Senior Agricultural Liaison Officer

WSP’s Land team is seeking talented Land professionals to join what is already the largest and most successful team in our industry.  This is an exciting opportunity to develop or begin a career with a team that enjoys a successful reputation for the successful delivery of major strategic infrastructure projects across the UK and Ireland through the support provided by land referencing, urban and rural landowner engagement, consultation management, land access, formal consents, statutory orders, compensation agreements and land acquisition.  Apply and come and discuss the contributions you can make in the delivery of the widest portfolio of projects across all sectors in the UK and Ireland.

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 2026 and beyond… 

We offer flexible working patterns, competitive salaries and other benefits.

To find out more about our Land business click on the following link and discover what awaits you at WSP: Land referencing and land assembly | WSP 

About Land Referencing

We are the largest and most successful Land business supporting infrastructure development in the UK and Ireland, with 300+ specialist professional colleagues consisting of land consultants, property specialists, project managers and utility and topographical surveyors.  We have the widest portfolio of projects available in our industry, offering unrivalled opportunities to both develop and diversify careers, working on some of the most exciting and challenging projects across the whole of the UK and Ireland. 

Our clients rely on us to deliver the essential land elements of their infrastructure projects and we enjoy a hard-earned reputation of success.  This is an exciting opportunity to be part of this success, delivering land referencing, land acquisition, land access, formal consents, statutory orders and landowner engagement across all infrastructure sectors and make a positive impact on economy and communities these projects serve.

Our land referencing professionals, identify land and legal interest in land and use this data to secure powers and/or negotiate land acquisition and land access to support infrastructure development.  We provide clients with all the land-related statutory documentation the need to comply with planning processes as they develop, plan, securing and exercise powers to construct, operate and maintain their infrastructure assets.  Using the land referencing data, we ensure projects not just comply with legislation but also fulfil their data security obligations, engage meaningfully with landowners and other affected stakeholders, and maximize their benefits of the landed data we provide throughout project lifecycle, ultimately registering the new rights in the name of the client.

Our Energy projects are critical for the deployment of renewable energy and helping the economy to achieve net zero carbon emissions.  We support a range of energy generation (nuclear and renewable) and transmission and distribution projects across the UK and Ireland, including distribution and carbon capture.

WSP Land has a 30+ year history of supporting major Rail projects including the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL or HS1); Central Railway; the Thameslink Programme, the first major Transport & Works Act project; West Coast Mainline Four Tracking; HS2 Phases 1, 2a and 2b; TransPennine Route Upgrade (TRU) and East West Rail (EWR). Our track record also includes successes in light rail and metro schemes including Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, Edinburgh Tram, Luton Translink and the current Dublin MetroLink project, Ireland’s largest ever infrastructure project.

Job Description – Senior Agricultural Liaison Officer

• Provide expertise and support on agricultural and land management to facilitate access, way leaving and possession of land
• Advise on agricultural tenancies
• Secure land rights for high profile, strategic infrastructure projects across the UK and Ireland 
• Utilising statutory powers and other available mechanisms to acquire land (Vesting Order, CPO) on behalf of WSP clients within the electricity sector, but also highway, rail, water, telecoms, gas and renewable energy sectors
• Negotiate commercial terms, option agreements and other land related agreements
• Work closely with the Land team and collaborate with engineering, environmental, and planning teams
• Organise and attend site visit meetings with landowners, their agents, legal teams and other stakeholders and provide meeting records for upload to a landowner and stakeholder communications database
• Regular communication with landowners and their agents to manage and build positive working relationships for the successful delivery of projects
• Liaise with landowners, land agents, legal representatives, planning authorities, key stakeholders, contractors and clients
• Landowner dispute resolution
• Attend weekly/monthly project meetings and provide updates to project stakeholders
• Report progress to clients regularly ensuring client satisfaction and expectations are met
• Prepare and check consenting documentation
• Experience working on infrastructure, utilities, or energy projects (preferred) 
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, building trust and maintaining positive relationships 
• Ensuring that WSP H&S procedures are adhered to for all site work 
• Knowledge of land access permissions, land access, s172s licences and site safety experience (preferred) 
• Preparation and quality assurance of technical documents in relation to the identification of land interests and rights, negotiation of access to land for surveys, consents and acquisition of land rights 
• Negotiation of Heads of Terms to secure land for projects. 
• Advise clients on compliance with statutory and industry best practice
• Support the sharing of knowledge and lessons across regions and projects
• Lead on quality assurance of deliverables and drive and promote innovation within team to improve working practices
• Lead on and contribute to business development and client relationship management 

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate

• Degree or equivalent experience in Geography, Land/Estate Management, Agriculture or a relevant discipline  
• Worked to deliver land referencing, land access, landowner engagement services and statutory processes on major infrastructure projects 
• Experience of negotiating with landowners and knowledge of the legal process for the acquisition of wayleaves/easements/servitudes desirable 
• Experience working with multi-disciplinary teams across a range of sectors and locations across the UK and/or Ireland 
• Demonstrable experience of reducing land risk for clients and advising them on land related matters throughout all stages of a project lifecycle
• Ability to communicate effectively with strong influencing and negotiating skills 

• Strong landowner and public engagement skills

• Knowledge of the urban and/or rural environment and farming practices would be highly desirable 

• Chartership or membership or a professional body would be advantageous 
• The ability to travel effectively to various sites/locations is a necessary function of this role
• Ability to travel to site and remote locations

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

Location

As part of WSP Land you will enjoy the support of your multi-disciplinary colleagues in our Dublin, Naas, Belfast and wider offices throughout the UK and well as in India

We support high-profile infrastructure projects across the whole of the island of Ireland such as Dublin Metrolink, the largest infrastructure project in the history of Ireland; the North South Interconnector; NM20; M17 and A5, as well as other projects.  Many of our Energy projects are critical for the deployment of renewable energy, helping the Ireland economy to achieve net zero carbon emissions, and we support emerging rail, water, highways and other projects that represent investment in Ireland’s future.

The role can be based in one of WSP’s many offices across the UK and Ireland including with the flexibility of hybrid working between one of these locations and from home.