Engagement Associate Consultant

Within our Land, Infrastructure Planning and Engagement business unit, your primary focus will be providing the engagement services for the development consent order (DCO) process across a number of large infrastructure projects across the UK. You will do this by: 1. Advising project teams and clients on stakeholder and community strategies for multi-disciplinary DCO projects including:

• Meeting all legislative and regulatory requirements of the planning application process including delivering DCO reporting requirements
• Identifying opportunities to embed global communications and engagement best practice.
• Planning and delivering stakeholder communication and consultations, including managing risks and issues, organising and manage public information events, and managing outputs to achieve engagement and consultation objectives.
1. Managing and enabling members of the team to successfully deliver engagement and consultation activities across a range of multidisciplinary DCO projects including:
• Developing and implementing a DCO competency focussed training programme for the team.
• Collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver projects.
• Line management of engagement specialists.
1. Taking project management and commercial responsibility for the DCO programmes within the team including:
• Managing tender production and business development opportunities
• Project management of schemes including resourcing, budget management and ensuring delivery to programme.
• Responsible for delivery of projects including resources, budgets and risk, to ensure projects are delivered on time and to budget.
  
  Demonstrated experience in leading the DCO engagement process across large multidisciplinary infrastructure projects.
• At least degree-qualified, or ten years' experience in a related field.
• Membership of relevant professional or trade body is desirable.
• Experience in the road, rail, utilities, water, environment or energy sectors.
Preferred competencies:
• Strong team player who has an enthusiastic and motivated attitude
• Proven line management experience including delivery of training initiatives
• Proven experience of effectively managing and building stakeholder relationships in complex environments.
• Effective decision-maker with ability to act on own initiative
• Persuasive influencer with ability to strike rapport and exert strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Well ordered, structured approach to delivery of tasks, and flexible with ability to adapt within demanding and fast-changing environment.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills to manage a varied workload.
  
  WSP has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our growing Engagement team. We drive best practice in engagement, community relations, consultation and stakeholder management in the delivery of some of the country's largest infrastructure projects as well as delivering expertise within the water, health, energy and environmental sectors.
You will be joining a UK-wide team of 40+ communication and engagement specialists who are passionate about what we do. Reporting to the Head of Engagement, you will lead a regional team of communication and engagement experts. You will lead the Engagement Manchester regional business managing existing projects and client relationships and building new partnerships. You will be based in our Manchester office in the First Street precinct. The office is centrally located within walking distance of public transport. We offer flexible working with a number of team days in person mixed with working from home days. We are WSP - Join us and make your career future ready! In today's world it's important to work for a company that has clear purpose, giving back to communities and supporting what is truly important in the world. When considering a career move its vital to work for a business that is aligned to your values and goals, a place where you can belong. To find out more about our business click on the following link and discover what awaits you at WSP: Who We Are | WSP (https://www.wsp.com/en-gb/who-we-are), WSP recognises that work is only one part of your life and making time for other things is important - whether that's for your families, friends, or yourself. Our hybrid working policy allows the flexibility to work from the comfort of your own home as well as collaborating in our contemporary offices across the UK. Inclusivity & Diversity? We want our people to achieve rewarding careers, bringing their whole selves to work. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing diversity to create a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. Our employee resource groups VIBE (LGBTQ+ employees), CREED (Championing Racial Equality and Ethnic Diversity) and our Gender Balance Group, in tandem with WSP's Neurodiverse Community Group, WSP Connect Group (visible and non-visible disabilities) help us promote the right environment for you to reach your full potential. 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. Med24 gives you and your family unrestricted telephone access to an NHS doctor where you can call day or night or have a face-to-face video consultation. Flex your time? For improved work life balance, WSP offers the "WSP Hour" which enables you to take one hour per day to do as you wish and make up the time earlier or later that day. We also offer part time and flexible working arrangements plus the option to flex your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.