Technical Director, Project Manager

WSP • Tacoma, WA

22h

About The Position

This Opportunity WSP is seeking a Technical Director, Project Manager to join our Washington transportation team. This position can be based out of our Tacoma, WA office. Provides situational administrative and technical project management guidance for the development, execution, management, and monitoring of designated projects within a specific geography or discipline 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 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 larger scale/more complex projects 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 satisfactory performance, and managing the contractual obligations to deliver the project or assigned portfolio of assigned project(s) as defined in the contract. 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. Participate in the technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings. 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, as applicable. Provide verbal and/or written inputs to multi-disciplinary project teams and contribute to providing high level strategic advice to clients. Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development. 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. Facilitate 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. Monitor accounts receivable (AR) and unbilled revenue, working to address issues as needed. Complete formal project closeout activities, along with facilitating and documenting a lessons-learned meeting with key project staff. Remain current in the latest Project Management techniques and practices (PMAP). 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. Who You Are

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a related major, or equivalent experience in a technical or engineering firm.
• Essential certification required (e.g., P.E., PMP, CAP-M).
• 12+ years of relevant post education experience with roadway/highway/site development/transit design within Transportation industry.
• A minimum of 5+ years’ project management experience on transportation infrastructure projects.
• Familiarity with Sound Transit, WSDOT, and City of Seattle engineering practices.
• Highly proficient understanding of project delivery process within the A/E/C 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.
• 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.
• Strong experience in managing the review and approval of documents and discipline-specific project deliverables, processes, and plans in a multi-project environment is highly desirable.
• 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 exits.
• 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 may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide PM leadership for larger scale/more complex projects 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 satisfactory performance, and managing the contractual obligations to deliver the project or assigned portfolio of assigned project(s) as defined in the contract.
• 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.
• Participate in the technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings.
• 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, as applicable.
• Provide verbal and/or written inputs to multi-disciplinary project teams and contribute to providing high level strategic advice to clients.
• Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.
• 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.
• Facilitate 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.
• Monitor accounts receivable (AR) and unbilled revenue, working to address issues as needed.
• Complete formal project closeout activities, along with facilitating and documenting a lessons-learned meeting with key project staff.
• Remain current in the latest Project Management techniques and practices (PMAP).
• 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.

Benefits

• WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level