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

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… 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. We are looking for a candidate who can draw on an extensive existing network of contacts in EU environmental policy and who can expand that network to win, and deliver, new contracts with EU institutions and private sector bodies active in EU environmental policy.

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.

Applications from those with European language skills - in addition to a high professional standard of written and spoken English - are particularly welcome. 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.

Responsibilities: This is a key role within our team, and we would typically require around 10 or more years’ relevant experience.

• 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 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 (water, air quality, chemicals, industrial emissions, waste, etc.), ensuring projects are executed efficiently, on time, and within budget.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to younger staff, fostering 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 thematic areas by leveraging research, data-driven analysis, and evidence-based recommendations.

Technical Experience: What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• Postgraduate qualification in environmental policy / science / technology, chemistry, economics, engineering, or similar.
• Professional experience in environmental or policy analysis. Experience in leading and delivering government policy evaluations and impact assessments, or related areas in consultancy, government, research, NGO, or private sector roles.
• Strong expertise in policy evaluation and impact assessment methodologies, using data-driven approaches to inform decisions.
• Proficiency in analysing complex environmental policy issues, identifying challenges, and proposing evidence-based solutions.
• Research skills/experience: data collection and analysis, literature evaluation, stakeholder interviewing, etc.
• 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 in English.

Project Management Experience: Demonstrated ability to manage a portfolio of environmental policy projects, meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality outputs.

• Experience in budgeting, resource allocation, client and subcontractor management, and project planning for successful 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 proposal writing and client engagement.
• Participation in developing and implementing 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.

Join Our Team: 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.