Director, Substation - Power Delivery

About the role

The Director, Substations is responsible for the execution performance and operational discipline of the Substation business unit. This role is accountable for portfolio delivery, utilization rates, backlog conversion, and forecast accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operational oversight of the Substation project portfolio.
• Ensure projects are delivered on schedule, within budget, and at or above target margins.
• Standardize execution processes and project controls across offices.
• Maintain the Substation Quality Management framework aligned with the Divisional QMS.
• Implement corrective action plans for underperforming projects.
• Reduce rework and improve overall delivery predictability.
• Ensure alignment between staffing plans and active project workload.
• Drive operational performance KPIs, including Direct Labor Multiplier, gross margin, utilization, and overall profitability for the Substation portfolio.
• Monitor write-offs, write-ups, and margin trends.
• Support annual budget planning and quarterly financial reviews.
• Oversee delivery risk management across all active projects.
• Enforce change management and scope control procedures.
• Lead recovery strategies for distressed projects.
• Monitor scope creep and ensure appropriate change order execution.
• Proactively manage decisions to avoid unnecessary high-risk project exposure.
• Align staffing with backlog and workload demands.
• Balance resources across offices to maximize efficiency.
• Establish clear performance metrics for Engineering Managers.
• Promote accountability and performance discipline within delivery teams.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to increase throughput and consistency.
• Drive adoption of standardized workflows and delivery tools.
• Establish operational performance dashboards tracking schedule, cost, and margin.
• Improve operational systems to support sustainable growth without margin erosion.
• Ensure consistent client experience through disciplined delivery.
• Support pricing reviews to confirm alignment between scope, resources, and margin expectations.
• Build and maintain relationships with utility, EPC, and developer clients.
• Manage high-level issue resolution and client escalations.
• Represent the firm at industry conferences and leadership forums.
• Identify long-term partnership opportunities and cross-selling initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 10+ years of experience in utility substation engineering and project delivery.
• Experience managing multi-office engineering teams.
• Demonstrated experience developing utility client relationships.
• Experience with multi-discipline coordination.
• Demonstrated ability to scale teams while maintaining technical quality.
• Ability to balance strategic growth initiatives with operational discipline.
• Willingness to travel to support clients and team locations.

Benefits

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood) is committed to providing a workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a supportive work culture that encourages professional growth and personal well-being.

Pay

Compensation for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience. Please refer to the job description for more details.

Schedule

This role offers a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of both the employee and the business. Please refer to the job description for more details.

Contact Information

To apply for this position, please visit our careers page at [Insert URL]. For additional information about Westwood Professional Services, Inc., please contact us at [Insert Contact Information].

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients’ success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.