Senior/Principal Socio-Economics

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

A little more about your role

WSP currently has openings for a Senior or Principal Socio-Economics Consultant to support a growing portfolio of complex and high-profile projects.

We are a growing team, working alongside multidisciplinary services, including town planning, masterplanning and urban design, transport, and strategic communications.

We are seeking a socio-economics specialist with a strong interest in economic growth and a commitment to delivering impactful work across regeneration, social value, and inclusive development.

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, Lancaster, that will support regeneration and economic diversification in the town centre and coastal area. The project is backed by significant government funding and aims to open in 2026.
• South East Warrington Urban Extension - a 4,000+ home new urban extension to the south east of the town of Warrington.
• Heathlands Garden Community - we are leading the Social Value Workstream and Equality Impact Assessment new settlement of 5,000 new homes, 16ha of employment, a district centre and two local centres and supporting infrastructure based around a new railway station on the Ashford Maidstone line, in Kent.
• A29, Cookstown, Northern Ireland - we are leading a Social Value engagement exercise on behalf of the Department for Infrastructure, to hear from the community about their desired social value opportunities and priorities that the construction phase of the project could deliver for the area.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate

We are looking for an individual to join our growing team who can demonstrate skill and experience in the following areas.

Requirements

• Degree qualification in relevant disciplines such as economics, planning or a similar related field
• Keen interest in socio-economics, including economic impact, social value, health and equalities and social infrastructure delivery
• Experience of undertaking socio-economic assessment
• Skilled in data analysis
• Grounding in UK planning policy and frameworks
• Extensive work experience in a multidisciplinary environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrable skills in some or all of the requirements listed above

About you: curious, collaborative, and driven to deliver high quality project outcomes.

What Technical skills relating to social economic impact assessment and effective project management:

• Socio-economic research and data modelling
• Economic Impact Assessment
• Economic analysis to shape strategic planning and masterplanning
• Social Value Strategy
• Socio-Economic Impact Assessment
• Social Infrastructure Assessment
• Health Impact Assessment
• Equality Impact Assessment
• Socio-Economic EIA
• Technical report writing and effective communication
• Project management and collaboration
• Client facing project delivery and work winning

Your day-to-day will include

• Developing socio-economic strategies and evidence to support planning and investment decisions, including alignment with local and national policy frameworks.
• Undertaking Economic Impact Modelling to assess the economic potential of sites, including employment, skills, population and demographic indicators.
• Drafting Socio-Economic Statements and Impact Assessments to support development proposals, regeneration schemes, and infrastructure projects.
• Leading socio-economic inputs within multidisciplinary teams, contributing to integrated planning, transport, and sustainability strategies.
• Attending stakeholder, design team, and client meetings to inform analysis and reporting.
• Managing project delivery, including scope, programme, and budgetary control across multiple commissions.
• Collaborating with colleagues across WSP, such as those in Planning, Urban Design, Transport and Sustainability, to ensure socio-economic considerations are embedded in wider project advice.
• Monitoring government guidance and best practice and policy development, to inform client advice and project positioning.

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.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

With us, you can. Apply today.