Corporate Sustainability Lead (Social Impact) UK & Ireland

We are looking for an experienced Corporate Sustainability Lead to shape and lead WSP UK & Ireland’s social impact programme.

Reporting to the Head of Corporate Sustainability, you will set the strategic direction for our social impact activity and lead the team responsible for translating our ambitions into coherent, credible and measurable programmes. Your remit will span corporate social value, corporate giving, partnerships, strategic growth and the integration of social impact across the wider business.

Responsibilities

• Social Impact strategy and leadership
• Own and lead WSP UK & Ireland's social impact strategy, programme and delivery plan, setting clear priorities and intended outcomes.
• Align the programme with Global and UK Corporate Sustainability priorities, business objectives, client expectations and relevant policy developments.
• Advise senior leaders on social impact opportunities, performance and risk.

• Work winning and project delivery
• Work closely with Social Value Manager and wider business to ensure WSP’s approach to social value commitments in bids and project delivery aligns with client and procurement requirements and social value legislation.
• Build the governance and support the processes, systems and capability needed across the UK business to ensure commitments made in bids are understood, owned and effectively managed through project mobilisation, delivery and reporting.
• Work with business, bid and project leaders to strengthen accountability and consistency, sponsoring the development and adoption of our internal Social Value Commitments Tracker and overseeing the tools, guidance and support provided by the social impact team.

• Governance and impact
• Oversee programme governance, performance, resources and risk.
• Ensure social impact commitments and programmes are supported by credible evidence and translated into measurable outcomes.
• Use performance data and stakeholder insight to inform priorities and provide recommendations to senior leadership.

• Team and programme integration
• Lead and develop the social impact team, providing clarity of purpose, responsibilities and priorities.
• Provide strategic oversight of corporate social value measurement, corporate giving, projects and partnerships.
• Ensure corporate and project-facing workstreams operate as a coherent programme, working closely with the Senior Social Impact Lead for Projects and Partnerships.
• Build relationships across the business and represent WSP externally to strengthen the programme’s influence, credibility and impact.

What we’re looking for

• Significant experience leading social impact, social value, responsible business or community investment programmes.
• Experience developing strategies and translating them into practical delivery including effective governance, delivery plans and clear accountabilities.
• Strong data literacy, with the ability to interpret quantitative and qualitative evidence, assess impact and use insights to inform decisions and improve performance.
• A strong track record of leading teams, influencing senior stakeholders and delivering change across organisational boundaries.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex issues clearly, build support for change and engage credibly with senior leaders, project teams and external stakeholders.
• Strong project management experience, including leading the development and implementation of new tools, systems and business processes from concept through to adoption.
• Knowledge of relevant social value policy, legal and procurement requirements, industry developments and impact measurement approaches.
• Commercial awareness and experience working collaboratively across a complex, matrixed and project-based organisation.

Desirable

• Experience in professional services, infrastructure or the built environment.
• Experience overseeing charitable grants, foundations or complex corporate giving governance.
• Familiarity with recognised social value measurement frameworks or platforms.