Senior Land Consultant in Leeds

The position focuses on securing land, land access, arranging surveys and building strong relationships with stakeholders and landowners via statutory powers and/or negotiation. Ideally have experience of managing land referencing and land access projects.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead audits and quality assurance reviews of land referencing documentation and processes.
• Drive integration of land requirements with engineering, planning, and environmental strategies.
• Provide senior-level advice to clients and project boards on land acquisition risks and opportunities.
• Oversee compliance with statutory processes and ensure projects meet regulatory and legal obligations, including those relating to data security and privacy.
• Resolve disputes and escalate sensitive issues with diplomacy and authority.
• Contribute to commercial strategy and risk management for land-related contracts.
• Establish training programmes and succession planning within the Land team.
• Manage people and lead the team.
• Maintain excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage with landowners, communities, and stakeholders.
• Arrange and coordinate land surveys, ensuring compliance with legal and environmental standards.
• Work on infrastructure, utilities, or energy projects (preferred).
• Consult with landowners to explain proposed schemes, discuss potential impacts and ensure accurate consultation notes are taken and uploaded to our consultation database.
• Build trust and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders.
• Ensure WSP H&S procedures are adhered to for all site work.
• Understand land access permissions, land access, s172 licences and site safety experience (preferred).
• Provide support and technical training to junior members of the Land team and contribute to our CPD-accredited Land Academy.
• Use statutory powers and other available mechanisms to acquire land.
• Prepare and quality‑assure technical documents related to land interests and rights, negotiate access to land for surveys, consents and acquisition of land rights.
• Negotiate Heads of Terms to secure land for projects.
• Liaise with landowners, land agents, auctioneers, legal representatives, planning authorities, key stakeholders, contractors and clients.
• Collaborate closely with internal and external engineering, environmental and planning teams.
• Work with multi‑disciplinary teams across a range of sectors and locations in the UK and/or Ireland.
• Develop efficient practices and promote innovation to deliver best‑value services to clients.
• Manage and develop a team of early career professionals providing technical training and career development support.
• Contribute to business development and delivery of the business strategy.
• Travel within the UK and Ireland and, potentially, to WSP’s Global Capability Centre in India.

Qualifications:

• Degree or equivalent experience in Geography, Land/Estate Management, Agriculture or a relevant discipline.
• Experience delivering land referencing, land access, landowner engagement, and statutory processes on major infrastructure projects.
• Experience negotiating with landowners and knowledge of the legal process for acquiring wayleaves, easements, and servitudes.
• Experience working with multi‑disciplinary teams across a range of sectors and locations in Ireland and/or the UK.
• Demonstrable experience of reducing land risk for clients and advising them on land‑related matters throughout all stages of a project lifecycle.
• Proven track record of developing Orders or equivalent, acquiring consents and land interests, and knowledge of relevant legislation.
• Experience with infrastructure development schemes in energy, highways, rail, water and/or aviation sectors.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Strong communication, influencing and negotiating skills.
• Knowledge of urban/rural environment and farming practices would be desirable.
• Chartership or membership of a professional body would be advantageous.
• Ability to travel to various sites/locations as required.

The role is based in our Leeds or Newcastle offices with the flexibility of hybrid working between these locations and from home. Candidates should ideally be located within North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, County Durham, Teesside, Tyne and Wear or North Lincolnshire.