Head of Discipline P&D

Head of Discipline – Planning & Development

At WSP, you can always find opportunities to grow and do what matters to you. Make the most of our global reach to discover new challenges and chances to work with diverse, talented individuals who will help you expand your horizons.

Your New Role, What's Involved?

We are seeking a highly visible and commercially driven leader to head our Planning & Development business. This role is fundamentally about growing our market presence, strengthening client relationships and winning work across some of the UK's most important development and infrastructure sectors.

Reporting to the Business Unit Managing Director, the Head of Discipline will act as the senior ambassador for the business, building executive-level relationships across the public and private sectors, identifying new opportunities and ensuring WSP remains a trusted adviser to our clients. You will lead our growth agenda, expanding our presence in existing markets, penetrating new sectors and driving collaboration across WSP to maximise opportunities for our clients and our business.

Leading a multidisciplinary team of approximately 550 professionals and a business with ~ £50m turnover, you will be accountable for developing and executing a growth strategy that enhances our market position, increases revenue and profitability, and strengthens our reputation as an industry leader in Planning & Development.

Success in this role will be measured by your ability to win strategic work, grow key client relationships, raise WSP's profile across the market, attract and develop outstanding talent, and deliver sustainable business growth through a relentless focus on clients, people and performance.

The role requires a recognised industry leader with an established network, a strong personal client portfolio, a proven track record of work winning and business growth, and the credibility to represent WSP at the highest levels of decision-making.

The HoD will provide strategic leadership across our Town Planning, Urban Design, Transport Planning, Development Engineering and Development Consulting teams, ensuring continued growth, market leadership and technical excellence across both public and private sector markets.

Key to Delivering Your Role

• Lead on Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
• Drive work winning, market growth and client development.
• Build WSP's profile across the Planning & Development market.
• Deliver strong revenue, profit, margin and cash performance.
• Be accountable for budget commitments, forecasting and business planning.
• Manage business risks and opportunities.
• Grow and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team.

• Enhance technical excellence, quality and innovation.

Responsibilities

Strategic Direction & P&L Accountability

The role will shape the future direction of the business, driving sustainable growth, operational performance and market differentiation whilst fostering a culture centred on health, safety, quality, inclusion and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and:

• Set and deliver the strategic direction for the Planning & Development discipline.
• Hold full accountability for discipline performance, profitability and budget delivery.
• Lead forecasting, business planning and investment decisions.

• Improve operating margins, cash performance and resource utilisation.

Client Leadership & Growth

• Build and maintain executive-level client relationships.
• Lead strategic account development and major client engagements.
• Drive growth across Residential & Urban Regeneration, Logistics & Data Centres, Sports & Leisure, Defence, Life Sciences & Technology, Energy, Healthcare, Education and Local Government.

• Penetrate new sectors and expand WSP's market share.

Business Development & Work Winning

• Lead major bids, pursuits and work-winning activities.
• Maintain a strong personal client portfolio.
• Raise WSP's profile through industry engagement, thought leadership and strategic networking.

• Support growth opportunities across the wider WSP business.

Delivery & Operational Excellence

• Provide executive oversight of major multidisciplinary projects.
• Ensure safe, profitable and high-quality project delivery.
• Champion operational excellence, risk management and continuous improvement.

• Drive integration with our extended delivery teams in India (GCC teams).

Technical Excellence & Market Leadership

• Lead the discipline's technical excellence agenda.
• Ensure capability development aligns with future market demand.
• Act as an industry leader, conference speaker and recognised voice in the profession.

• Maintain and enhance WSP's external market profile.

People Leadership

• Lead, inspire and develop approximately 550 professionals.
• Build a high-performance, inclusive and collaborative culture.
• Drive recruitment, retention, succession planning and leadership development.

• Foster strong engagement across UK and GCC teams.

Health, Safety, Environment & Quality

• Provide visible leadership on HSEQ and Zero Harm.
• Ensure compliance with WSP policies, governance and regulatory requirements.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, wellbeing and accountability.

• Integrate HSEQ considerations into all business and operational decisions.

We'd love to hear from you if you have:

• Relevant industry experience.
• A successful track record of leading and growing large multidisciplinary businesses.
• Extensive P&L management experience within a professional services environment.
• Proven work-winning credentials and a strong client portfolio.
• An established network of senior relationships across both public and private sectors.
• Experience across the full development lifecycle.
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic leadership capability.
• Successful Expert Witness credentials.
• A recognised profile within the industry, including presenting at conferences, industry events and professional institutions.

• Relevant degree and professional qualifications.

This is a unique opportunity to lead one of the UK's largest Planning & Development businesses and play a pivotal role in shaping its future growth, market leadership and long-term success.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Work on landmark projects around the world and embrace opportunities to make an even bigger impact in the communities you care about. What if you could do the best work of your life and create a legacy for yourself?

With us, you can. Apply today.

We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 11,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

Work-life balance

At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community.

Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.

Inclusivity & Belonging

We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote a culture of inclusivity.

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.

Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.

Flex your time

To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the “WSP My Hour,” allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day.

We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.

Your development

We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.

#WeAreWSP

Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. As a Disability Confident leader, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria, please let us know if you require any workplace adjustments in support of your application.