthening client relationships.
• Managing development of fee proposals to clients, including coordinating and preparing technical and commercial responses
• Building a collaborative, ‘carbon conscious’ culture across the wider Mobility team, and acting as a champion for embedment of best practice transport decarbonisation approaches across the business

The successful candidate will have strong technical experience in providing strategic advice in transport assessment and management, with suitable knowledge of transport modelling and carbon assessment methods, and an aptitude for defining technical approaches that can be applied in new and innovative areas. This role is best suited to someone with a transport planning, modelling or carbon assessment background, but a passion for mitigating climate change through decarbonising transport is essential. We will also help you to broaden your experience or deepen your specialist skills in line with your career aspirations.

Our Transport Decarbonisation & Sustainability team are a group of carbon specialists that work as part of our wider Mobility Discipline. This team was established to guide our clients and colleagues through the complex challenge of transport decarbonisation and embed carbon thinking at the heart of our wider transport planning services. The team deliver a wide range of decarbonisation services including, but not limited to, carbon assessment and management for transport infrastructure projects; quantification and assessment of carbon to inform transport strategies and plans; development of carbon management policies and advice for local transport authorities; authoring of government guidance and development of industry best practice.

Since its inception five years ago, our team has been at the forefront of change in the industry. This includes authoring the Department for Transport’s Quantifiable Carbon guidance; working with the Sub-National Transport Bodies to develop baseline emissions models and supporting regional decarbonisation strategies; advising local authority clients on the scale of and solutions to the transport decarbonisation challenge; and developing carbon management policies for major transport programmes and organisations.

As the largest supplier of professional services to local government, we are in an exciting position to influence change across the industry through engagement with our clients and upskilling our wider Mobility team to embed the skills and services we develop. We also invest heavily in R&D to further innovate and grow our offer, both across decarbonisation and climate resilience. Joining the team at this critical time for climate action presents a great opportunity to influence transport policies, shape WSP’s and our client’s decarbonisation approaches, and play a meaningful role on the national pathway to net zero.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• Experience in technical leadership roles, involving scoping and reviewing technical outputs, and requiring a pragmatic approach to resolve often complex issues
• Experience in project management and client facing roles, with confidence in adapting complex information into concise, plain-language summaries
• Experience in transport planning, including areas such as transport policy and strategy, and major scheme business case development.
• The ability to interpret model outputs from strategic modelling and transport assessment, including contextualising the results
• An understanding of the principles of Net Zero in a transport context and specific experience relating to carbon assessment is preferable
• Knowledge of the planning system, covering the spatial planning and development control decision making processes
• Strong analytical skills and ability to innovate beyond traditional processes and methods
• Confidence in working in complex project teams (often cross-discipline) and ability to upskill staff on decarbonisation best practice
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• A deep interest and passion for delivering Net Zero

We are keen to hear from people who hold or who are currently working towards a professional qualification / chartership.

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.

About Us We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 72,800 passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 9,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

What’s in it for you?

• Work-life balance: At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community. Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.
• Inclusivity & Belonging: We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP.
• Health & Wellbeing: We are committed to supporting our people, giving you the tools to make improvements to your health and wellbeing through our Thrive programme. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most.
• Flex your time: To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.
• Your development: We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

#WeAreWSP Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, 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, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.