Job Description
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.
Closing Date: Friday 20th March 2026
About The Future Of Mobility Team
The Future of Mobility team sits within our wider Transport Planning business, and includes a wide range of specialists. We are researchers, town planners, engineers, economists, accountants, behavioural scientists, data specialists and transport planners. We work on complex, often ambiguous challenges that sit at the intersection of technology, policy, geography, behaviour and investment decision-making.
We offer a variety of expertise, approaches and skills to support our public and private sector clients with their futures challenges, in the mobility sector and beyond. For example, we have applied our human centred design and analytical approaches to projects looking at suicide prevention, improving air quality, expanding the uptake of electric vehicles, making transport more accessible and inclusive, and exploring emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles and e-scooters.
You will work with, and be supported by, senior members of the Future of Mobility team, including industry experts.
The team is virtual, and we welcome applicants who would be based out of any of our offices in England, Scotland or Wales. We have a strong presence in Birmingham, London, Manchester, Liverpool and across Edinburgh and Glasgow, and support regular meetings between team members to harness strong working relationships. The role will also involve occasional travel for client meetings to help develop meaningful relationships.
A Little More About Your Role…
Due to our expanding public and private sector workload, we are looking for a Principal Consultant with experience and knowledge of emerging modes, services, systems and business models within the transport sector. This could include one or more of: connected and automated mobility, micromobility, demand responsive transport, and ticketing, payment and information systems.
This is a consultancy and advisory role. You will work with public and private sector clients to help them make better decisions about the future of mobility – shaping strategy, policy, investment cases and programmes of work.
While you will need to understand emerging modes, technologies and business models, you will not be expected to design or engineer systems. Instead, your value will come from your ability to frame problems, analyse evidence, balance competing considerations, and provide clear, credible advice that balances customer, technology and commercial considerations.
Working as part of a consultancy team, you will be on several projects and client accounts at any given time. Although the role has a focus on emerging modes, technologies and business models, your work may cover a variety of areas of expertise. Where you have a passion and strength in a particular area, we can support you in becoming a subject matter expert.
You will report to a senior member of our team with expected day-to-day tasks that include the following:
* Delivering a range of consultancy projects (reporting to a Project Director), which at any one time could include a selection of the following:
o Developing business cases and investment narratives for new mobility services
o Leading feasibility studies to assess the viability of emerging transport interventions
o Undertaking market and policy research to assess how new technologies could be applied in real-world contexts
o Designing and delivering research to understand user needs, public attitudes and behavioural responses
o Supporting clients with funding applications, policy development and strategic decision-making
* Managing projects (reporting to a Project Director), ensuring projects are delivered on time and to budget.
* Applying strong analytical skills to critically evaluate and analyse data to provide robust recommendations. This will include numerical data, geographical data and qualitative data.
* Working with colleagues and leaders in the team on business development activities, including proactive client engagement and supporting with, or leading, the preparation of bids and fee proposals.
* Working at both strategic and detailed levels with strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to communicate confidently with clients, stakeholders and team members.
* Building and maintaining effective client relationships, delivering a high standard of client care.
* Being present in the office (hybrid working) alongside colleagues and working with colleagues across the UK and overseas.
We would love to hear from you if you bring many (not necessarily all) of the following:
* Experience working on emerging mobility modes or technologies, ideally in a consultancy, advisory or policy focused environment
* Confidence managing projects and client relationships, balancing quality, time and budget
* A good understanding of the UK transport landscape and how future of mobility themes are shaping it
* Curiosity about how policy, economics, place, human behaviour and technology interact to shape outcomes
* Strong problem solving and critical thinking skills, and enjoyment in developing tailored approaches rather than applying standard solutions
* Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise and persuasive reports, alongside presenting skills
* A proactive mindset – comfortable asking questions, challenging assumptions and contributing ideas
You may already have a professional network of clients and industry contacts, although this is not essential. As part of the role, you will be supported and encouraged to develop your network over time, contributing to thought leadership and business development activities.
This role will particularly suit individuals who enjoy working at the interface between ideas, evidence and decision-making, rather than those seeking a primarily technical design or systems engineering role.
What Others Say….
'Being part of the Future of Mobility team means having the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of transport across a diverse range of impactful projects. Our team is equally diverse, and I get to work with recognised subject matter experts shaping the future of transport through our strategy and policy work. As a Principal Consultant, you will have the opportunity to contribute directly to the team's thought leadership, and also generate new knowledge and insights through trials of innovative technologies and business models that are disrupting and challenging current paradigms. This role is perfect for anyone who enjoys thinking deeply about the future, adopting a positive but pragmatic approach to reimagining transport systems to better serve people, places, and the environment.'
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.
About Us
We are one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. Our 72,800 passionate people are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. With over 9,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
Work-life balance
At WSP, we understand that work is just one aspect of your life. It’s important to make time for you, your family, friends, interests and your community. Our hybrid working policy offers the flexibility to work from home two days a week, while also providing opportunities to collaborate in our modern offices across the UK.
Inclusivity & Belonging
We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and experiences. We enable rewarding careers by encouraging people to bring their whole and authentic selves to work so that our work represents the fullest spectrum of society. We celebrate integrity and treat people with respect, supporting each other and embracing a culture of inclusion and belonging at WSP. We have our employee resource groups bring together employees and allies with different backgrounds to promote our culture of inclusivity.
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. Our Virtual GP service gives you access to an NHS or Irish Medical Council GP at a time and place that suits you – giving you peace of mind and quick access to medical advice when you need it most. We also provide reasonable workplace adjustments for those in need. Additionally, you can benefit from the Gymflex scheme, which offers up to 40% off annual gym memberships through our WSP flexible benefits program, as well as a comprehensive menopause support package.
Flex your time
To enhance work-life balance, WSP offers the 'WSP My Hour,' allowing you to take one hour each day for personal activities, with the flexibility to make up the time earlier or later that day. We also provide part-time and flexible working arrangements, the option to purchase additional leave, and the ability to use your bank holiday entitlement to suit you.
Your development
We understand the importance of development and training to you. That’s why we foster a supportive environment that invests in your growth, whether through training, mentoring, or Chartership.
#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.
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