Principal Strategic Advisor in Life Sciences (Lexica. Member of WSP)

About the role

WSP is a leading specialist consultancy, transforming environments for clients in health and life sciences. WSP is further developing its strategic advisory capability in the life sciences sector.

We are looking for a professional to grow and enhance our offering to new and existing clients in both the public and private sectors.

Key responsibilities

• Supporting client delivery: contributing to strategic planning and consultancy services.
• Team contribution and development: supporting project teams and collaborating with colleagues.
• Professional excellence: producing high‑quality analysis, documentation and client outputs.
• Building trusted client relationships, providing tailored strategic advice and embedding within client and multidisciplinary teams as required.
• Supporting the development and delivery of estate strategies, development control plans and business cases aligned to client objectives.
• Applying analytical thinking, research and scenario testing to evaluate strategic options and inform robust recommendations.
• Supporting the Director of Life Sciences Strategy in delivering high‑quality commissions, proposals and thought leadership, and mentoring junior team members where appropriate.
• Producing high‑quality reports, presentations and workshop materials, applying best‑practice methodologies and contributing to continuous improvement.

Qualifications & experience

• Experience of delivering consultancy or strategic planning services within the life sciences, estates, research, or related environments.
• Evidence of positive client engagement and contribution to successful delivery.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and political awareness.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, high‑quality deliverables.
• Relevant experience supporting risk and change management in estates or technical environments.
• A chartership‑level qualification (or working towards) in a built‑environment discipline (architecture, engineering, FM, property) or equivalent experience.
• Relevant project‑management training or experience related to strategic planning in life sciences.
• Skills in the use of visual aids and graphics tools such as PowerPoint, InDesign, Illustrator.
• Good proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications.