Operations Director - Land & Infrastructure Planning

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Job Description

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 it's vital to work for a business that is aligned to your values and goals, a place where you can belong. See what WSP stands for in 2024 and beyond...

To find out more about our business click on the following link and discover what awaits you at WSP: https://www.wsp.com

Your new role, what's involved?

When you join the Land & Infrastructure Planning business, you will become part of a national business of circa 325 people. Working across both the private and public sector we help a broad range of clients to deliver major infrastructure programmes. As the UK's leading Land & Property consultancy our teams provide advice to secure land for access, construction and development across multiple sectors. Our infrastructure planning and consenting experts are helping to develop, negotiate and deliver planning consents to some of the most transformative and critical infrastructure projects currently being delivered across the UK, and in turn delivering meaningful outcomes for the economy, environment and communities. Whilst our Engagement team enables infrastructure and development projects to be delivered successfully through effective community, stakeholder and political engagement, ensuring our clients can respond to ideas and challenges based on robust data and insight from consultation. We are part of the Planning, Property and Advisory business unit which has over 1100 colleagues, reporting up into Planning, Advisory and Local Government.

• Reports to the HOD and responsible for contributing to the budget delivery and leading on the operational delivery.
• Acts as a partner and delegate/proxy for HOD.
• Manages the Discipline operational structure (including Management Services support functions), leadership, accountabilities and approach to deliver their accountability for the operational excellence pillar and budget performance to deliver budget targets.
• Leads and directs the implementation of inclusive action plans to deliver market leading Operational, SHEQ and budget performance.
• Ensuring client engagement and relationship plans are being delivered and directly engage in client key accounts. Build relationships with Clients and add value through direct engagement on projects and interactions with client leaders.
• Ensure opportunities and plans in Digital, Standardisation, Simplification, Innovation, Project Management and Operational Process are developed and deliver enhanced value to clients and to WSP.
• Directly engages in decisions and bid winning strategies on High Risk/ Important prospects including market benchmarks, competitor knowledge and positive commercial strategies.
• Ensures regular overview and balance between workload, utilisation and resources across the BU.
• Role models a culture of operational excellence, delivering synergies and improvements including the sharing and embedding of project delivery and operational best practice across the BU.
• Establishing strong and positive relationships with senior leaders, teams and project leaders across the BU.
• Oversees discipline budget preparation and delivery working towards stretch targets, with key shared metrics being Net Revenue, Operating Margin, EBITDA and DSO.
• Focus on maximising operational performance from our complimentary resource centres.
• Supports in driving monthly and quarterly reviews of performance in the Discipline and provides support to the HOD in reporting, in line with the UK requirements.
• Helps to develops and manage risk and opportunity registers for the Discipline.
• Delivery - of a personal utilisation target of 40%; adding value for key projects and clients.

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

KEY COMPETENCIES AND EXPERIENCE

• Operations - Has an established track record of success leading and growing a P&L, as well as achieving superior profitability, complexity and scale operating in a competitive market.
• Leading People - Acts as a "role model" by encouraging others to embrace change and face new challenges.
• Inclusion and Performance - Promotes and engages diverse perspectives fostering inclusion in every area of business operations.
• Budget Delivery - Experience of successfully delivering budget performance during a variety of economic/business
• Thinking and Direction - ability to operate a business in accordance with clients' expectations (sell for revenues, manage for profit, and deliver for satisfaction). Forward thinking, capable of visualising and planning for the longer term. Is capable of identifying, communicating, engaging and drives the implementation of operational, SHEQ or budget improvement strategies.
• Projects - Possess a broad range of project experience, both within disciplines relevant to the BU and multi-disciplinary.
• Communication and Influence - Demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively and positive influence at all levels as well as internally and externally. Actively champion sharing knowledge, ideas and intelligence. Strong presentation skills, able to lead and facilitate workshops, training sessions and one to one learning.
• Problems (business and projects)- Able to assess performance and trends to take actions and support areas/projects where problems could manifest. Able to identify actions across people, process and practice to mitigate problem areas and drive improvements.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Clear understanding of core expectations for leading a high-profile client facing business.
• Proven people and client management skills; able to develop/maintain excellent relationships.
• Excellent communication and listening skills with the ability to influence and deal with conflicting priorities and to offer positive solutions.
• Clear operational acumen with understanding of consultancy services and models and key drivers to improve performance.
• Demonstrates strong leadership skills and abilities with focus on people management, delegation, accountability and succession.
• Coming from a relevant industry, consultancy or client organisation would be beneficial but not essential.

#L1-JC2

About Us

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

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

Work-life balance?

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.

Your development?

We appreciate that development and training is important to you and that's why we have a supportive environment that invests in your development, whether that's chartership, training or mentoring.

APPLY NOW AND BE THE FUTURE OF WSP!

#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.

Please note WSP reserves the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date.