Program Director (Power & Energy)

WSP

1d • Remote

About The Position

WSP is seeking a Program Director for its Power & Energy Program Management Office. The role may be based in Freeport, Portland, or Augusta, Maine. The successful candidate may work remotely but must be located in Maine and able to travel to a WSP and/or client office as needed. The position provides leadership, definition, and oversight for consistent delivery of large-scale, highly complex programs in the Extra High Voltage (EHV) Transmission and Distribution sector.

The Program Director leads complex projects and portfolios, oversees budgets, forecasts, margins, KPIs, risks, quality, performance, expenses, and contractual obligations, and builds effective relationships with project stakeholders. The role provides leadership to multidisciplinary teams and assigned managers and staff, contributes strategic advice to clients, and supports technical aspects of contract negotiation and client engagement. It also includes maintaining project governance documentation, leading discipline meetings and recovery plans, providing project reporting, and ensuring project closeout and lessons learned. The position requires sound ethical decision-making and adherence to WSP policies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related major, or equivalent experience in a technical or engineering firm.
• 12 or more years of relevant post-education experience in a project management role within the industry.
• Highly proficient understanding of project delivery processes in the A/E/C industry and a strong project management background.
• Advanced analytical and organizational skills and business acumen to bridge business and project management.
• Advanced critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, including applying project management principles and assessing intent, impact, and optimal outcomes.
• Advanced interpersonal and communication skills for effective interaction with leadership, subcontractors, and employees at all organizational levels.
• Self-leadership, attention to detail, multitasking ability, and readiness to adapt to changing priorities in a dynamic work environment.
• Ability to elicit cooperation from senior management, subcontractors, consultants, and company-wide staff, including people without a formal hierarchical relationship.
• Advanced technical writing and proficiency with office automation, relevant software, MS Office products (including Word, Excel, Visio, Project, and SharePoint), spreadsheets, technology, and project management tools.
• Track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to comply with WSP health, safety, drug/alcohol, and harassment policies.
• Ability to adapt quickly to change and to a variety of schedules and hours to meet project-specific needs.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% depending on project requirements.
• Essential project management certification, such as PMP or CAP-M.

Nice To Haves

• Strong experience managing review and approval of documents and discipline-specific project deliverables, processes, and plans in a multi-project environment.
• Master’s degree in Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organization’s most complex and largest-scale projects, coordinating contributors and overseeing budgets, forecasts, margins, KPIs, risks, hours, expenses, QA/QC, performance, and contractual obligations.
• Develop proactive strategies to engage project stakeholders, maintain relationships, and report on project progress.
• Participate in technical aspects of contract negotiations, presentations, and meetings.
• Account for profitable performance and successful completion of projects within the assigned area or portfolio.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams, provide strategic advice to clients, and guide assigned managers and staff.
• Develop, maintain, and update project initiation and governance documentation, including Risk Registers (REF/RMP), Project Management Plans (PMP), Project Quality Plans (QP), Project Safety Plans (PSP), and Communications Plans.
• Lead project management discipline meetings, address root causes and potential solutions, identify improvement opportunities, and provide updates and recommendations to staff.
• Lead development of project recovery plans, including strategies with the team and client to address budget and overrun issues.
• Ensure regular project reporting and updates to clients, technical areas, and business unit managers, including identification of scope, risk, or budget issues.
• Ensure completion of formal project closeout activities and facilitate and document lessons-learned meetings with key project staff.
• Collaborate across disciplines and with leadership to provide trusted-advisor service and future-ready client solutions.
• 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.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director