Job Information
WSP USA Assistant VP, California Dams and Hydraulic Structures lead in San Diego, California
This Opportunity
WSP USA is currently initiating a search for an Assistant VP, California Dams and Hydraulic Structures lead. The position WSP is investing in transformational growth in our Water business with a focus on continued growth of our ENR ranked Dams & Reservoir engineering team. We are seeking a passionate, driven leader who will drive excellence as we deliver our existing portfolio of work and will help continue to grow our footprint in the water resources/dam engineering market. We are seeking a technical practice leader with a background in water resources, structural, or geotechnical engineering focused on dams to provide leadership and expertise in the pursuit and delivery of complex dam, levee, civil works, and flood resiliency projects. Our ideal candidate has solid client relationships, a strong technical foundation, is committed delivering quality products, and is passionate about building cohesive, best-in-class teams. They will drive growth, deliver excellence, and mentor staff in a collaborative environment with the business line leaders across U.S. operations.
Envision. Inspire. Transform.
Your Impact
Lead the growth strategy for the Dam & Reservoir market for California, and support projects and pursuits across the broader US market. Identify priority clients, strategic projects, and areas of market investments targeted at the growth of the practice.
Lead the operations and project delivery for WSP’s dam practice in California. This practice provides services on a wide range of projects including dams and appurtenant structures, levees, floodwalls, penstocks, dam removal, and licensing/permitting.
Supervise staff and manage their development and performance, enhancing their engagement in our greater organization and promoting their professional development.
Track and manage financial KPIs and utilization goals. Manage backlog and staff workload.
Recruit/hire staff and direct project staffing assignments to meet client, contract, and company business objectives.
Drive technical excellence.
Identify opportunities, preposition, and lead pursuit development to drive annual 15-20% growth objectives.
Manage projects to scope, schedule, and budget commitments, with health & safety and quality in the forefront of project delivery. Achieve target project metrics, including days sales outstanding and target direct labor multipliers.
Travel occasionally to project sites, client meetings, public meetings, and professional conferences/meetings.
Strengthen WSP’s brand through engaging in professional organizations, giving presentations at industry events, and developing online communication assets.
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 all other position related duties as assigned or requested.
Perform and review work products developed and prepared by junior staff, including dam safety inspections and prepare reports in conformance with state or federal regulatory guidelines.
Review and supervise development of the following: hydraulic, geotechnical, and structural design calculations, modeling studies, engineering drawings, reports, project standards and specifications, quantity take-offs, engineering cost estimates, and permit applications for projects involving hydraulic structures.
Facilitate, direct, and/or perform field visits and site reconnaissance as dictated by project requirements.
Apply regulatory knowledge with CA DSOD, USACE, FEMA, NYSDEC, FERC, USBR, and other local, state, and federal agencies and regulators.
Demonstrated experience with dam stability analysis, seismicity issues, flood hydrology, mechanical design knowledge, geotechnical knowledge, dam monitoring and instrumentation, dam operations, and risk assessment preferred.
Help manage task scope, schedule, and budget while verifying quality standards are met.
Develop client relationships, pursue prospective projects, prepare proposals, and present at client interviews and industry forums.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
12+ years of experience in dam engineering, preferably with at least 3 years of related experience
Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Geotechnical, and/or Structural Engineering, or related field
Specialized dam engineering expertise with a strong background in the fields of geotechnical or structural engineering
Strong analytical and design skills
Experience building business through external client engagement and internal sales management processes
Budget management / enterprise business aptitude
Demonstrated experience of leadership, personal accountability, persistence and being goal-oriented
Strong business acumen with an aptitude for improving processes
Commitment to internal and external client service
Motivational; staff development mindset; excellent leadership/managerial and mentoring/teaching skills
Highly organized; detail oriented; skilled with implementation/ logistics
Collaborative, drives consensus
Strong communication skills, including excellent English technical verbal and written communication skills
Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Engineering.
15+ years of experience in dam engineering, preferably with at least 5 years of related experience
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.
#LI-MF1
WSP Benefits:
WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.
Compensation:
Expected Salary: $111,200 - $198,220
WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.
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.