Description
As the Discipline Lead: Advisory Services, you will be responsible for developing and executing the Advisory Services strategy for WSP's Property & Buildings business in Africa.
You will lead the growth of a sustainable advisory portfolio, positioning WSP earlier in the client decision-making process and creating opportunities that generate both direct advisory revenue and pull-through opportunities for the broader business.
This is a highly strategic and market-facing leadership role, combining business development, proposition development, technical leadership and project oversight.
Your responsibilities will include:
Business Development & Work Winning
- Develop and grow a strategic pipeline of advisory opportunities across the African market.
- Lead executive-level client engagement and investment stakeholder relationships.
- Identify and secure opportunities during strategy, feasibility, investment and transaction phases.
- Lead major pursuits, proposals, presentations and commercial negotiations.
- Develop account-based growth strategies for key clients and sectors.
- Generate pull-through opportunities for engineering, project management, sustainability and digital services.
- Build market visibility through thought leadership, conferences and industry engagement.
Advisory Service Development
- Develop and package market-leading advisory propositions and solutions.
- Establish delivery frameworks, methodologies, tools and intellectual property.
- Create scalable service catalogues, pricing models and standardised deliverables.
- Ensure service quality, consistency and competitiveness across the market.
- Identify and launch new advisory products aligned with client and market demand.
Advisory Project Leadership
- Provide executive oversight and governance across advisory engagements.
- Ensure delivery of high-quality, commercially successful projects.
- Drive quality assurance, technical governance and risk management practices.
- Monitor project performance, profitability and client satisfaction.
- Support project directors and technical leaders on complex commissions.
Strategic Growth & Capability Building
- Develop and implement the Advisory Services growth roadmap.
- Establish the organisational structure required to support future growth.
- Identify capability gaps and lead targeted recruitment initiatives.
- Mentor and develop advisory leaders and future talent.
- Build communities of practice and centres of excellence.
Strategic Partnerships
- Establish and manage strategic partnerships that strengthen the advisory offering.
- Collaborate with financial advisors, ESG specialists, property economists, technology providers and asset management specialists.
- Lead joint pursuits and integrated client solutions.
People Leadership
- Lead, coach and grow a high-performing Advisory Services team.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Promote cross-functional integration across Property & Buildings and the wider WSP business.
- Support talent development, succession planning and transformation objectives.
What we'll be looking for you to demonstrate…
Essential Requirements
- Minimum NQF Level 8 qualification in the built environment or a related discipline.
- 15+ years' experience in advisory, consulting, engineering, infrastructure, property or related sectors.
- Proven track record in winning and leading complex consulting assignments.
- Strong commercial acumen and business development capability.
- Experience establishing, growing or transforming professional services businesses.
- Established executive-level client network.
- Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience managing business performance and profitability.
Highly Desirable
- Technical due diligence or transaction advisory experience.
- Asset management advisory experience.
- Sustainability, ESG or decarbonisation consulting experience.
- Property development or real estate advisory experience.
- Strategic or management consulting experience.
- Experience working across Africa.
What’s in it for you? WSP offers competitive pay, standard benefits including first-class medical cover, generous annual leave, and paid professional subscriptions.