Transport Planning Associate Director/Technical Director (Development) in Exeter

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Specifically supporting the Development team, who provide transport planning, civil infrastructure and urban design support on development and masterplanning projects, this appointment will play a key role in our continued growth across Bristol and the wider South West. We are looking to recruit an Associate Director or Technical Director with a development transport planning background who is already embedded within the local and regional market and excited by the opportunity to help shape, strengthen and expand our offer across the wider South West region.

The successful candidate will have a focus on client‑facing activities, business growth, market strategy and technical leadership and will play an integral part in supporting the continued diversification and growth of the business in terms of both capability and revenue. We are happy to consider candidates based in either Bristol or Exeter, working as part of a single South West Development team and supporting clients and opportunities across Bristol, West of England Combined Authorities, Somerset, Devon, Wiltshire and Cornwall.

The successful candidate should be comfortable working across the wider region and maintaining regular engagement with the established Bristol Development team. The South West represents one of WSP's most exciting growth markets, with opportunities emerging across strategic residential development, regeneration, infrastructure‑led growth, defence, energy transition and Homes England programmes.

Working alongside established Development Planning, Development Infrastructure and Urban Design teams, the successful candidate will play an important role in developing client relationships, identifying opportunities and supporting the continued growth of our Development business across the region. You will be proven at winning and delivering new work, ideally within a multidisciplinary consultancy environment, with experience across both the public and private sectors. A sector specialism would be an added advantage, though not essential.

You will also be experienced at contributing to major multidisciplinary pursuits and tender opportunities and will be responsible for identifying opportunities for new work with existing and new clients, sector leads within the team and colleagues across the wider WSP business.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, leveraging a network of clients, co‑professionals and colleagues to help win work and increase market share for the Development team.
• Supporting the continued growth of WSP's Development business across the South West, helping to strengthen our presence, client relationships and capability across the region.
• Liaising with the Regional Director for Development South and local office leadership in setting and agreeing appropriate growth targets and plans.
• Liaising with public and private sector clients and key stakeholders, including local planning authorities, regulators and development partners, to build trusted relationships.
• Providing technical advice to clients and supporting them through the planning and design process.
• Working closely with colleagues across Development Planning, Development Infrastructure, Urban Design and adjacent service lines to ensure coordination, collaboration and sharing of market intelligence, best practice and innovation.
• Leading and supporting bids, including reviewing and authorising submissions, demonstrating commercial and technical added value.
• Supporting all aspects associated with H&S / Corporate Responsibility and ensuring the team complies with SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment and Quality).

Why join our team?

This is more than a traditional transport planning role. Alongside supporting major public and private sector clients, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence the future direction of a growing multidisciplinary Development business and play a meaningful part in shaping our wider South West presence. Working alongside an established and successful team, there is genuine scope to help grow capability, develop client relationships and support the continued evolution of WSP's Development offer across Bristol, Exeter and the wider South West.

Our South West portfolio spans strategic residential development, major regeneration projects, public sector frameworks, infrastructure‑led growth, defence‑related opportunities and emerging energy transition programmes. This creates a unique opportunity for somebody looking to combine technical excellence, client leadership and business growth.

Career development & progression

At WSP, we recognise that our strongest leaders combine technical credibility, client focus and a passion for growing people and businesses. This role offers the opportunity to become a key part of a successful and growing Development business, with genuine scope to influence future direction and shape our presence across the South West.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:

• Help grow and develop our transport planning capability across Bristol, Exeter and the wider South West.
• Play a leading role in client development, market positioning and strategic growth initiatives.
• Work alongside senior leaders across Development Planning, Development Infrastructure and Urban Design to help shape multidisciplinary opportunities.
• Develop and mentor future talent within a growing team.
• Broaden their influence across WSP's UK and Ireland business through engagement on nationally important pursuits, frameworks and client accounts.
• Build a long‑term leadership platform within one of the UK's leading Development businesses.

Flexible by design

We recognise that exceptional candidates come from a range of backgrounds and career stages. As such, we welcome applications from both experienced Associate Directors and established Technical Directors. For Associate Directors, this role presents a genuine opportunity to broaden market influence, grow client relationships, develop leadership capability and build a platform towards future Technical Director responsibilities. For Technical Directors, the role offers the opportunity to help shape the future direction of a growing regional business, influence strategy, develop teams and client portfolios, and create a pathway towards wider business leadership responsibilities, including Director‑level opportunities within WSP.

What matters most to us is not your current title, but your ability to combine technical credibility, client focus, business growth and leadership to help build our Development business across Bristol and the wider South West.

The Development Team

The Development Team is a well‑established and high‑performing part of the Planning.