Senior Director, Local Business Leadership

About the role

This opportunity is for a Local Business Leader in Transportation, Environmental, or Land Use Planning for WSP USA, Inc.'s California Planning Practice. The position can be filled in any of WSP’s California offices.

Responsibilities

• Organize, plan, and grow WSP’s Planning services in the state of California
• Be a client advisor, staff manager, and pursue and manage projects and programs
• Work closely with planning, environmental, civil, and transit/rail staff across WSP to research, analyze, document, and present information related to various types of transportation projects
• Lead larger-scale more complex transportation planning 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 profitability and satisfactory performance, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees
• Ensure compliance with applicable Federal, State, and Local Agency laws, policies, and regulatory requirements
• Support the overall long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of transportation and environmental planning work for WSP in assigned area of responsibility, with a focus on opportunities in all disciplines (planning, design, strategic consulting, and program management)
• Lead technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings
• Aid in the preparation of an annual update to business tactical action plans within the specified area
• Ensure that planning discipline certifications, accreditations, and value proposition is developed and continuously improved
• Conduct needs analyses and client value surveys to align the planning discipline’s function with business and project strategy, identifying and addressing any skill gaps or risks within the sector business operations
• Schedule planning 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
• Act as one of the planning 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
• Interpret and summarize data, including reports and documents that result in sound planning and regulatory conclusions to minimize impacts to the community, population, local economy, and environment
• Maintain and grow a client base for providing high level Transportation Planning services including identifying additional business development opportunities, and cross-selling of other WSP capabilities
• Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff
• Remain current in latest transportation, urban and environmental planning subject matter, practices, regulations, and techniques
• 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

Requirements

• A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in land use, transportation planning, environmental planning, or policy work
• The successful candidate will have worked on and led projects similar to those described above, overseeing the work of others successfully and/or managing staff
• A Bachelor’s degree in Transportation Planning, Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, Civil Engineering, Public Policy, or a related field
• Ability to develop business and technical strategy with others as well as develop and manage high quality technical and professional deliverables on projects and proposals
• Experience with transit agencies, local municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and/or California regulatory agencies
• Experience with project administration and project management in the transportation sector
• Strong communication skills, a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and positive attitude
• Proficiency with the transportation project development cycle, including from planning to implementation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are necessary
• Possession of a valid driver’s license is required
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies
• Occasional travel may be required

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master’s Degree is preferred
• Essential professional licensure/certification (e.g., AICP Certification)