Principal Consultant (Transport Policy Monitoring & Evaluation)

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.

At WSP, you'll find yourself exploring new opportunities to make the most of your expertise, work with deep technical experts across multiple sectors, and help develop and grow a crucial area of WSP business – transport policy monitoring and evaluation.

A little more about your role… WSP's Intelligent Infrastructure discipline works across a wide range of clients in transport and beyond. While the goals of the transport system remain unchanged – to help people and goods move around the country – the underpinning drivers of the system continue to evolve, with priorities around carbon (net zero), climate change resilience, safety and security (zero harm), digitisation, customers (meeting shifting demands and expectation), and efficiency (achieving more for less in fiscally constrained environments) all key considerations of those designing, managing and operating the transport system.

It is essential that policies to meet these sometimes-opposing priorities have robust, credible and usable monitoring and evaluation plans to provide our clients with evidence of “what works?” alongside a deep understanding of “why?” to enable the efficient operation and effective evolution of the UK's transport system.

Working in our Operations and Safety team, the successful candidate will work alongside senior experts and collaboratively with other specialists across WSP, matching your monitoring & evaluation skills with technical skills in areas like energy, roads, rail, and active travel to provide a strong and tailored offering for our clients. You will work on a wide range of monitoring & evaluation projects at a central and local government level, resulting in a varied and diverse portfolio.

A typical week would include:

• Delivering a multi-discipline monitoring and evaluation project, ranging from assessing evaluability, to scoping and designing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, delivering evaluations of local and national transport policies, programmes or projects and fostering learning and impactful action on the back of evaluation insights.
• Working with our Clients, to provide expert monitoring and evaluation advice to help them deliver their objectives and optimise benefits.
• Collaborating with a range of experts from across other specialist WSP teams to ensure that your projects bring in the skills needed to meet the project needs.
• Contributing to the growth of the Monitoring and Evaluation expertise area to support delivery against its ambitions.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• A proven technical capability in the design and execution of monitoring and evaluation frameworks of policies, programmes and / or projects. Including the design of impact and process evaluation approaches.
• An understanding of, and experience in, applying different evaluation methods including quasi-experimental and theory-based evaluation methods.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills (e.g. statistical, operational research, modelling, economic and/or social research), with experience of delivering robust mixed-method analytical projects and evidence synthesis.
• Data visualisation and experience using tools such as Excel, Power BI, R, Python, SPSS or Stata, alongside the ability to translate evidence into clear, actionable insights for clients and stakeholders.
• Experience of applying government guidance on monitoring and evaluation, including the HM Treasury's Magenta and Green Books, or Department for Transport's Transport Appraisal Guidance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience communicating complex evidence and evaluation findings clearly and persuasively through reports, presentations and workshops, tailoring messages to clients, policymakers, technical specialists and senior leaders.
• Expertise in building and maintaining effective relationships with clients, technical specialists and commercial partners, fostering collaboration, stakeholder engagement and buy-in to achieve successful project outcomes.
• A passion for evidence-informed decision-making, championing the role for robust evidence and analytical quality.

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.

About Us We are one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 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. With over 11,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

• 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. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP.
• 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. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.
• Flex your time: To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.
• 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.

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.