Senior Consultant (Operational Safety)

Job Description

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.

Job Description

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.

You’ll be part of our 300-strong technically diverse Intelligent Infrastructure business, delivering for a range of transportation and infrastructure clients - Intelligent Infrastructure services (I&I) | WSP .

Our work in operational safety is centred on understanding the safety impact of design, operation and technology in infrastructure, in support of reducing harm to transport users, workers and other impacted parties. Through hazard identification, risk assessment and safety evaluation we put a safe systems approach into practice and support our clients’ decision making and safety governance.

This means that your work as part of our operational safety group will:

• Take a systems view and understand the context - whatever the policy, process, technology or governance change, we recognise that it will be only one part of a wider system.
• Put people at the heart of our designs and decision making – any policy, process or technology needs to be designed around people and the capability, opportunity and motivations that shape behaviours.
• Make safety inclusive – to ensure people feel comfortable and safe when using products and services and accessing transport, including populations with protected characteristics and neurodivergent needs.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with other specialists across WSP, on commissions which may range from short‑term advisory projects to long‑term multi‑disciplinary engineering design schemes; from responsive risk assessment and evaluation in the face of emerging challenges, through to horizon scanning and shaping higher level safety governance approaches and application.

A Little More About Your Role...

Our operations and safety group comprises of around 70 committed experts from a range of engineering, scientific, academic and applied backgrounds.

You will work alongside senior experts, junior consultants and specialists from across WSP, bringing in your operational safety expertise and experience within areas like roads, rail, energy and active travel to provide a strong and tailored offering for our clients. You will work on a wide range of operations and safety projects at a central and local government level, resulting in a varied and diverse portfolio.

The focus of the role is to undertake high-quality technical work across the Intelligent Infrastructure discipline. You will work with industry leading experts as well as supporting, inspiring and developing junior colleagues.

A Typical Week Would Include

• Working with our clients, to provide expert advice to support their objectives.
• Working collaboratively with other specialists across WSP providing subject matter expertise, insight to safety risk assessments, operating procedures, policy and major projects
• Undertaking research and data analysis.
• Engaging with stakeholders who have relevant insight to specific topics, e.g. emergency services, operational staff, highway authorities, transport operators or breakdown recovery.
• Leading responsible roles for technical packages of work in terms of time, cost and quality of the output, ultimately ensuring customer satisfaction throughout delivery.
• Presenting findings and recommendations to client forums and industry stakeholders.
• Supporting the growth of the Operational Safety expertise area to support delivery against its ambitions, helping drive delivery and business sustainability, with a particular focus on supporting the development of early career professionals

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate...

We are seeking motivated and resourceful colleagues who can demonstrate one or both of the following:

• Experience preparing and/or reviewing safety risk assessments, hazard logs and risk registers, particularly within the transport domain.
• Understanding and appreciation of safety by design concepts, the principles of prevention, and the application of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015).

We’re Also Looking For

• A degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. civil engineering, transport studies, geography, psychology, arts), or are a technician with BTEC, HNC/HND and an appropriate level of experience
• A passion in working towards systematic safety integration e.g., the safe system approach and Vision Zero
• A proven track record in a consultancy role or can demonstrate the aptitude and skills required to provide excellent consultancy support
• Ability to undertake qualitative and quantitative data analysis; use of artificial intelligence tools to support research, analysis and reporting
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to construct compelling narratives
• A conscientious approach with attention to detail and an ability to work under your own initiative
• Enthusiasm to share knowledge and support the development of colleagues especially more junior team members
• Excellent stakeholder relationships and collaboration skills
• Experience contributing to or developing client proposals and business development

About Us

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 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 11,000 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. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote a culture of inclusivity.

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. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

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.

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.