Overview

Senior Soil Science Consultant / Principal Soil Science Consultant

To find out more about our Ground & Water team part of the Earth and Environment business click on the following link and discover what awaits you at WSP: Ground risk and remediation | WSP

Your role

At WSP, you’ll join a small soil team to help expand our capabilities and embed an understanding of soils across the business. You will lead and support fieldwork/site visits, produce written reports for Agricultural Land Classification (ALC), Soil Resource Assessment, and tailored assessments for inclusion in Environmental Statements, and work with our Nature Advisory and Landscape teams supporting their Landscape and Ecological Management Plans. You will manage data to support technical reporting, provide advice and support to colleagues, liaise with clients, landowners, contractors, statutory authorities and third parties. This role is within our Ground & Water team, a service line in WSP's Earth & Environment business. The role offers a flexible mix of working from home, with travel to an office for team and client meetings/project work. The location is flexible and you will be an excellent relationship builder, highly organised, and adaptable with awareness of the commercial demands of consultancy work. You will contribute to the growth of the team to address the growing demand for specialist soils scientists.

A typical week would include:

• Preparation of a range of soil and agricultural assessments in support of DCOs, EIAs, and construction projects. Managing and coordinating survey work.
• Supporting colleagues across the UK with project delivery, assisting in the preparation of fee proposals, business development and work-winning duties.
• Being supported by a team of experienced technical staff and contributing to training of junior staff and disseminating knowledge to other environmental disciplines.

We’d love to hear from you if you have

• Degree level qualification in Soil Science, or similar (physical geology, environmental science) with 5-10 years relevant practical experience
• Experience in completing Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) surveys, Soil Resource Surveys, Soil Classification and site supervision during construction works, to BSSS competency standards
• A thorough grounding in H&S procedures (including CDM) for site work
• Working knowledge of EIA methodology; preparation of Environmental Statements is desired but not essential
• Experience liaising with internal and external clients, contractors, planning authorities and stakeholders
• Excellent communication and report writing skills
• Registered with a relevant professional body (e.g. British Society Soil Science) and ideally chartered
• Current working knowledge of UK environmental legislation, implications of construction projects on agricultural land and understanding of UK agricultural practice and business issues
• Enjoy working as part of a team and taking ownership of project delivery
• Working knowledge of applied GIS
• Full driving license and willingness to work outdoors

Don’t quite meet all the criteria? Apply, and we can see how your experience aligns to this role and other opportunities within the team.

What’s in it for you

We’re a world-leading engineering and professional services firm with a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. We offer work-life balance with hybrid working, flexibility to work from home two days a week, and opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK. We support development through training, mentoring, or Chartership, and provide benefits such as a Thrive wellbeing program, flexible benefits, and inclusive workplace adjustments. We also offer flexible working arrangements and options to tailor leave to your needs. We are committed to inclusivity and belonging, welcoming applicants from varied backgrounds and experiences. We actively encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates and will interview disabled applicants who meet essential criteria, with workplace adjustments available on request.