Senior Vice President, Pacific Northwest Rail Transit Leader

WSP • Tacoma, WA

7h • Hybrid

About The Position

WSP is currently initiating a search for a full-time Senior Vice President, Pacific Northwest Rail Transit Leader. This position will sit within the Pacific Northwest Transportation Team. The role is created to lead the rail transit business in the greater Pacific Northwest, collaborating with local leadership, technical teams, and the Transit & Rail National Business Line to grow capacity and market presence in rail transit.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, or closely related discipline.
• Washington State Engineer license required (multi-state beneficial).
• 15+ years of relevant post-education experience in the civil engineering transportation industry, with emphasis on Business Development, Project Delivery, Program/Project Management, and/or Alternative Delivery.
• 10+ years of experience in rail transit (intercity passenger rail, light rail, commuter rail, heavy metro, rapid transit, or related systems). Preference for experience managing and delivering complex rail expansion projects.
• Ability to lead and grow the rail transit and civil engineering business.
• Experience as a project manager, deputy project manager, or task lead on transportation or rail transit projects. Advanced-level understanding of the project delivery process within the A/E/C industry, and an extensive background and experience in large-scale project management.
• Strong working knowledge of corporate project management principles, practices, process, delivery, execution, and the business impact upon the organization.
• Excellent leadership, management and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to manage staff, and effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Strategic lateral thinking and strong analytical skills with attention to detail and prioritization of responsibilities in a pressure work environment.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and projects.
• Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior management, subcontractors, consultants, suppliers, clients, and company-wide staff, including those with whom no formal hierarchical relationship exits.
• Established client relationships and industry contacts with extensive knowledge of Puget Sound Transportation market.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Science in Civil Engineering or related field from an accredited program.
• Experience working with Departments of Transportation or major transit agencies.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Responsibilities

• Advance client goals and industry innovation through leadership in rail transit planning, design, and delivery.
• Collaborate with local offices and national transit and rail experts to provide clients with forward-looking, integrated solutions.
• Lead rail transit business development efforts, strategy development, client engagement, and pursuits across Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington in coordination with the Local Business Leaders and the Transit & Rail National Business Line.
• Provide guidance and leadership 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.
• Serve as key staff on pursuits in roles such as project manager, deputy project manager, design lead, advisor, or subject matter expert.
• Engage with clients to develop new business leads and project opportunities.
• Build strategic alliances and partnerships to secure new rail transit work.
• Represent WSP in the market through participation in client and industry events, committees, and associations.
• Lead the delivery of rail transit projects and programs for agencies throughout the Pacific Northwest District (Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington), focused on transit and rail clients in Washington State.
• Serve as Project Manager, Senior Lead, or in other leadership roles on key rail transit initiatives, which include the most complex and largest scale projects within the organization, ensuring contributors know what they are required to do and by when, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, forecasts, margins and KPIs, monitoring external events and risk contingencies, tracking hours and expenses, ensuring QA/QC and satisfactory performance, and managing the contractual obligations to deliver the project or assigned portfolio of assigned project(s) as defined in the contract.
• Foster effective and proactive strategies to engage project stakeholders at all levels, maintain effective relationships, and report on project progress.
• Participate in the technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings.
• 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.
• Guide staff and support project management responsibilities, including oversight of financial performance, adherence to project management and quality control plans, and risk management.
• Ensure high-quality project deliverables, including PS&E packages, engineering reports, technical memorandums, and related documentation.
• 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.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific needs.
• Support the management, growth, and development of rail transit–focused work within the Transportation & Infrastructure team.
• Provide leadership in partnership with the project delivery teams, Local Business Leader, and Senior Management Team.
• Contribute to meeting Key Performance Indicators and the overall success of the West Region.
• Mentor staff to support their technical growth and professional development.

Benefits

• coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life
• retirement savings
• paid sick leave
• paid vacation (or other personal time)
• paid parental leave
• paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees