Principal Land Consultant

Role Summary

In this varied role as a Principal Land Consultant in the Land Services team, your goal will be the research and delivery of detailed, high quality land ownership information to our clients. You will gather this information by searching various databases, researching land registry records and examining Ordnance Survey maps. Our clients develop major highway, rail, energy and water infrastructure for which they need Government approval. You will work as part of a team of Land Consultants assisting the Referencing Manager in liaising with landowners that may be affected by the development and delivering the necessary information required to notify, gain access and subsequently compensate them for the impact caused by the scheme. You will be directly supporting the Land team who work alongside engineers, environmental specialists and planners on high profile infrastructure projects providing the level of diligent inquiry needed for the submission of Statutory Orders and the successful acceptance of planning submissions.

As part of our team you will support the delivery of land access and land acquisition projects through the identification of land ownership, consultation with landowners, undertaking property valuation, assessing and negotiating compensation, combining skills in GIS, data management and landowner engagement.

The role would ideally suit someone wanting to develop their skills in the Land sector as they will gain experience across significant infrastructure projects in energy and road sectors and consent regimes including Vesting Order, Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and Strategic Infrastructure Development planning applications. We will support your professional development with a relevant professional organisation such as Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Royal Geographical Society (RGS).

You will provide support to the project team by undertaking technical project tasks on time, within budget and to the agreed standards.

Principal accountabilities include:

• Manage and coordinate the technical delivery of land referencing projects and be a trusted advisor for our clients.
• Support the writing of bids/tenders to secure opportunities from internal and external clients. Lead on and contribute to business development and client relationship management (externally and internally).
• Manage, motivate and lead the Land team in Noida ensuring that the team has the necessary skills and resources to deliver successful projects and grow the business.
• Regular reporting and managing of risk in relation to our projects and progress of the team.
• At WSP, there s nothing we love more than pushing boundaries. Harnessing innovation and sharing insights across our diverse, international team to create a tomorrow s world thats cleaner, greener and safer. Join us and you ll be part of an organisation that takes pride in its people and purpose: creating long-lasting solutions to meet the needs of generations to come.
• Our Land team, based in the Noida, is seeking a Principal Land Consultant to join the team on a permanent basis. This is an exciting opportunity to join the largest Land Referencing business in the UK to make a meaningful and lasting contribution to the success of high-profile infrastructure projects across the UK.

Your new role, whats involved

• Undertake land referencing activities including Land Registry, and Property Registration Authority research, desktop research, questionnaire analysis, landowner liaison, site visits, archival investigations to identify all legal land interests and rights in land and managing information in databases and GIS.
• Carry out site visits to landowners and those people and organisations whose property or rights are affected by development and infrastructure delivery.
• Negotiate access to land so that environmental and other surveys can be carried out.
• Attend and contribute to internal and external project meetings.
• You will contribute to the WSP Land Team delivery and success of high-profile infrastructure projects within Ireland and the wider UK business. You will be supporting projects in multiple sectors, including the energy sector, where the team supports the development of critical infrastructure that is crucial for the net zero economy.
• Support the team in securing and acquiring appropriate land rights for large scale development projects as well as negotiation of Heads of Terms to secure land for projects in a timely fashion, utilising the appropriate mechanism.
• Your work will also support our teams in the delivery of land access, land agreements, landowner engagement, stakeholder engagement, and supporting projects through to the consenting stages.
• Utilise statutory powers and the relevant statutory process to acquire land (Vesting Order, CPO, TWAO, Hybrid Bill, DCO) on behalf of WSP clients across the electricity, highway, rail, water, telecoms, gas and renewable energy sectors.

Responsibilities

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of our multi-disciplinary service line within the WSP Land Team in the delivery of land referencing, land acquisition, land access, formal consents, statutory orders and compensation agreements and landowner management.

Our clients develop major highway, rail, energy and renewable infrastructure and projects all of which impact privately owned land. You will work as part of a team of Land Consultants assisting in the liaison with landowners that may be affected by development, obtaining the appropriate consent, gaining access and where necessary compensating them for the impact caused by the scheme.

As part of our Land Team you will combine office and home working to support the delivery of land access and land acquisition projects through the identification of land ownership, consultation with landowners, undertaking property valuation, assessing and negotiating compensation, combining skills in GIS, data management and landowner engagement.

The role would ideally suit someone wanting to develop their skills in the Land sector as they will gain experience across significant infrastructure projects in rail, road and the energy sectors and consent regimes including Development Consent Order (DCO) and Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO).

There are further opportunities to provide training to our Land team, widening your involvement into new sectors and regions, as well as working with our Engagement, Land Property, Digital, Surveying Services, Environmental and Planning colleagues to gain a broader understanding of infrastructure development. We will support your professional development with a relevant professional organisation such as Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Royal Geographical Society (RGS).

Wed love to hear from you if you have:

• Successfully led a technical team of land consultants to deliver land referencing or land assembly services on an infrastructure project.
• Detailed knowledge and experience of UK statutory consents requirements, such as a Hybrid Bill, TWAO, DCO, CPO, and/or Vesting Order as well as an understanding of the land and property industry.
• An understanding of the Land Referencing process which would be beneficial.
• A keen interest in learning the skills to negotiate with landowners and gaining the knowledge of the legal process required for the acquisition of wayleaves/easements.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively and build relationships with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Potential to develop strong influencing and negotiating skills would be beneficial.
• Awareness of infrastructure development schemes in particular the electricity, road, gas, rail and renewable energy sector.
• Awareness of relevant legislation and statutory process (Electricity Act 1989, Planning Act 2008 etc).
• Knowledge of the rural environment and farming practices would be an advantage

QUALIFICATION

• A degree in geography or another relevant discipline, which has provided you with an understanding of the complexities of land-use and/or landownership in Ireland/UK.
• Experience of landowner engagement or working with members of the public.
• A good understanding of Land Referencing and/or the land acquisition process, including researching and identifying landowners/occupiers, land interests and rights in land to keep stakeholders informed of project development (desirable).
• Provide evidence of working under tight timeframes as part of a busy professional working environment.
• Be an active and collaborative team member, working closely with colleagues and fit seamlessly into a delivery team.
• To provide support to projects by undertaking technical elements of projects on time, within budget and to the agreed standards.
• Ability to undertake and manage tasks independently on multiple projects.
• A degree of comfort in reading and using maps in a technical way.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and organisational skills, with demonstrable experience in managing and quality checking data.
• Experience using MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams).