Substation Department Manager (Ann Arbor Substation Dept)

WSP•Ann Arbor, MI

About The Position

WSP’s Power and Energy Power Delivery Substation Business Unit is hiring a Department Manager for its Substation Department in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The position reports to the Midwest Vice President, Region Manager and manages the department’s day-to-day activities, team, and performance. The Department Manager is responsible for achieving department business plan goals, maintaining quality standards, encouraging teamwork, and supporting clients and corporate initiatives. The role also includes developing and maintaining client relationships and working with regional leadership and other Department Managers to support regional strategy, balance alliance-client backlog, and pursue competitive local work. The manager oversees a team of drafters, designers, and engineers, and is accountable for the department’s financial, technical, and staffing performance. The position also applies substation engineering expertise across infrastructure project phases, oversees multidisciplinary project execution, and contributes to proposals, business development, technical reporting, and continuous improvement. Travel may be required for regional meetings and project-specific needs, and work schedules may extend beyond a typical workweek.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a closely related discipline, or equivalent experience.
7 to 10 years of relevant post-education engineering experience and prior design experience.
Demonstrable experience leading project and/or client teams.
Competence in developing client teams and growing or maintaining client relationships.
Proficiency in electrical engineering principles, practices, processes, design/build, and their application to project work.
Specific knowledge of relevant electrical codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.
Ability to perform technical computations and calculations using engineering principles, interpret plans and specifications, and compare facts against applicable regulations.
Effective interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate professionally with engineering and non-engineering audiences.
Strong self-leadership, attention to detail, multitasking, and prioritization skills in a dynamic work environment.
Ability to work independently with minimal oversight and provide guidance and leadership to junior team or project members while adhering strictly to QA/QC.
Proficiency in technical writing, office automation, discipline-specific design software, technology, mathematics, spreadsheets, and tools; examples of software include MicroStation, AutoCAD, and MS Office.
Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to apply technical knowledge to test results, data collation, computations, statistical analysis, and the selection of effective, economical, and logical solutions.
Record of upholding workplace safety and ability to comply with WSP health, safety, drug/alcohol, and harassment policies.
Ability to work schedules that meet project-specific requirements and may extend beyond the typical workweek.
Ability to travel occasionally, depending on project-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

2 or more years of experience as a people leader in a management capacity.
Professional Engineer license.
Competence working with other WSP departments.

Responsibilities

Advise the Vice President, Region Manager and support the Midwest Region through regular touchpoints, teleconferences, monthly reporting, meetings, plan audits, and Department Manager meetings.
Manage the department’s financial, technical, and staffing performance, including timecard and expense approvals, financial reporting, resource planning, business plans, appraisals, compensation recommendations, training, proposals, design book audits, mentorship, lunch-and-learns, and quality assurance and quality control.
Apply substation engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements across infrastructure project phases, from concept development and preliminary and final design through procurement, construction, and operation.
Develop construction plans, specifications, and cost estimates; prepare construction safety and phasing plans; and update infrastructure layout plans in coordination with owners, other disciplines, sub-consultants, and clients.
Develop and incorporate advanced technologies, monitoring devices, building materials, modeling techniques, and design requirements.
Oversee and monitor cross-functional teams executing mid-level and/or multiple concurrent projects, including budgets, hours and expenses, task completion, material, equipment and labor costs and quantities, technical calculations, construction, compliance documentation, and regulatory and technical analysis.
Prepare technical reports and presentations explaining research, concepts, and recommendations related to structural, environmental, design, or construction issues and opportunities.
Collaborate with engineers, professionals, and leaders on proposals and business development.
Stay current with substation engineering techniques and practices.
Make responsible and ethical decisions regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and follow WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.