Midwest Surface Water Practice Lead

WSP•Springfield, IL

2d•$192,000 - $313,000

About The Position

WSP is hiring a Midwest Surface Water Practice Lead to lead, grow, and strengthen its Surface Water practice across the Midwest Region. This leadership role combines surface water and water resources expertise with people development, client relationship building, and regional practice growth. The Practice Lead will work with Midwest Water leadership, other regional practice leads, technical leaders, project managers, and national experts to connect capabilities across offices and markets. The role advances the practice by developing staff, strengthening technical capabilities, supporting utilization and work sharing, and driving strategic business development. The practice’s work includes municipal stormwater, flood risk management, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, FEMA programs, transportation drainage, open channel hydraulics, and related water resources planning and design. The broader Midwest Water organization also has capabilities in dams and levees and alternative delivery, offering opportunities to form multidisciplinary teams for complex client needs. The Practice Lead will serve as a senior technical leader and may also act as a project manager, program manager, or strategic advisor on selected projects. Responsibilities include technical planning, modeling, analysis, design, construction support, and oversight for surface water infrastructure projects. The role also supports staffing, practice performance, recruitment, client development, and participation in regional and national technical networks. Periodic travel throughout the Midwest and elsewhere is required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, or a closely related field.
Professional Engineer (PE) licensure, with the ability to obtain licensure through reciprocity in applicable Midwest states.
20 or more years of progressive experience in surface water, hydrology and hydraulics, stormwater management, flood risk management, drainage design, or related water resources disciplines.
Demonstrated experience leading and developing technical professionals and multidisciplinary project teams.
Strong technical knowledge of hydrologic and hydraulic analysis and ability to provide senior-level technical review, mentoring, and guidance.
Experience with industry-standard hydrologic and hydraulic modeling platforms such as HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS/HEC-RAS 2D, FLO-2D, SWMM, or comparable tools, as applicable to the candidate’s area of expertise.
Experience with GIS and its application to water resources planning, modeling, analysis, and project delivery.
Proven ability to develop client relationships, identify business opportunities, support pursuits, and contribute to growth of a water resources or surface water practice.
Demonstrated project and/or program management experience on complex water resources projects.
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate across offices, disciplines, business lines, and geographic boundaries.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to clients, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams.
Familiarity with relevant federal, state, and local stormwater, floodplain, and water resources programs and regulations.
Ability and willingness to travel periodically throughout the Midwest and elsewhere in support of clients, projects, staff, and business development activities.
Must pass a background check and maintain a satisfactory driving record in accordance with WSP's driving policy.
Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree.
Experience with FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program and Risk MAP program.
Established relationships with municipal, state, federal, transportation, or other Surface Water clients within the Midwest.
Demonstrated success growing a water resources practice, client portfolio, technical capability, or geographic market.
Experience leading geographically distributed teams and sharing resources across offices or regions.
Experience developing emerging technical leaders and creating career pathways for water resources professionals.
Active participation and leadership in professional organizations related to stormwater, floodplain management, water resources, transportation drainage, or related disciplines.
Experience supporting major programs, multidisciplinary infrastructure projects, or alternative delivery projects.

Responsibilities

Lead and grow the Midwest Surface Water practice in collaboration with regional and national Water leadership.
Develop and mentor staff through career development, technical growth, mentoring, succession planning, recruitment, and retention.
Promote technical excellence by connecting experts, advancing consistent approaches and quality, mentoring professionals, and supporting complex or high-profile projects.
Promote work sharing and collaboration across Midwest offices, other WSP regions, and national Communities of Practice.
Support utilization and staffing by balancing workloads, identifying capacity and upcoming needs, and coordinating staffing with project and operational leadership.
Support strategic business development, including growth strategies, client relationships, pursuits, and positioning in priority markets.
Build and expand relationships with municipal, state, federal, transportation, and other public-sector clients, and identify opportunities to broaden services with existing clients.
Support growth in municipal stormwater, flood risk management, open channel hydraulics, FEMA programs, transportation drainage, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and related water resources planning and design.
Serve as a senior technical leader, project manager, program manager, or strategic advisor on selected surface water projects.
Lead and support technical planning, modeling, analysis, design, and construction support for stormwater systems, culverts, channels, detention and retention facilities, erosion control, and hydraulic structures.
Provide senior-level oversight and technical review to support quality, consistency, and successful project delivery.
Recruit and help build the Surface Water team by identifying strategic hiring needs and participating in recruitment.
Collaborate with Midwest Water leadership on practice performance, staffing, backlog, utilization, project needs, and business development priorities.
Participate in regional and national technical networks and Communities of Practice, bringing expertise and resources to Midwest clients and connecting Midwest staff with projects across WSP.
Represent WSP with clients, professional organizations, industry partners, and at conferences and technical events.

Benefits

Medical coverage
Dental coverage
Vision coverage
Disability coverage
Life coverage
Retirement savings
Paid sick leave
Paid vacation or other personal time
Paid parental leave
Paid time off for bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings