Strategic Site Director Planning Consultancy (South) in Newcastle upon Tyne

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WSP’s Planning Consultancy team is seeking a high-profile, commercially minded Director to lead and grow our strategic sites’ portfolio across the UK. This role is central to driving major development opportunities through plan-making, promotion, consenting and delivery, working at the forefront of transformational projects that shape communities and regional economies. The Director will act as an outward-facing leader, strengthening our market presence, securing major commissions, and overseeing the successful delivery of complex, multidisciplinary projects. This is a role for a recognised "winner-doer" who combines strategic insight, technical excellence, and strong client relationships.

About The Planning Consultancy Team

Our Planning Consultancy team sits at the front end of WSP’s Planning & Development business unit, bringing together the full suite of professional services needed to take sites from initial appraisal through feasibility, design, consenting and delivery. We advise on some of the UK’s most significant strategic development projects across residential, commercial, mixed-use, leisure, defence, healthcare and education sectors. Our portfolio includes major urban extensions, new settlements and regeneration schemes such as:

• South Warrington Urban Extension
• Castor & Ailsworth, Peterborough
• Cambridge Business Park
• Eden Project North

This is an opportunity to join a high-performing team with a national footprint and a strong pipeline of strategic development work.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Lead the growth of WSP’s strategic sites business, acting as a visible market leader and ambassador for the Planning Consultancy team.
• Shape and drive business development strategies, securing new opportunities with master developers, promoters, landowners, investors and public-sector partners.
• Strengthen WSP’s position within the strategic development and major projects market.

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Lead and manage large, complex, multidisciplinary projects from plan promotion through to application, EIA, consenting and delivery.
• Oversee project governance, risk management, programme, budget and quality assurance.
• Provide strategic planning and development advice, including infrastructure delivery, viability, phasing and land-use strategy.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with strategic site developers, funders, local authorities, Homes England and other key stakeholders.
• Represent WSP at senior level in negotiations, public forums, hearings and examinations.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, providing commercially grounded, outcome-focused advice.

Internal Leadership & Collaboration

• Work collaboratively across WSP’s multidisciplinary teams, securing internal pipeline opportunities and ensuring seamless integration of planning, design, engineering and environmental services.
• Mentor and develop planning and development professionals within the team.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the Planning & Development business unit.

Essential Requirements

• Senior Planning Director with a strong reputation in the strategic sites and major development market.
• Proven leadership of large, interdisciplinary teams on complex, multi-phase projects.
• Extensive experience managing strategic sites through plan promotion, applications, EIA and delivery.
• Strategic planning and development expertise, including advising master developers and assessing infrastructure delivery and viability.
• Experience across both public and private sectors, with a strong understanding of political, commercial and delivery contexts.
• Demonstrable track record of business development, work winning and securing major commissions.
• Established client relationships with strategic site developers, promoters, funders and landowners.
• Experience delivering under major frameworks and securing repeat work.
• Strong collaborator, able to leverage internal networks within a large multidisciplinary organisation.
• RTPI qualified.
• Whilst a UK role, experience in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, SE and Yorkshire would be beneficial.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to lead nationally significant development projects.
• A platform to shape WSP’s strategic sites’ business and influence the future of UK development.
• Access to one of the UK’s largest multidisciplinary planning and development teams.
• A flexible regional base aligned to growth opportunities.
• A culture that supports ambition, innovation and professional excellence.

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.