Associate - Land Referencer

WSP is one of the UK's largest Land services consultancies and is looking to broaden and strengthen its team of experienced land and property professionals across the UK. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of our Land team in the delivery of land referencing, landowner engagement, consultation management, land access, wayleaves and consents and negotiations, statutory orders, valuation, compensation agreements and land acquisition in support of strategic infrastructure development projects across Ireland and the UK.

We support high-profile infrastructure projects across the Energy, Water, Road, Rail and Local Authority sectors such as East West Rail, Heathrow, as well as HS2 and many other high-profile infrastructure development schemes in GB. Many of our Energy projects are critical for the deployment of renewable energy, helping Ireland and the UK economies to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions.

To find out more about our Land business, click on the following link and discover what awaits you at WSP: https://www.wsp.com/en-GB/services/land-referencing-and-land-assembly

• Be part of the Land team in India (Bengaluru / Noida), work in close collaboration with the UK Land team, delivering high-profile projects for private and public sector clients across the UK. Contribute towards growing our Land discipline activities within our India-based team, working in close collaboration with colleagues in the UK to deliver high-quality, integrated outcomes.

• In this role, as an Associate – Land Referencer in the Land Services discipline, your goal will be delivery of detailed, high quality land ownership information to our clients. Land team gathers 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 liaising with landowners who 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.

• Undertake land referencing activities including Land Registry and Property Registration Authority research, desktop research, questionnaire analysis, landowner liaison (as applicable), archival investigations to identify all legal land interests and rights in land and manage information in databases and GIS.

• Identify legal land interests and rights, managing relevant data within databases and GIS systems. Review affected landowners and rightsholders and negotiate access for survey purposes.

• Support the team in securing and acquiring appropriate land rights for large scale development
projects as well as prepare supporting documentation for negotiating 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 in supporting projects through to the consenting stages.

Project Management & Delivery:

• Managing technical delivery of land referencing projects for the GCC Land team to the highest quality standards.

• Set clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations for all team members

• Develop and implement strategies that align with organisational and framework objectives.

• Oversee the planning and execution of projects focused on Geospatial Analytics and Data Engineering.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project requirements, objectives, and deliverables, ensuring they align with business goals.

• Ensure timely delivery of high-quality results, optimizing team workflows and processes where needed, within times and budgets agreed with the UK.

• Lead and contribute to business development and client relationship management as applicable.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including clients, to ensure alignment and satisfaction.

• Facilitate cross-regional and multidisciplinary collaboration.

• Supporting the Service Line Director / Regional leads and HOD/TL to pursue new work winning opportunities in line with WSPs Growth Strategy as appropriate.

Change Leadership & Innovation

• Champion the adoption of new technologies, tools, and processes to enhance framework delivery.

• Manage, motivate, and lead the GCC Land team, ensuring the team has the necessary skills and resources to deliver successful projects and support business growth.

• Lead change initiatives and foster a culture of innovation and adaptability.

Resource & Talent Management
• Support HOD / Team Leader in resource allocation, workload management, and succession planning, team’s performance and development requirements; Liaise with UK and GCC teams to manage workflows and expectations. Assist in resource planning and risk management.
• Identifies skill gaps and implement training, mentoring, and development programs.
• Promotes diversity, inclusion, and talent pipeline development.

Commercial & Risk Management
• Manage technical and commercial risks, ensuring compliance with governance protocols.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing demands

Governance & Reporting
• Defines and enforce communication protocols and reporting standards.
• Review and ensure the quality of deliverables from junior staff.
• Deliver regular performance reviews and reports to the TL GCC.
• Ensure that Health & Safety is embedded into all work practices in line with company policies;
• Any other task assigned by HoD/ Team Leader.

Behaviours
• Proactive, collaborative, and resilient.
• Champions diversity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Role model for ethical leadership and professional standards.
• Builds trust and fosters open communication.
• Anticipates challenges and solves problems constructively.
• Any other task assigned by HoD/ Team Leader.

Skills & Competencies
• Successful track record of delivery of various infrastructure development schemes in particular
the electricity, road, gas, rail, and renewable energy sectors
• Managed a technical team including land consultants or allied professionals to deliver land referencing or land assembly services on an infrastructure project.
• Ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams. Strong collaboration and teamwork skills.
• Demonstrate understanding of the land and property industry and a strong interest in negotiation and statutory land acquisition.
• Experience in landowner engagement, including negotiation and formal consent processes across infrastructure projects. Knowledge of the Land Referencing and land acquisition lifecycle, including statutory mechanisms (e.g. CPO, DCO, TWAO, Hybrid Bill), property interest identification, and rights in land in UK or in similar regions
• Strong spatial awareness with confidence in reading and interpreting technical maps and land
ownership plans.
• Strategic thinking and commercial awareness.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and client relationship skills (internal and external).
• Change management and innovation leadership.
• Talent development and team building.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Excellent report writing and strong analytical skills.
• Experience in supporting and mentoring staff.
• Adaptability and a commitment to continuous learning.
• Proficiency in work/resource planning and allocation
• Possess 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.
• Awareness of land law, property rights, and relevant statutory frameworks (e.g., Electricity Act 1989, Planning Act 2008).
• Knowledge of rural land, agriculture, and property valuation considerations.
• Knowledge of GIS platforms (e.g., ESRI, ArcGIS) and data management systems.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams) and GIS or land information management systems.

Qualifications
• A degree in geography/ planning, or another relevant discipline and
• Post Graduate qualification in Geography / Remote sensing / Planning or relevant subject with more than 15 years’ technical experience preferably UK/Australia/Similar region with focus on stakeholder engagement for land related matters, land ownership analysis (spatial) with sturdy foundation in the complexities of land-use and ownership across.

BGV:

• Employment with WSP India is subject to the successful completion of a background verification (“BGV”) check conducted by a third-party agency appointed by WSP India.

• Candidates are advised to ensure that all information provided during the recruitment process — including documents uploaded — is accurate and complete, both to WSP India and its BGV partner”.