Principal Land Consultant

WSP’s Land team is the largest and most successful in the industry, providing land referencing, urban and rural landowner engagement, consultation management, land access, formal consents, statutory orders, compensation agreements and land acquisition for major strategic infrastructure projects across the UK and Ireland.

Responsibilities

• Ensure successful delivery of projects securely, on time, within budget and to high standards.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients and manage relationships.
• Advise on land issues across the UK and Ireland, including statutory processes such as DCOs, DNOs, hybrid Bills, Scottish Bills, TWA, T&CPA, CPOs, Motorway Orders and Vesting Orders.
• Secure land rights for high‑profile, strategic infrastructure projects across all sectors.
• Liaise with landowners, land agents, legal representatives, planning authorities, key stakeholders, contractors and clients.
• Collaborate with engineering, environmental and planning teams both within WSP and as part of project supply chains.
• Undertake quality assurance of deliverables related to land interests and rights, negotiation of access for surveys, consents and acquisition of land rights for large‑scale development projects.
• Support knowledge sharing and lessons across regions and projects.
• Lead people, manage, motivate, mentor and develop staff and contribute to the business strategy.
• Support writing of bids/tenders to secure opportunities from internal and external clients.
• Deliver training on technical topics as part of the CPD‑accredited Land Academy.
• Travel within the UK and Ireland and the possibility of travel to WSP’s Global Capability Centre in India.

Qualifications

• Expertise in urban and/or rural environment, property, communities and stakeholders.
• Experience on infrastructure development schemes with multidisciplinary teams across various sectors and locations.
• Experience negotiating commercial terms with landowners and knowledge of the legal process for wayleave, easement and negotiated access acquisition.
• Demonstrable experience reducing land risk and advising on land‑related matters throughout all project stages.
• Track record of developing orders, consents and interests in land, and knowledge of relevant legislation.
• Strong communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work in a team and on own initiative, under pressure, delivering high‑quality outputs.
• Strong landowner and public engagement skills.
• Good business and IT skills.
• Adherence to quality assurance and good document management practices.
• Degree in Geography, Land/Estate Management, Agriculture or related discipline.
• Chartership or membership of a relevant professional body is advantageous.
• Mandatory ability to travel effectively to various sites and locations.

Location & Travel

The role is based in Leeds or Newcastle with hybrid work flexibility. Ideally located within North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, County Durham, Teesside, Tyne and Wear or North Lincolnshire. UK and Ireland travel is required, with potential travel to WSP’s Global Capability Centre in India.

Development & Benefits

We invest in your development through chartership, training, mentoring and the CPD‑accredited Land Academy, supporting your management and ownership of projects and client advisory skills. Projects rotate on average every 18 months. Daily activities include site visits, landowner engagement, access negotiations, client meetings, project management, report writing, data management, digital innovation scoping and map production.