Senior Risk Manager

WSP•Houston, TX

7d•Onsite

About The Position

WSP is seeking a Senior Risk Manager to join their Project Controls group in Houston, TX. This role involves acting as the risk management subject matter expert on assigned projects, programs, or portfolios, and being accountable for risk management performance. The Senior Risk Manager will develop effective risk management frameworks and strategies, plan, design, and implement risk management processes tailored to client needs and aligned with best practices. This includes facilitating discussions to elicit assumptions, quantify uncertainty, and validate risk drivers, as well as developing and maintaining risk registers and quantitative economic risk models. The role requires conducting quantitative cost and schedule risk analysis, analyzing economic drivers of project risk, and preparing risk assessments and forecasts to support strategic decision-making. The Senior Risk Manager will advise project leadership on risk-adjusted contingency and schedule reserves, prepare risk reports, and support teams in developing response plans. Additionally, the role involves training junior risk managers and staff, demonstrating strong organizational, analytical, and multi-tasking skills, and managing challenging behaviors with diplomacy. Travel may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Economics, Finance, or relevant field
12 years of experience in risk management; construction management; project management; and/or contract or change management
Knowledge of general risk management and project control standards and frameworks, (e.g., AACE International, APM, IRM, Project Management Institute, ISO 31000).
Experience in facilitating quantitative risk analysis (QRA) workshops on cost and schedule.
Experience in conceptualizing and developing risk models using analytical methods.
Working knowledge of cost risk analysis software (@Risk, Acumen Risk, Crystal Ball etc.) and schedule risk analysis software (OPC, Primavera Risk Analysis, etc.).
Experienced in development and management of diverse teams.
Experience in preparing risk reports and documentation
Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies
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

Nice To Haves

Engineering / Economics / Project Controls Management background.
Experience in multiple sectors (e.g., transportation, energy, aviation etc.) and familiar with project/program delivery processes.
PMP, PMI-RMP or other certification
Experience in effectively reporting and communicating risk analysis outcomes to wider project team.
Experience in Strategic and / or Enterprise Risk Management is a plus
Experience in FTA funded programs
Knowledge and understanding of Federal, state, and local transportation administration regulations and policies
Practical Knowledge of Power BI and other reporting suite tools.
Commercial acumen in relation to business development
Knowledge of planning tools (e.g., P6, MS Project)

Responsibilities

Act as the risk management subject matter expert on assigned project, program, portfolio being accountable for the risk management performance on assigned commissions.
Develop effective risk management framework / strategy.
Plan, design, and implement risk management processes tailored to the client’s needs and aligned with best practice (e.g., AACE International, Project Management Institute, ISO 31000).
Facilitate structured discussions and workshops to elicit assumptions, quantify uncertainty, and validate economic risk drivers with technical and project stakeholders.
Develop and maintain project and/or program risk registers with input from project and client team members.
Develop and maintain quantitative economic risk models to evaluate the probability and impact of alternative project outcomes, including downside and upside scenarios.
Conduct quantitative cost and schedule risk analysis (QCRA/QSRA) using probabilistic and simulation based methods to evaluate forecast uncertainty and outcome distributions.
Analyze economic drivers of project risk, including market conditions, labor and commodity trends, productivity assumptions, and systemic risk factors.
Prepare economic risk assessments, forecasts, and scenario analyses to support project managers, executives, and clients in strategic decision making.
Advise project leadership on risk adjusted contingency and schedule reserve ranges based on quantitative economic analysis.
Prepare project and/or program risk reports as required.
Support project teams in developing and implementing appropriate internal and external response plans for critical risks.
Work with project teams to determine appropriate contingency and schedule reserve amounts.
Provide training to junior risk managers and other staff as required.
Performs other duties as assigned.