Senior Project Management Area Lead - Northeast Region Power Delivery

WSP•Buffalo, NY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

WSP is seeking a Senior Project Management Area Lead for our Power & Energy Management Team. The Senior Project Management Area Lead is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the local and/or regional project management team to produce a product consistent with WSP mission statement and our culture. They are expected to lead by example in adhering to WSP's culture and defined project management and business practices and to achieve the goals of the business plan, maintain WSP's high-quality standards, promote internal teamwork and meet the needs of our clients. The position requires a focus on division goals to enhance client connection, maintain uncompromising quality and build a better future together. Building a team atmosphere is critical to the success of our Department in the Northeast Region. This position will be based out of Syracuse, NY, Buffalo, NY, Rochester, NY, Augusta, ME, Boston, MA, New York, NY, with the ability to work remotely from any mutually acceptable location. You must have the ability to travel to a WSP and/or Client office for periodic in-person meetings. This Opportunity Provides leadership and project management oversight for the development, execution, management, control and monitoring of, depending on client/direct reports’ needs, Substation, and/or Transmission Line throughout the Northeast Region projects in support of company, regional, and national business line goals. Ensures responsibilities throughout the project lifecycle (proposal phase, planning and project startup, project execution, reporting, and project closeout) are adhered to, delivered, and audited with a level of quality that meets or exceeds corporate and client project excellence and delivery standards. Provides innovation, administration, and pragmatic direction to address current and future project management challenges in a rapidly changing and complex business and operations climate. Your Impact Provide PM leadership for small/medium/large scale/more complex Substation and/or Transmission Line throughout the Northeast Region ensuring support for preparing and overseeing project detailed design, budgets, forecasts, margins and KPIs, monitoring external events and risk contingencies, ensuring satisfactory performance, and managing the contractual obligations to deliver the project or assigned portfolio of assigned project(s) as defined in the contract and client’s expectations. Serves as a Project Management subject matter expert and champion for ensuring corporate compliance with all internal project management standards and successfully addressing current and future project management challenges within a large-scale and multi-faceted business organization. Support the development of and execution of the Business Unit (BU) and Regional Manager department recruiting plans by interviewing potential candidates and making final recommendations. Monitor and address retention. Oversee the employee review process for all staff. Perform reviews for all direct reports. Summarize recommendations for position and salary adjustments for all direct reports. Supporting the mentoring of all project management staff for compliance with internal process and best practices, as well as earned value management and associated PMBOK standard practices. Participate in company-wide training and in-person training events for Division development and growth. Support the preparation, monitoring and execution of PE to PM plans for internal transfers and new external hires. Ensure a strong mentoring relationship is established with all new PMs. Develop and foster effective strategies to engage project stakeholders at all levels, maintain effective relationships, and report on project progress. Provide guidance with pursuit/initiation activities for projects meeting defined criteria or risk profile; including “Go / No-Go” decisions, contract reviews, risk mitigation strategies, pricing reviews, etc. May participate, and many times, lead the contract T&Cs negotiations, rate schedule development, and client presentations. Actively drive and coordinate the completion of appropriate levels of internal risk review required for all projects associated with your reporting staff, adhering to company RDOA requirements and procedures. Actively drive the appropriate levels of technical review required for the project, selecting appropriately qualified staff to perform the required reviews, and adherence to the QA/QC plan. Provide verbal and/or written inputs to multi-disciplinary project teams and contribute to providing high level strategic advice to clients. Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff. Ensure updates occur with system and process documentation including: Risk (REF/RMP), Project Management Plan (PMP), Project Quality Plan (QP), Project Safety (PSP), and Communications Plan where applicable. Lead project kick-off meetings with key stakeholders. Coordinate with area/technical managers to address project resource and subcontracting requirements in a timely manner. Maintain regular communications with the client including reporting on monthly status, safety incidents, and major issues together with scope and budget impacts. Participate in and oversee problem project reviews, providing input about root cause issues and potential solutions. Assist with developing project recovery plans. Ensure regular project reporting and updates are provided to clients, technical areas, and business unit managers, identifying any emergent issues with scope, risk, and/or budget. Complete formal project closeout activities, along with facilitating and documenting a lessons-learned meeting with key project staff. 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

Bachelor's in Engineering, Construction Management or other related field within the Power & Energy Market, or equivalent experience in a technical or engineering firm.
15+ years of relevant post education experience in a project management role within the Power Delivery/Utility Industry.
Minimum of 5 years applicable industry experience working and/or providing engineering services for IOUs, IPPs, Co-Ops, Munis, etc.
Minimum of 5 years of experience leading engineering and/or construction teams on medium to large electrical utility scale clients for medium, high voltage and/or extra high voltage power delivery type projects.
Knowledge and experience with project management processes and tools required, including: Contract Management, External and Internal Team Meeting Management, Earned Value Management, Change Management, Risk Management, Schedule Management (this includes experience with CPM project schedules such as Primavera P6 or equivalent), Financial Management.
Advanced-level understanding of project delivery process within the Power Delivery/Utility industry and strong background and experience in project management.
Advanced proficiency with analytical and organizational skills, with business acumen to bridge the business and project management.
Advanced proficiency with critical thinking and problem-solving skills to make assessments and calculations involving the application of project management principles, with a sound understanding of intent, impact, and optimal outcomes.
Advanced proficiency with interpersonal and communication skills to interact effectively, persuasively, and tactfully with leadership, subcontractors, and employees at all levels of the organization.
Excellent self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and adjusting readily to the changing prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
Works independently and provides guidance and leadership to mid-level to senior level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
Advanced proficiency with technical writing, office automation, relevant software, MS Office suite products (e.g., Word, Excel, Visio, Project, SharePoint), technology, spreadsheets, and PM tools.
Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior management, subcontractors, consultants, and company-wide staff, including those with whom no formal hierarchical relationship exists.
Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
Strong ability to quickly adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to a variety of schedules and hours to meet project-specific needs.
Occasional travel is required and travel frequency will depend on client and project-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

PMP certification
PE License
MBA
PMP Certification
Knowledge of WSP’s clients in the Northeast United States

Responsibilities

Managing the day-to-day activities of the local and/or regional project management team.
Leading by example in adhering to WSP's culture and defined project management and business practices.
Achieving the goals of the business plan, maintaining WSP's high-quality standards, promoting internal teamwork and meeting the needs of our clients.
Providing leadership and project management oversight for the development, execution, management, control and monitoring of Substation and/or Transmission Line projects.
Ensuring responsibilities throughout the project lifecycle are adhered to, delivered, and audited with a level of quality that meets or exceeds corporate and client project excellence and delivery standards.
Providing innovation, administration, and pragmatic direction to address current and future project management challenges.
Providing PM leadership for small/medium/large scale/more complex Substation and/or Transmission Line projects.
Ensuring support for preparing and overseeing project detailed design, budgets, forecasts, margins and KPIs.
Monitoring external events and risk contingencies, ensuring satisfactory performance, and managing the contractual obligations to deliver the project or assigned portfolio of assigned project(s).
Serving as a Project Management subject matter expert and champion for ensuring corporate compliance with all internal project management standards.
Supporting the development of and execution of the Business Unit (BU) and Regional Manager department recruiting plans by interviewing potential candidates and making final recommendations.
Monitoring and addressing retention.
Overseeing the employee review process for all staff.
Performing reviews for all direct reports.
Summarizing recommendations for position and salary adjustments for all direct reports.
Supporting the mentoring of all project management staff for compliance with internal process and best practices, as well as earned value management and associated PMBOK standard practices.
Participating in company-wide training and in-person training events for Division development and growth.
Supporting the preparation, monitoring and execution of PE to PM plans for internal transfers and new external hires.
Ensuring a strong mentoring relationship is established with all new PMs.
Developing and fostering effective strategies to engage project stakeholders at all levels, maintaining effective relationships, and reporting on project progress.
Providing guidance with pursuit/initiation activities for projects meeting defined criteria or risk profile.
Participating in, and many times leading, contract T&Cs negotiations, rate schedule development, and client presentations.
Actively driving and coordinating the completion of appropriate levels of internal risk review required for all projects associated with your reporting staff.
Actively driving the appropriate levels of technical review required for the project, selecting appropriately qualified staff to perform the required reviews, and adherence to the QA/QC plan.
Providing verbal and/or written inputs to multi-disciplinary project teams and contributing to providing high level strategic advice to clients.
Managing and providing performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff.
Ensuring updates occur with system and process documentation including: Risk (REF/RMP), Project Management Plan (PMP), Project Quality Plan (QP), Project Safety (PSP), and Communications Plan where applicable.
Leading project kick-off meetings with key stakeholders.
Coordinating with area/technical managers to address project resource and subcontracting requirements in a timely manner.
Maintaining regular communications with the client including reporting on monthly status, safety incidents, and major issues together with scope and budget impacts.
Participating in and overseeing problem project reviews, providing input about root cause issues and potential solutions.
Assisting with developing project recovery plans.
Ensuring regular project reporting and updates are provided to clients, technical areas, and business unit managers, identifying any emergent issues with scope, risk, and/or budget.
Completing formal project closeout activities, along with facilitating and documenting a lessons-learned meeting with key project staff.
Collaborating with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide “trusted advisor” service and future ready solutions for clients.
Exercising responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhering to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
Performing additional responsibilities as required by business needs.