Job Information
WSP USA Technical Director Geotechnical Engineering in Durham, North Carolina
Our Business
We are a global leader in environmental consulting - made stronger with the recent acquisition of Wood’s Environment & Infrastructure business and Golder - with world-class expertise in environmental, social and governance (ESG), climate resiliency & sustainability (CRS), and earth sciences. Combined we have over 20,000 multidisciplinary professionals worldwide collaborating daily to protect and conserve natural landscapes, create firm foundations for communities to stand on, and champion sustainable development to combat climate change.
As part of the team, you will have access to an unparalleled network of resources and endless opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects with diverse teammates from across the globe.
This Opportunity
Provides leadership within a sector of organization to ensure geotechnical engineering subject matter, technical deliverables, infrastructure projects and programs are delivered with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry and company standards for design, safety, and functionality. Responsible for SME innovation and administration, ensuring corporate compliance with all Local, State, and Federal engineering, construction, and safety regulations, and providing pragmatic direction to address current and future challenges in a rapidly-changing and complex business climate.
Your Impact
Provide proactive and strategic leadership for the geotechnical engineering discipline and function, offering direction, expertise, and support to ensure project and work site deliverables are successfully achieved within the business sector.
Perform engineering review of permit applications, engineering design plans and specifications, standby plans and engineering contracts, integrated management plans, and periodic construction inspections, to ensure that they comply with applicable state and/or federal regulations and sound engineering practice and standards.
Lead larger-scale more complex geotechnical engineering projects ensuring contributors know what they are required to do and by when, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking hours and expenses, ensuring satisfactory performance, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees.
Responsible for the pursuit and development of business and the successful execution of work for current and potential infrastructure work within a geography specifically for the large projects within the area.
Lead technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings.
Support the overall long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of Geotechnical Engineering work for WSP in assigned area of responsibility, with a focus on infrastructure opportunities in all disciplines (planning, design, permitting, program/construction management, and strategic consulting).
Responsible for the profitable performance of the individual projects and the successful completion of the projects within the specified area.
Assist with the preparation of an annual update to business tactical action plans within the specified area.
Meet with various public or private entities or individuals to discuss issues relating to a variety of engineering/construction challenges and programs.
Ensure that engineering discipline certifications, accreditations, and value proposition is developed and continuously improved.
Conduct needs analyses and client value surveys to align the engineering discipline’s function with business and project strategy, identifying and addressing any skill gaps or risks within the sector business operations.
Schedule engineering discipline meetings, providing updates and recommendations to ensure that all reasonable and proper measures are taken to inculcate discipline expertise and innovation into project work.
Serve as one of the engineering discipline’s lead representatives/liaison to a variety of external entities including Federal, State, and Local Agencies, Clients, Subcontractors, industry-related groups, and various government and community entities.
Develop and inform proposal and project scopes, timelines, pricing, and budgetary metrics – and accountable for planning, development, and management of projects in compliance with all applicable City/State/Federal codes and regulations, and in accordance with all acceptable engineering practices.
Interpret and summarize data, including reports and documents that result in sound engineering and regulatory conclusions.
Provide verbal and/or written inputs to multi-disciplinary project teams and contribute to providing high level strategic advice to clients.
Develop a client base for providing high level geotechnical engineering services including identifying additional business development opportunities, and cross-selling of other WSP capabilities.
Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.
Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff.
Remain current in latest geotechnical engineering techniques and practices.
Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide “trusted advisor” service and future ready solutions for clients.
Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering, or closely related discipline.
12+ years of relevant post education experience in engineering, geotechnical and infrastructure design.
Engineer license required (multi-state preferred).
Advanced proficiency with geotechnical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, standard of care, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
Advanced proficiency with infrastructure design.
Strong working knowledge of relevant construction laws, codes, regulations, permitting, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements, and the business impact upon the organization.
Advanced proficiency with making technical computations and calculations involving the application of engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations.
Works independently and provides guidance and leadership to mid-level to senior level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
Tactical lateral thinking and strong analytical skills with attention to detail and prioritization of responsibilities in a pressure work environment.
Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior management, clients, regulators, and company-wide staff, including those with whom no formal hierarchical relationship exits.
Advanced proficiency with office automation, discipline-specific design software (i.e., MicroStation, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, ArcGIS, InRoads, Geopak, GeoSlope, ANSYS, STADD, HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS), technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
Strong ability to quickly adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to a variety of schedules and hours to meet business needs.
Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Engineering.
Strong experience in managing the review and approval of documents and discipline-specific deliverables, certifications, processes, and plans in a multi-project environment is highly desirable.
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About WSP
WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.
www.wsp.com
WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.
At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?
WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.
The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:
WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.