Design
Help us to shape a better future by influencing, guiding, and managing the design process from start to finish. As part of our Design team, we’ll make sure your career thrives.
Help us to shape a better future by influencing, guiding, and managing the design process from start to finish. As part of our Design team, we’ll make sure your career thrives.
PEOPLE THRIVE AT WATES
You could have design experience, be looking for a career change, or be returning to work after a break. Above all, you need the right attributes to succeed in our Design team.
We’re looking for inquisitive people, who are great problem solvers, and able to think laterally. Someone who is good at interacting with and managing people, both internally and externally. Perhaps the key thing to remember is that we don’t author design, we shape it. That means our ability to influence what someone else does with a pen is vital.
In terms of transferrable skills, the most important are to be analytical and creative. If you have a creative background, you’ll fit in very well.
NO BETTER PLACE TO DEVELOP YOUR CAREER
We’re innovative, agile, and entrepreneurial. We also know what we’re good at. As part of our Design team, you’ll play a key role in helping to create the thriving places of tomorrow. You’ll get to work on a huge range of projects too, in terms of building typology, complexity, geography, and scale. The variety we can offer you is unrivalled.
There are a range of roles in terms of a career path and a job family within Design. If you come in as a trainee, or assistant, you’ll join a team contributing and learning with others on a smaller project. As you progress, the opportunities and challenges increase. You’ll be expected to focus more on leadership strategy and contribute to the direction of the business you work in too.
At Wates, you’ll get every opportunity to develop your career in a timely fashion. We like to make the most of our in-house talent and promote from within. If we believe that someone is 80% ready for the next step, we’ll progress them.
CAREERS IN DESIGN
Head of Sustainability
Location: Finsbury Park
Job Type: SHEQ
Application Deadline: 21-07-2025
🌍 Head of Sustainability – WPS 📍 Location: National ¦ 🕒 Full-timeAre you ready to lead the charge toward a greener, more sustainable future? WPS is looking for a visionary Head of Sustainability to drive our environmental strategy and embed sustainability at the heart of everything we do. 🌱🔎 About the RoleAs Head of Sustainability, you’ll shape and deliver an industry-leading strategy that positions WPS as the most environmentally sustainable business in our sector. Reporting directly to the WPS Board Member accountable for sustainability, you’ll influence decisions at the highest level, collaborate across the business and supply chain, and lead a passionate team to deliver real, measurable impact.🌟 Key Responsibilities Refine and lead the delivery of WPS’s environmental strategy in line with our Environmental Sustainability Plan. Embed environmental performance into customer offerings and financial decision-making. Collaborate with Group leaders, clients, and suppliers to drive systemic change and deliver net zero, nature-positive outcomes. Analyse and forecast environmental impact to prioritise high-impact initiatives. Build and lead a high-performing sustainability team and foster a culture of innovation and accountability. Represent WPS on the Wates Group sustainability leadership team and contribute to group-wide progress.📈 What You’ll Be Doing Win work by aligning sustainability with client ambitions and strategic goals. Ensure compliance with environmental legislation and drive continuous improvement. Engage and influence senior leaders to embed sustainability into culture, performance, and decision-making. Set and track ambitious environmental targets, reporting progress to the board and wider business.🎓 What We’re Looking For Graduate calibre with 5+ years’ experience in sustainability, ideally in the built environment. Proven technical expertise in environmental management and low-carbon strategy. Strong commercial acumen and analytical skills. Excellent communicator and relationship builder, able to influence at all levels. Passionate, self-motivated, and committed to making a difference.💼 Why Join WPS?This is your opportunity to lead transformational change in a business that’s serious about sustainability. You’ll have the platform, support, and autonomy to shape the future of WPS—and the built environment. 🌟Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting One of the Recruitment Team will be in contact to discuss the role in more detail and advise of the next step.
SHE Manager
Location: Finsbury Park
Job Type: SHEQ
Application Deadline: 21-07-2025
🌍 Join WPS as a SHE Manager – National Role 🏗️Are you passionate about creating safer, healthier, and more sustainable workplaces? 💚 WPS is on the lookout for an experienced and inspiring SHE Manager to lead our Safety, Health & Environmental agenda across the UK.🔍 About the RoleAs a SHE Manager, you’ll be a key player in shaping and delivering our SHE strategy nationwide. Reporting to the Head of SHEQ, you’ll provide expert guidance, coaching, and leadership to ensure our policies are not only understood but embedded in everything we do. You’ll work closely with business boards, regional leaders, and supply chain partners to champion a culture of safety and continuous improvement. 🚀✅ What You’ll Be Doing 🧭 Lead the deployment of WPS SHE policies and standards across the business. 🧠 Coach senior leaders on risk identification and mitigation. 🔍 Oversee incident investigations and ensure high-quality reporting and learning. 📊 Drive the use of digital tools like EcoOnline and PowerBI for SHE performance tracking. 🏗️ Support bid and pre-construction activities with a focus on safe design. 🤝 Build strong networks within the supply chain to promote SHE best practices. 📈 Present SHE dashboards and insights at board level, influencing strategic decisions.🌟 What We’re Looking For 🗣️ A confident communicator with strong influencing and coaching skills. 🧑💼 Proven leadership in SHE within construction or industrial environments. 📚 Deep understanding of SHE legislation and behavioural safety. 📉 Analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into actionable insights. 🌟 A role model for SHE and leadership behaviours.🎓 Qualifications ✅ CMIOSH or equivalent. 🎓 NEBOSH Diploma / NVQ Level 4 or equivalent.💼 Why Join WPS?This is a national role offering full mobility across our business units. You’ll be at the forefront of shaping a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future for our people and projects. 🌱 If you’re ready to make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you!Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting One of the Recruitment Team will be in contact to discuss the role in more detail and advise of the next step.
Supervisor
Location: Ealing
Job Type: Trades and Labour
Application Deadline: 21-07-2025
We have an opportunity for a Supervisor to join our Wates team within our Responsive Maintenance division. You will be working out of our Ealing office on one of our social housing contracts, delivering reactive and some planned maintenance to our residents.Key Accountabilities will include: Ensure high quality service is provided with the management of the work scheduling in accordance with company procedures, standards and SLAs Represent Wates at client and resident performance meetings as requested by the Operations Manager Manage the responsive repairs function to ensure consistent performance against targets Effective and efficient management of material costs and ensure that all are following correct processes and procedures Monitor quality of work through inspection, inspection reports, analysis of key performance indicators and analysis of customer satisfaction surveys. Lead, manage and contribute to the development of your team and determine optimum employment levels to comply with the provision of the serviceYou must have a full UK driving licence.To be successful in the role you must also be an excellent communicator with the ability to problem solve, multi task and work to tight deadlines. Prior responsive maintenance experience is crucial to the role. You must also have your SSSTS qualification as a minimum.Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting
Electrician
Location: Milton Keynes
Job Type: Trades and Labour
Application Deadline: 17-07-2025
We have an opportunity for an Electrician to join our WPS team within our Reactive Housing Maintenance Division. You will be working from our Milton Keynes office and covering the surrounding areas, working on our social housing contract. The primary focus of this role will be to undertake all tasks to achieve first time fix and deliver a high standard of workmanship in a timely and productive manner always affording excellent customer service to the client.Key Accountabilities will include: Undertaking repair/ renewal works within your Electricians remit and work with associated trades Ensure maintenance work is undertaken safely and in accordance with all technical standards Communicate effectively with residents, scheduler and line manager Work safely and in compliance with Health & Safety and safeguarding requirements Remain up-to-date with technical and legal requirements of skill area Working in partnership with other operatives to complete repairs, if required Completing time sheets work sheets detailing work undertaken and materials used after each job undertaken, via a PDAYou must have: A full UK driving licence Level 3 Qualification 18th EditionWe are looking for a qualified and experienced Electrician who can utilise their skills to deliver small projects and repair works. You will hold a full UK diving licence, be confident in managing your own workload and will ideally already have experience of the housing maintenance sector.Given the nature of this position, you will need to undergo a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) at offer stage. Applicants with criminal convictions will be assessed individually, and we assure you that we do not discriminate based on an applicant's criminal record or the details of any disclosed offenses. Additionally, certain roles may be subject to additional pre-employment checks. To learn more about the checks included in this process, please click on the following link: National Security Vetting