At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex arboricultural projects and provide expert advice to clients.
- Company: Join WSP, a leader in sustainable solutions and innovative infrastructure.
- Benefits: Flexible working, career development, and an annual training budget.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with clear pathways for career progression and leadership opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of arboriculture while making a real impact on communities.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in arboricultural consultancy and strong project management skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Belfast, County Antrim, United Kingdom Ireland
Job Description
Lead with expertise. Influence major projects. Shape the future of arboriculture.
At WSP, we're committed to delivering sustainable solutions that make a lasting difference to communities and the environment. As a
Principal Arboricultural Consultant , you'll play a pivotal role in leading complex projects, developing client relationships, mentoring talented professionals and driving technical excellence across our national arboriculture team.
Working as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary business, you'll provide strategic arboricultural advice on some of the UK's most significant infrastructure and development projects while helping to shape best practice and consistent delivery standards across regions.
Benefits
We offer
- The chance to work on nationally significant and high‑profile development and infrastructure projects.
- Opportunities to lead major project workstreams and build strategic client relationships.
- A supportive, inclusive and collaborative culture where development is genuinely prioritised.
- Clear career progression pathways and leadership opportunities.
- An annual training budget aligned to your personal and professional goals.
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work‑life balance.
- Opportunities to contribute to WSP's Future Ready initiatives, digital innovation and global service development.
- Paid professional membership.
- WSP Treats employee benefits programme.
- A 37.5‑hour working week with flexible and core working hours.
The Role
As a Principal Arboricultural Consultant, you'll combine technical leadership with project management, team development and business growth responsibilities.
You'll lead complex arboricultural commissions, provide expert advice to clients and project teams, support work‑winning activities and help ensure consistent, high‑quality delivery across the business.
You'll also play a key role in developing our people through mentoring, coaching and succession planning initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
You will
- Lead and technically review Arboricultural Impact Assessments, Arboricultural Method Statements, Tree Protection Plans, EIA inputs and other specialist arboricultural advice.
- Deliver arboricultural services on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and other complex developments.
- Manage client relationships, project programmes, budgets, scopes and delivery risks.
- Provide strategic arboricultural advice to multidisciplinary design teams and stakeholders.
- Support recruitment, mentoring, career development and succession planning within the team.
- Manage and develop consultants and senior consultants, acting as a coach and trusted mentor.
- Support and advise the senior leadership team on technical and operational matters.
- Lead the preparation of tenders, fee proposals, scopes of work, assumptions and commercial reviews.
- Provide specialist advice relating to veteran and ancient trees, woodland constraints, statutory protections and mitigation strategies.
- Drive quality, consistency and technical excellence across project delivery.
About You
We're keen to hear from candidates who can demonstrate
- Extensive experience in arboricultural consultancy, planning and project delivery.
- Strong technical expertise in BS5837 assessments and reporting.
- Proven experience advising multidisciplinary design and project teams.
- Experience managing complex projects, programmes, budgets and client expectations.
- Commercial awareness, including scope management and budget control.
- Strong relationship‑building skills with clients, stakeholders and internal teams.
- Experience leading, mentoring and developing technical professionals.
- A positive approach to health, safety and wellbeing, with the ability to promote safe working practices across project teams.
- Ideally, You'll Also Have
- Chartered Arboriculturist, Chartered Forester status, or be working towards chartership.
- Significant experience supporting NSIP/DCO projects, major infrastructure schemes or EIA delivery.
- Experience supporting public inquiries, expert witness services or planning appeals.
- A strong track record in work‑winning, tender preparation and client development.
- Knowledge of forestry considerations within the planning system.
- Experience using digital survey technologies, canopy cover assessments and emerging AI‑enabled workflows.
- Legal
Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity.
As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.
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Principal Arboricultural Consultant 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 Principal Arboricultural Consultant
✨Connect with Local Farmers and Co-ops
Don't underestimate the power of local connections in agriculture. Get involved in local farmers' markets or agricultural co-ops. These are great places to meet potential employers and get the inside scoop on job openings before they're even advertised.
✨Get Involved in Agricultural Events
Keep an eye out for agricultural fairs, conferences, and workshops in your area. These events are golden opportunities to network with industry professionals and showcase your passion. You might even stumble across job boards or companies actively looking to hire!
✨Volunteer for Relevant Experience
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✨Keep an Eye on Job Listings at Industry-Specific Websites
Be sure to check out agriculture-focused job boards and websites regularly. Companies like WSP often post opportunities on their own sites before anywhere else, so don’t miss out! Apply directly through us to increase your chances!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Arboricultural Consultant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in agriculture, it's crucial to highlight any hands-on experience you have in farming, crop management, or sustainable practices. We want to see how your background aligns with the role you're after, so be specific about the responsibilities you've had and any tools or techniques you've used.
Certifications Matter:In agriculture, relevant certifications can really give your application a boost. If you have any qualifications related to agricultural practices, pest management, or environmental regulations, make sure to mention them! They're great indicators of your commitment and expertise in the field.
Tailor Your CV to the Agriculture Sector:Your CV should reflect your passion for agriculture. Structure it to emphasise your field experience and any relevant projects you've been involved in. Don't forget to highlight your soft skills, like teamwork and communication, which are essential in this sector.
Passion is Key in Your Cover Letter:Since this is a full-time position, we want to feel your enthusiasm for agriculture in your cover letter. Share why you're drawn to this industry and mention any long-term goals you have that align with what WSP does. This can really set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at WSP
✨Get Familiar with Agricultural Technologies
Make sure you're up to speed with the latest agricultural technologies and tools that are commonly used in the field. Whether it’s precision farming tools or crop management software, being able to discuss these effectively during your interview with WSP will show that you're technically savvy and ready to contribute from day one.
✨Showcase Your Practical Experience
Since agriculture is a hands-on industry, be prepared to share any practical experiences you've had. This could be through internships, volunteer work, or even personal projects. Discussing specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them can really impress the interviewers, especially in a full-time role at WSP.
✨Understand the Sustainable Practices
Sustainability is a hot topic in agriculture right now, so it's important to understand current practices and regulations in the industry. Familiarise yourself with concepts like crop rotation, organic farming, and environmental impact. Having informed opinions on these topics can set you apart from other candidates during your interview.
✨Practice Common Industry Scenarios
Expect to tackle a few scenario-based questions that mimic real-life challenges in agriculture. For instance, you might be asked how you would handle a pest infestation or manage resources during a drought. Practising these scenarios will help you respond confidently and showcase your problem-solving skills during the interview with WSP.
