Principal Land Consultant

Overview

In this role you will secure land rights and manage land-related delivery for major infrastructure projects across the UK and Ireland. You will work with a cross-functional Land team to advise clients, coordinate stakeholders, and navigate statutory processes. You’ll lead and develop others, contribute to bids, and drive consistent, high-quality outcomes. This position offers exposure to landmark projects, a culture of learning, and opportunities to advance your chartership and leadership skills. You’ll be part of a global firm that values curiosity and diverse perspectives.

Pay / Benefits

• hybrid working
• training and mentoring
• chartership support
• CPD-accredited Land Academy
• opportunity to work on landmark projects
• career development

Responsibilities

• Deliver projects on time, within budget, to high standards
• Act as trusted advisor to clients and manage external/internal relationships
• Advise on Land issues across UK and Ireland, including statutory processes for land acquisition
• Secure land rights for high-profile infrastructure projects across sectors
• Liaise with landowners, agents, legal representatives, authorities, stakeholders, contractors, and clients
• Collaborate with engineering, environmental, planning teams and project supply chains
• Quality assure deliverables related to land interests, access, acquisitions, and consents
• Support knowledge sharing and lessons learned across regions and projects
• People management: lead, mentor, and develop staff; contribute to business strategy
• Assist in bids/tenders and contribute to CPD-accredited Land Academy training
• Travel within UK & Ireland; potential travel to WSP GCC in India

Key requirements

• Expertise in urban and/or rural land, property, communities and stakeholders
• Experience on infrastructure schemes with multi-disciplinary teams
• Negotiation of commercial terms with landowners; knowledge of wayleaves, easements, and negotiated access
• Track record reducing land risk and advising across project lifecycle
• Experience developing Orders or obtaining consents and land interests; knowledge of legislation
• Strong communication, influencing, and negotiation skills
• Ability to work in a team and independently under pressure to deliver high-quality outputs
• Strong landowner and public engagement skills
• Good business and IT skills; document management
• A degree in Geography, Land/Estate Management, Agriculture or similar
• Chartership or professional body membership advantageous
• Ability to travel to various sites/locations

• strong communication
• influencing
• negotiation
• land referencing
• land acquisition and land access negotiations
• knowledge of statutory processes (DCOs, DNOs, etc.)

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