Cost Centre Manager – Ireland (Ground and Water)
At WSP, we offer you the chance to shape a unique career while working on landmark projects that benefit communities worldwide. As the Cost Centre Manager for Ireland within the Ground and Water Team, you will lead staff across Ireland and India in areas such as contaminated land, nature services, environmental consenting and geotechnical. Your role will be an integral part of our senior leadership team, shaping the direction and growth of the market‑leading Ground and Water division while fostering a high‑performance, inclusive culture.
Responsibilities
Deliver the cost centre budget (utilisation, net revenue and EBITDA), ensuring sufficient investment in business development and technical training to meet evolving market demands and support professional development for staff.
Support the four Team Leads—Contaminated Land, Environmental Consenting, Nature Services and Geotechnical—in developing commercial focus and achieving target multipliers throughout the project lifecycle.
Appoint, monitor and manage Project Directors to deliver projects that meet H&S, finance, client satisfaction and quality requirements.
Lead a culture of support and inclusion, working with the Health and Safety Lead to ensure complete Risk Assessment Method Statements and Safety Critical Activities for all site visits.
Optimise performance and facilitate career development by ensuring the right people perform the right tasks aligned with business objectives and personal development goals.
Foster a ‘one team’ ethos to establish shared ownership of business performance successes and challenges.
Drive recruitment activities with Team Leads and Sector Leads to grow organically.
Support bidding and opportunities across the team to maintain a broad portfolio of projects and reach additional clients and sectors in collaboration with Growth Lead, Sector Leads and Technical Lead.
Promote a right‑first‑time approach to project delivery, driving a culture of technical excellence measured through client satisfaction.
Oversee the strengthening of the project and sales pipelines, collaborating with Sector Leads and Sector Teams through cross‑selling and Key Account Management.
Build a climate of excellent customer management, optimising GCC deployment and integration within the Irish team while expanding the scale of GCC operations.
Ensure Projects First targets are achieved by individuals and for the cost centre overall.
Maintain monthly 1:1 meetings covering wellbeing, performance (particularly against Projects First) and personal development.
Minimise time lost to non‑value‑adding activities, focusing business development time to maximise client and project focus.
Maintain employee engagement and ensure turnover aligns with business targets, using WSP Listens engagement surveys to address issues and support retention.
Maintain a culture of openness, honesty, trust and respect, with clear lines of accountability and responsibility.
Own and deliver the Service Team Strategy, ensuring the team is Future Ready and prominent in the marketplace.
Regularly engage with team members through strong office presence.
Uphold and promote WSP values on HSSE, diversity, inclusion and equality.
Qualifications
A ambition and drive to manage a Cost Centre to deliver targets, secure growth and expand market share in the UK and international markets.
Thriving in a fast‑paced environment with solution‑focused delivery.
Skills to create an environment that encourages individual personal development and growth.
A people‑orientated person who understands how teams operate and what it takes to create a successful team and cost centre.
Ability to manage multiple teams to optimise outcomes, where applicable.
A collaborator who can create a shared vision of success and a drive for positive change to develop and deliver a strategy for the Service Team.
Confidence to be a visible leader in the business, inspirational & having presence and gravitas.
Astute business acumen and understanding of the pressures and challenges of managing a Service Team.
Passion for building a culture where people feel valued and are well treated, encouraging them to develop themselves and the business.
The ability to work at a strategic level as well as being ‘hands on’ when required.
The ability to establish effective working relationships with executive stakeholders.
Strong organisational skills—managing several projects concurrently and meeting all deadlines.
The ability to deal with conflicting priorities and offer positive solutions whilst working in an agile way to meet business requirements.
If you don’t meet all that we are looking for, please still consider applying. Not everyone will meet all the requirements, but you might have skills we didn’t know we need.
Benefits
Work‑life balance – Hybrid working policy offers flexibility to work from home two days a week, with opportunities to collaborate in modern offices across the UK.
Inclusivity & Belonging – WSP welcomes applicants of varied backgrounds and encourages people to bring their authentic selves to work.
Health & Wellbeing – Thrive programme, Virtual GP service, reasonable workplace adjustments, Gymflex scheme, comprehensive menopause support package.
Flex your time – “WSP My Hour” allows one hour daily for personal activities with flexible make‑up options; part‑time and flexible working arrangements, additional leave purchase and bank holiday entitlement options.
Your development – WSP invests in your growth through training, mentoring and chartership support.
WSP is one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services firms. We have 72,800 passionate people united by a common purpose to create positive, lasting impacts on the communities we serve.
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_This equality and diversity statement applies to all roles. WSP welcomes 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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