Senior Program Director (Power & Energy)

WSP

About The Position

WSP is seeking a Senior Program Director for its Power & Energy Program Management Office. The role is preferably located in the Maine region, with the ability to travel to a WSP and/or client office for periodic face-to-face meetings. 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 Senior Program Director leads complex projects and portfolios, overseeing delivery, budgets, forecasts, margins, KPIs, risk contingencies, hours and expenses, quality assurance and quality control, performance, and contractual obligations. The position supports stakeholder engagement, client relationships, contract negotiations, project reporting, and strategic advice to clients. It also leads multidisciplinary teams and provides guidance to managers and staff. The role develops and maintains project initiation and governance documentation, leads project management discipline meetings, develops recovery plans when needed, ensures regular reporting and formal closeout, and facilitates lessons-learned meetings. The Senior Program Director collaborates across disciplines to provide trusted-advisor service and future-ready client solutions, while exercising responsible and ethical decision-making and complying with WSP policies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related major, or equivalent experience in a technical or engineering firm.
15+ years of relevant post-education experience in a project management role within the industry.
Advanced understanding of project delivery processes within the A/E/C industry and extensive experience in large-scale project management.
Experience managing projects through a variety of delivery models, including DBB, EPC, and PDB.
Advanced analytical and organizational skills and business acumen to bridge business and project management.
Strong working knowledge of corporate project management principles, practices, processes, delivery, execution, and their business impact.
Demonstrated ability to establish, implement, and manage multiple large-scale or complex projects, programs, documents, systems, and practices.
Excellent self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to manage staff and interact effectively, persuasively, and tactfully with employees at all levels.
Strategic lateral thinking and strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize responsibilities in a high-pressure work environment.
Ability to elicit cooperation from senior management, subcontractors, consultants, suppliers, clients, and company-wide staff, including people outside formal reporting relationships.
Advanced technical writing, office automation, relevant software, MS Office, technology, spreadsheet, and project management tool proficiency.
Proven 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 demonstrate flexibility with schedules and hours to meet business needs.
Ability to travel as required by project-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Essential project management certification, such as PMP or CAP-M.

Responsibilities

Lead the organization’s most complex and largest-scale projects, clarifying contributor responsibilities and timelines.
Prepare and oversee project budgets, forecasts, margins, KPIs, risk contingencies, hours, expenses, QA/QC, and performance.
Manage contractual obligations for project or portfolio delivery as defined in contracts.
Develop proactive stakeholder engagement strategies, maintain relationships, and report on project progress.
Participate in technical aspects of contract negotiations, presentations, and meetings.
Be accountable for profitable performance and successful completion of projects within the assigned area or portfolio.
Lead multidisciplinary project teams and contribute strategic advice to clients.
Provide performance guidance and proactive leadership to assigned managers and staff.
Develop, maintain, and update project initiation and governance documents, 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-cause issues, identify solutions and improvement opportunities, and provide staff updates and recommendations that support innovation, development, and quality delivery.
Lead development of project recovery plans, including team input on strategies to correct budget and overrun issues with clients.
Ensure regular project reporting and updates for clients, technical areas, and business unit managers, identifying emerging scope, risk, and budget issues.
Ensure completion of formal project closeout activities and facilitate and document lessons-learned meetings with key project staff.
Collaborate with professionals and leaders across disciplines to provide trusted-advisor service and future-ready client solutions.
Make responsible and ethical decisions regarding company funds, resources, and conduct, and comply with WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.