Technical Director Land in Edinburgh

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.

WSP’s Land team is seeking talented Land professionals to join what is already the largest and most successful team in our industry. This is an exciting opportunity to develop or begin a career with a team that enjoys a successful reputation for the delivery of major strategic infrastructure projects across the UK and Ireland through the support provided by land referencing, urban and rural landowner engagement, consultation management, land access, formal consents, statutory orders, compensation agreements and land acquisition.

We offer flexible working patterns, competitive salaries and other benefits. We are the largest and most successful Land business supporting infrastructure development in the UK and Ireland, with 300+ specialist professional colleagues consisting of land consultants, property specialists, project managers and utility and topographical surveyors. We have the widest portfolio of projects available in our industry, offering unrivalled opportunities to both develop and diversify careers, working on some of the most exciting and challenging projects across the whole of the UK and Ireland.

Our clients rely on us to deliver the essential land elements of their infrastructure projects and we enjoy a hard‑earned reputation of success. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of this success, delivering land referencing, land acquisition, land access, formal consents, statutory orders and landowner engagement across all infrastructure sectors and make a positive impact on the economy and communities these projects serve.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and technical direction on WSP Land projects.
• Demonstrate excellent stakeholder engagement to ensure successful land identification, securing of land rights and land acquisition through landowner negotiation and/or statutory powers.
• Drive a high‑performance culture within the team, fostering collaboration and a shared sense of purpose to deliver exceptional project and organisational outcomes.
• Demonstrate exemplary leadership in working with senior colleagues across WSP Land.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to both internal and external clients, proactively engaging with client capture teams and Key Client Managers (KCMs) to strengthen client relationships and identify new opportunities.
• Oversee the successful delivery of projects, ensuring they are completed on schedule, within budget, and to the highest technical and quality standards.
• Lead business development initiatives for WSP Land in the Energy, Water, and Rail sectors, targeting the acquisition of new projects, extensions, and clients by leveraging technical expertise and industry insight.
• Collaborate closely with other WSP disciplines—including Engineering, Engagement, Environmental, and Planning teams—to identify and capitalise on multidisciplinary and strategic growth opportunities.
• Champion the profile and technical reputation of WSP Land across public forums, social media, targeted business sectors, and professional and academic circles.
• Lead the preparation and review of high‑quality bids and tenders, ensuring technical excellence and competitiveness in securing new business.
• Implement succession planning and engage in targeted recruitment to maintain and enhance the technical capabilities of WSP Land.
• Conduct high‑level project and business reviews to support effective risk and opportunity management, ensuring long‑term success and resilience.
• Champion our WSP culture of health, safety & wellbeing (HS&W).
• Ensure our adherence to Quality Assurance and development of our processes.
• Ensure our adherence to Data Protection and development of our processes.
• Champion one of our core pillars – grow key markets, expand delivery and quality culture and pursue digital innovation and excellence.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate:

• Proven leadership in overseeing and directing the delivery of Land services, including site identification, land access, and acquisition strategies at a senior level.
• Comprehensive and practical expertise in land consents, stakeholder consultation, and landowner engagement for major infrastructure development projects.
• Extensive experience collaborating with multi‑disciplinary teams across diverse sectors and geographies, guiding projects through every stage of development.
• Demonstrated success in mitigating land‑related risks for clients and providing strategic advice on land matters throughout the entire project lifecycle.
• Significant involvement in Public Inquiries and Oral Hearings, including the effective management of objections and complex stakeholder issues.
• Consistent track record in fostering repeat business and expanding service offerings with existing clients.
• Proven ability to secure and develop business opportunities with new clients, contributing to the growth of the organisation.
• Substantial experience in authoring, managing and approving bids and tenders at a senior level.
• Expertise in resource strategy, including talent development, succession planning, and aligning team capability with business growth objectives.
• Outstanding engagement skills with landowners and the public, with a focus on building trust and fostering positive relationships.
• Exceptional communication, influencing, and negotiation skills, with the ability to represent the business at the highest levels.
• Strong team leadership and collaborative working skills, engaging effectively at all organisational levels.
• Ability to cultivate robust relationships with senior clients, key stakeholders, and executive management colleagues.
• Resilience and composure under pressure, consistently delivering high‑quality outputs to demanding deadlines.
• Advanced business acumen and IT proficiency, ensuring efficient and innovative project delivery.
• Commitment to quality assurance, data protection, and exemplary Health and Safety standards.
• Degree qualified in Geography, Agriculture, Land and Estate Management or a closely related discipline.
• Chartered status or membership of a recognised professional body is highly desirable.
• Full, clean driving licence is essential.

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.

About Us: We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 72,800 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.

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.

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.

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.