Strategic Environmental Assessment - Principal / Associate / Associate Director

The role would suit an enthusiastic individual looking to influence, lead and deliver environmental and sustainability appraisal and assessment projects. You will have responsibility for leading project delivery, sector business development, service innovation and team development.

You will:

• Play a leading role in growing our assessment and appraisal offer, working with sector leads and client account managers to drive thought leadership and win new business.
• Build strong client relationships and identify opportunities to support project strategy, resourcing and delivery.
• Take responsibility for defining medium and long-term market opportunities, and contribute towards developing appropriate business plans.
• Take responsibility for scoping individual commissions, prepare proposals and winning work.
• Provide project/task management to our multi-disciplinary teams working on projects across the UK and overseas. Work will involve client facing activity and managing projects and subcontractors
• Work with colleagues, environmental specialists, and clients to promote and deliver evidence lead outcomes from assessment and appraisal work, taking responsibility for the delivery of high-quality outputs.
• You will collaborate to design and implement new assessment tools, considering emerging and new practice, including digitisation and assessment automation.
• Drive performance improvement and career advancement opportunities across team.
• Promote an inclusive and positive team environment, acting as a trusted advisor and mentor.
• Promote an inclusive workplace, demonstrating an understanding of Health and Safety whilst living the values of our health, safety, and wellbeing culture.

• Undertake actions that contribute towards the success of the WSP business strategy, whilst being self-motivated towards goals relevant to the role, team, and your projects.

What we are looking to you to demonstrate…

• Experience of leading the successful delivery of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and or Sustainability Appraisal (SA) to clients in the public and private sector.

• A detailed understanding of SEA regulatory requirements, case law and guidance and the implications of Environmental Outcome Reporting (EOR).

• Experience of working with Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA), Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), Water Framework Directive (WFD) Assessment, Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA).

• Familiarity with project and scheme development impacts in variety of sectors e.g., housing, water, waste and resources, energy.

• Relevant environmental or planning degree (or equivalent experience), with chartered status or actively working towards chartership.

• Knowledge of emerging environmental and planning policy trends.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong report writing and review capabilities, attention to detail, and a focus on quality assurance.

• Proven people management experience and a track record of developing and upskilling internal teams.

• Demonstrated ability to contribute to strategic planning, win new work through bids and proposals, and enhance reputation in the assessment and appraisal sector.

• Ability to work across multiple technical disciplines and manage competing priorities.

• Excellent understanding of how GIS software is used to inform SEA/ SA, including the potential opportunities for the automation of assessment outputs.

• Confidence engaging with clients, regulators and stakeholders.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.