At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the growth of life sciences property advisory and provide strategic property advice.
- Company: Join WSP, a leading consultancy transforming health and life sciences environments.
- Benefits: Be part of a global team with opportunities for career development and impactful work.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with over 69,000 employees dedicated to making a difference.
- Why this job: Shape the future of life sciences real estate and make a positive impact.
- Qualifications: Strong background in property advisory, excellent client relationship skills, and leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
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.
WSP is a leading specialist consultancy, transforming environments for clients in health and life sciences.
Our target market in life sciences is focused on client organisations operating in the fields of discovery and development, pre-clinical research and clinical research and clinical development.
In doing so we interface with organisations involved in pharma manufacture and also with the academic and research arms of universities, health organisations and systems.
Help shape the future of life sciences real estate across England
WSP has one of the largest teams of life sciences programme and project managers in the UK, supporting the delivery of large, complex investment programmes through its work with DEFRA, UKRI, Astra Zeneca and the Ellison Institute of Technology.
Our focus is on collaboration between health, scientific research, the tertiary and private sectors, and the resultant translation into better health outcomes.
To support WSP’s continued growth within the Life Sciences sector, we are looking for an experienced Director to expand our Life Sciences real estate consultancy offer across England, building on WSP’s multidisciplinary capability and helping clients make robust, commercially informed decisions about their property portfolios.
This is a senior, market-facing role for someone who combines strong transactional and agency expertise with commercial leadership.
You will be expected to originate opportunities, build profile in the life sciences real estate market and convert relationships into high-quality advisory, agency and transaction-led instructions.
You will support occupiers, landlords, developers and investors with property advice that reflects market demand, operational need and long-term value.
With more than 30 offices across the UK, WSP offers a strong national platform for this role to be located across England, with access to regional markets, national client relationships and multidisciplinary support.
Our Property Advisory team forms part of WSP’s specialist Health and Life Sciences Advisory business (HLSA), where the Property team helps clients unlock value, manage risk and make informed property decisions.
We advise on acquisitions, disposals, lettings, lease advisory, rent reviews, portfolio strategy, development appraisals, options analysis and property-led change.
We work at pace on targeted commissions and wider portfolio programmes, bringing together property, planning, cost management, programme delivery, sustainability, and technical expertise to support clients across the life sciences property lifecycle.
As Director, you will play a visible leadership role in shaping our life sciences growth strategy, generating pipeline, winning work and strengthening WSP’s profile with occupiers, landlords, developers, investors and professional partners across England.
The role aligns to WSP Director-level expectations, with emphasis on strategic client impact, commercial growth, market positioning, portfolio leadership and people development.
- A little more about your role…
- Lead the growth of WSP’s Life Sciences Property Advisory offer across England, identifying target clients, shaping propositions, developing routes to market and converting new opportunities.
- Provide market-facing transactional, agency and strategic property advice to life sciences clients, helping them respond to occupier demand, market conditions, funding drivers and commercial objectives.
- Lead property transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, lettings, lease advisory, rent reviews and related client-side negotiations.
- Use market intelligence, sector networks and active client engagement to identify emerging requirements, create leads and position WSP for repeat and strategic advisory work.
- Advise on asset and portfolio strategies that enhance productivity, support expansion, mitigate risk and support long-term client objectives.
- Lead options appraisals, development strategies, market assessments and cashflow analysis to support acquisition, disposal, letting, rationalisation and redevelopment decisions.
- Work alongside WSP’s multidisciplinary teams, including planning, cost management, project and programme management and sustainability.
You will bring the confidence, credibility and commercial focus expected of a senior Director, with the ability to grow a market, open doors, lead client relationships and shape high-quality advisory work that responds to live market opportunities.
- Take an active leadership role in growing the team, supporting colleagues, sharing knowledge and creating opportunities for others to develop.
- Deliver work commercially, managing scope, quality, programme, risk and profitability across commissions.
- Communicate clearly and persuasively through reports, proposals, presentations, workshops and senior client conversations.
- Promote collaboration across HLSA and the wider WSP business to create stronger, broader client propositions.
- Understand the wider commercial, strategic and reputational impact of your work, balancing client value with WSP’s growth objectives.
- Champion technical quality, robust governance and effective review across the work you lead.
- Engage confidently with senior stakeholders, including executive teams, estate directors, commercial leads, clinicians, public sector partners and investors.
- Demonstrate WSP’s values in the way you lead, collaborate, make decisions and represent the business.
- What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…
- A strong track record in transactional, agency or specialist property advisory work, ideally gained within a consultancy, agency, client-side property team or comparable advisory environment.
- Degree qualified, or equivalent, with a relevant professional qualification such as MRICS preferred.
- Excellent knowledge of property markets, transaction processes, occupier requirements, landlord and investor drivers, and wider economic and commercial trends.
- Strong client relationship, negotiation, networking, agency and business development skills, with evidence of originating, winning and growing market-facing work.
- Commercial confidence, sound judgement and the ability to manage priorities, risk and delivery across multiple client relationships and commissions.
- Experience leading, motivating and developing collaborative teams, with an inclusive and empowering leadership style.
- The ability to build capability in others, provide constructive feedback and foster long-term learning, collaboration and devolved leadership.
- An interest in how digital technologies, data and evidence-led insight can support market analysis, portfolio optimisation, investment planning and improved outcomes for life sciences clients.
Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Apply, and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities within the team.
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.
Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.
With us, you can. Apply today.
- #LI-HR1
- #AVY1
Director, Life Sciences (Health and Life Sciences) in London employer: WSP
WSP is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Leeds that fosters professional growth and development through initiatives like the Land Academy. With a strong emphasis on hybrid working arrangements, employees enjoy a healthy work-life balance while engaging in meaningful projects that shape urban and rural landscapes across the UK and Ireland.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Life Sciences (Health and Life Sciences) in London
✨Get Involved in Local Property Events
Dive into local property expos and networking events! Real estate thrives on connections, so attending these events helps us meet potential employers and industry leaders, plus it's a chance to show off your enthusiasm for the field.
✨Connect with Local Agents on Social Media
Follow and engage with local real estate agents and firms on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Sharing their posts and commenting with your insights can put you on their radar and might even lead to job opportunities at companies like WSP.
✨Don’t Underestimate the Power of Cold Outreach
Got your eye on a specific company like WSP? Don't hesitate to send a direct message or an email expressing your interest. Personalise your approach, maybe mentioning a recent listing or project of theirs, and it could set you apart from other candidates.
✨Utilise Property Management Platforms
Check out property management platforms and job boards tailored for the real estate sector. They often have exclusive listings, especially for full-time roles. Don't forget to visit WSP's careers page directly; we love seeing passionate candidates applying through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Life Sciences (Health and Life Sciences) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Real-Estate Savvy:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight any relevant experience in the real estate sector. If you've done internships, assistant roles, or even relevant coursework, lay it out clearly. We want to see your familiarity with market trends, property management, or any sales experience you've got under your belt!
Quantify Your Achievements:In real estate, numbers speak volumes! When detailing your past roles, use concrete figures to demonstrate your achievements. For example, mention how many properties you sold, the percentage increase in client satisfaction, or any successful negotiations. These metrics can give your application that extra punch it needs!
Tailor Your Documents for the Job:Every application should feel personal. When applying for the Director, Life Sciences (Health and Life Sciences) role at WSP, tweak your CV to focus on aspects that are important to them. If they value client relationships, emphasise your interpersonal skills. We want to see you aligning your experiences with what they're looking for!
Keep It Professional Yet Approachable:While we want you to show off your expertise, don't forget to let your personality shine through in your cover letter. A touch of friendliness can set you apart, especially in real estate where client interaction is key. Show that you're ready not just to work with the property but also with people!
How to prepare for a job interview at WSP
✨Know Your Market Trends
In real estate, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve. Make sure we brush up on the latest market trends in the area where WSP operates. Being able to discuss local property values, demand, and upcoming developments will show that we’re not just interested in the job, but genuinely invested in the industry.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions during the interview. We might get asked how we’d handle different client situations or property evaluations. Preparing our responses for common real estate scenarios not only demonstrates our problem-solving skills but also shows that we can think on our feet in a client-facing role.
✨Showcase Your Connections
In full-time real estate, networking is key! Let’s think about our connections in the industry and what we can bring to WSP. Whether it’s insights on prospective clients or relationships with local contractors, talking about these experiences can set us apart from other candidates.
✨Demonstrate Technical Savvy
Familiarity with different real estate software tools is a big plus. We should be ready to discuss any platforms we've used, whether it's for property management, CRM, or data analysis. Being comfortable with technology not only makes us more efficient, but also shows that we’re adaptable to the tools used at WSP.
