Principal Land Consultant

Job 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, and experience a world of opportunity to shape a unique career.

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

• Ensure successful delivery of projects securely, on time, within budget and to high standards.
• Be a trusted advisor to clients (externally and internally) and manage relationships.
• Advise on land issues across the UK and Ireland, including statutory processes to acquire land such as DCOs, DNOs, hybrid Bills, Scottish Bills, TWA, T&CPA, CPOs, Motorway Orders, Vesting Orders, etc.
• Secure land rights for high‑profile, strategic infrastructure projects across all sectors.
• Liaise with landowners, land agents, legal representatives, planning authorities, key stakeholders, contractors and clients.
• Collaborate with Land team colleagues and cross‑functional teams (engineering, environmental, planning) both within WSP and across project supply chains.
• Undertake quality assurance of deliverables, identifying land interests and rights, negotiating access for surveys, consents and land acquisition, and ensuring compliance with legislation and data security obligations.
• Support knowledge sharing and lessons across regions and projects.
• Lead people management, manage, motivate, mentor and develop staff and contribute to business strategy.
• Support bid/tender writing to secure opportunities from internal and external clients.
• Deliver technical training through our CPD‑accredited Land Academy.
• Travel within the UK and Ireland and occasionally to WSP’s Global Capability Centre in India.

• Expertise in urban and/or rural environment, property, communities and stakeholders.
• Experience working on infrastructure development schemes with multi‑disciplinary teams across a range of sectors and locations.
• Experience negotiating commercial terms with landowners and knowledge of the legal process for acquiring wayleaves and easements.
• Demonstrable experience reducing land risk for clients and advising throughout all stages of a project lifecycle.
• Track record of developing orders, consents, and land interests, and knowledge of relevant legislation.
• Strong communication, influencing and negotiating skills.
• Ability to work in a team and on own initiative, handle pressure and deliver high‑quality outputs.
• Excellent landowner and public engagement skills.
• Business and IT acuity.
• Adherence to quality assurance and document management.
• Degree in Geography, Land/Estate Management, Agriculture or similar.
• Chartership or membership of a relevant professional body is advantageous.
• Required travel to various sites/locations.
• Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Apply, and we will assess how your experience aligns to this role or other opportunities within the team.

We offer flexible working patterns, competitive salaries and a range of benefits, including the opportunity to work on some of the most exciting and challenging projects across the UK and Ireland.

Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both locally and worldwide. We are committed to community impact, support for values, and a culture where you belong. Join our close‑knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact.