Senior Technical Director, Architecture

WSP•Saint Louis, MO

20h

About The Position

This Opportunity The Transportation Facilities Group in WSP’s downtown St Louis, MO office is looking for an experienced, licensed transportation facilities architect and manager to enhance our team. Provides high level design oversight and technical leadership for passenger transportation facilities for multi-site/phase due diligence, planning, concept development, restoration, alteration, extension, and implementation of creative, functional, and sustainable building designs and/or construction of projects. Tasks include oversight and management of design team conceptually visualizing projects, preparing drawings, specifications, budgets, and construction documents, developing and presenting design proposals, and managing client relationships. Substantiate reports and documentation to advise on material, installations, feasibility, and construction technology specifications. Ensures that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, structural integrity, and occupancy. Your Impact Point of contact and manager of major clients to coordinate and facilitate multiple projects and task orders both locally and nationally. Oversee and mange multi-discipline design team as they develop detailed drawings for highly visible, larger-scale, complex projects showing both the external and internal appearance and structure. Provide proactive and strategic leadership for the architecture discipline and function, offering direction, expertise, and support to ensure project and work site deliverables are successfully achieved within the business sector. Provide guidance with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from the physical work site, surveys, record documents, GIS data, subsurface utility information, maps, environmental data, historical use, and other matrices for project development, design, and construction. Develop and apply advanced design solutions and concepts during the preliminary phase of a project. Remain current in latest architectural techniques and practices. Perform high-level review and approval of permit applications, design plans and specifications, integrated management plans, and periodic construction inspections, to ensure that they comply with applicable state and/or federal regulations and sound architectural practice and standards. Lead larger-scale more complex architecture and building projects ensuring contributors understand their responsibilities and the schedule, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking timelines, hours and expenses, ensuring satisfactory performance, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees. Responsible for the pursuit and development of business and the successful execution of work for current and potential buildings, architecture, and infrastructure work locally and nationally. Lead technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings. Understanding of fundamental BIM principles and best practices Support the overall long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of Architectural work for WSP in assigned area of responsibility, with a focus on building opportunities in all disciplines and phases of work (planning, design, strategic consulting, and program/construction administration). Responsible for the profitable performance of the individual projects and the successful completion of the projects within the specified area. Participate and lead proposal pursuits to win new work, including supporting proposal development, assembly of project team, budgeting, interviews and contract development Assist with the preparation of an annual update to business tactical action plans within the specified area. Meet with various public or private entities or individuals to discuss issues relating to a variety of architectural/construction challenges and programs. Ensure that discipline certifications, accreditations, and licensure is developed and continuously improved. Conduct needs analyses and client value surveys to align the discipline’s function with business and project strategy, identifying and addressing any skill gaps or risks within the sector business operations. Participate in and contribute to architecture discipline meetings, providing updates and recommendations to ensure that all reasonable and proper measures are taken to inculcate discipline expertise and innovation into project work. Serve as one of the architecture discipline’s lead representatives/liaisons to a variety of external entities including Federal, State, and Local Agencies, Clients, Subcontractors, industry-related groups, and various government and community entities. Develop and inform proposal and project scopes, timelines, pricing, and budgetary metrics – and accountable for planning, development and management of projects in compliance with all applicable City/State/Federal codes and regulations, and in accordance with all acceptable architectural practices. Interpret and summarize data, including reports and documents that result in sound conclusions. Develop a client base for providing high level architecture services including identifying additional business development opportunities, and cross-selling of other WSP capabilities. Perform mentoring of less-experienced staff to support professional career development and growth through collaboration, technical review, and reporting. Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff. Remain current in latest architecture techniques and practices. 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 Degree in Architecture.
20+ years of relevant post education experience in learned discipline.
Essential professional licensure/certification.
Extensive experience in design of passenger transportation facilities including BRT stations, LRT stations, heavy rail, commuter rail and passenger rail stations.
Advanced proficiency with architectural principles, practices, process, design/build, standard of care, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
Advanced proficiency with building and infrastructure design.
Strong working knowledge of relevant construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements, and the business impact upon the organization.
Advanced proficiency with making technical assessments and calculations involving the application of architecture principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons and illustrations to the appropriate regulations.
Works independently with minimal oversight and provides guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to interact with employees effectively, persuasively, and tactfully at all levels of the organization.
Working knowledge with process and concepts for sustainability, green building design, and reducing and eliminating the use or generation of hazardous substances/greenhouse gas.
Tactical lateral thinking and strong analytical skills with attention to detail and prioritization of responsibilities in a pressure work environment.
Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior management, clients, regulators, and company-wide staff, including those with whom no formal hierarchical relationship exits.
Advanced proficiency with office automation, discipline-specific design software (i.e., Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp), technology, math principles, graphics, spreadsheets, and tools.
Tactical understanding of BIM principles and ability to engage, manage and coordinate with project BIM Manager
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 business needs.
Travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.
Maintain active professional licensure.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

Point of contact and manager of major clients to coordinate and facilitate multiple projects and task orders both locally and nationally.
Oversee and mange multi-discipline design team as they develop detailed drawings for highly visible, larger-scale, complex projects showing both the external and internal appearance and structure.
Provide proactive and strategic leadership for the architecture discipline and function, offering direction, expertise, and support to ensure project and work site deliverables are successfully achieved within the business sector.
Provide guidance with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from the physical work site, surveys, record documents, GIS data, subsurface utility information, maps, environmental data, historical use, and other matrices for project development, design, and construction.
Develop and apply advanced design solutions and concepts during the preliminary phase of a project.
Remain current in latest architectural techniques and practices.
Perform high-level review and approval of permit applications, design plans and specifications, integrated management plans, and periodic construction inspections, to ensure that they comply with applicable state and/or federal regulations and sound architectural practice and standards.
Lead larger-scale more complex architecture and building projects ensuring contributors understand their responsibilities and the schedule, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking timelines, hours and expenses, ensuring satisfactory performance, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees.
Responsible for the pursuit and development of business and the successful execution of work for current and potential buildings, architecture, and infrastructure work locally and nationally.
Lead technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings.
Understanding of fundamental BIM principles and best practices
Support the overall long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of Architectural work for WSP in assigned area of responsibility, with a focus on building opportunities in all disciplines and phases of work (planning, design, strategic consulting, and program/construction administration).
Responsible for the profitable performance of the individual projects and the successful completion of the projects within the specified area.
Participate and lead proposal pursuits to win new work, including supporting proposal development, assembly of project team, budgeting, interviews and contract development
Assist with the preparation of an annual update to business tactical action plans within the specified area.
Meet with various public or private entities or individuals to discuss issues relating to a variety of architectural/construction challenges and programs.
Ensure that discipline certifications, accreditations, and licensure is developed and continuously improved.
Conduct needs analyses and client value surveys to align the discipline’s function with business and project strategy, identifying and addressing any skill gaps or risks within the sector business operations.
Participate in and contribute to architecture discipline meetings, providing updates and recommendations to ensure that all reasonable and proper measures are taken to inculcate discipline expertise and innovation into project work.
Serve as one of the architecture discipline’s lead representatives/liaisons to a variety of external entities including Federal, State, and Local Agencies, Clients, Subcontractors, industry-related groups, and various government and community entities.
Develop and inform proposal and project scopes, timelines, pricing, and budgetary metrics – and accountable for planning, development and management of projects in compliance with all applicable City/State/Federal codes and regulations, and in accordance with all acceptable architectural practices.
Interpret and summarize data, including reports and documents that result in sound conclusions.
Develop a client base for providing high level architecture services including identifying additional business development opportunities, and cross-selling of other WSP capabilities.
Perform mentoring of less-experienced staff to support professional career development and growth through collaboration, technical review, and reporting.
Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff.
Remain current in latest architecture techniques and practices.
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.