Associate/Associate Director - Socio-Economics

At WSP, you will benefit from our global reach, contribute to landmark projects, and collaborate with leading professionals in your field. Our culture values fresh thinking and diverse perspectives, offering a breadth of opportunity and the chance to shape a career that reflects your individual strengths and aspirations.

WSP currently has an opportunity for an Associate/Associate Director to lead a growing portfolio of complex and high-profile projects. 

We work alongside WSP’s multidisciplinary services, including town planning, masterplanning and urban design, transport, and strategic communications, as well as a growing portfolio of external public and private sector clients.

We have an exciting portfolio of projects which span a number of sectors. You will work on a wide range of complex projects, for both public and private sector clients, such as large scale strategic new settlements; urban regeneration; culture and tourism; energy and offshore wind and commercial development:

• Eden Project Morecambe – a new cultural and visitor offer for Morecambe that will support regeneration and economic diversification in the town centre and coastal area. 

• Heathlands Garden Community – we are leading the Socio-Economics and Human Health ES Chapters, Social Value Workstream and Equality Impact Assessment for a new garden community of 5,000 new homes in Kent. 

• Plymouth City Centre Living Programme – we are leading socio-economic, social infrastructure and social value advice for Plymouth's long-term city centre regeneration strategy, helping shape a vision for future growth, assessing infrastructure requirements to support new residents and businesses, and identifying opportunities to deliver lasting social value and community benefits through development.

Your new role and whats involved. 

We are looking for someone who can lead the socio-economics team, manage project delivery, provide technical oversight, maintain strong client relationships and support the continued growth of the business.

We are looking for an individual who can demonstrate experience and expertise in the following areas.

Requirements

• Established socio-economic assessment experience
• Degree qualification in relevant disciplines such as economics, planning or a similar related field
• Demonstrable expertise in socio-economics, including Socio-Economics and Human Health Environmental Impact Assessment, Economic Impact Assessment, Social Value Advisory, Health Impact Assessment, Equality Impact Assessment and Social Infrastructure
• Experience of working on large and complex projects and in a multidisciplinary environment
• Experience of managing client relationships
• Experience of project financial management
• Experience of work winning and business development
• Experience of managing and developing staff
• Chartered status and professional memberships desirable

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Your day-to-day will include…

• Leading project delivery, providing technical direction and quality assurance across a diverse portfolio
• Managing and developing the Socio-Economics team, including mentoring staff and overseeing resourcing
• Acting as a trusted adviser to clients, providing strategic advice on planning, regeneration, infrastructure and investment projects
• Reviewing and signing off technical reports, ensuring high-quality outputs
• Developing new business opportunities, preparing fee proposals and leading or supporting bids and tenders
• Collaborating with colleagues across WSP, such as those in Planning, Urban Design, Transport and Sustainability
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, local authorities, developers, public sector organisations and other key stakeholders

Supporting the strategic growth of the Socio-Economics service by identifying opportunities, developing client relationships and contributing to business planning and work-winning activities