Technical Director, Structural Engineering

WSP•Philadelphia, PA

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

WSP is seeking an ambitious Vice President of Structural Engineering for its Eastern Pennsylvania Team. This role will lead a team of structural engineering professionals delivering highway bridges, rail and transit structures, and other structural engineering services from Philadelphia and Exton offices, with coordination across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The position oversees the delivery of high-quality structural engineering services to public sector clients like PennDOT, PTC, City of Philadelphia, DRPA, Amtrak, and SEPTA. It also involves coordinating with other business lines for structural engineering services in transit, rail, tolling, mobility solutions, and aviation-based transportation improvements. The role provides leadership in the Philadelphia area, ensuring technical deliverables, infrastructure projects, and programs meet or exceed industry standards for design, safety, and functionality. Responsibilities include innovation, administration, ensuring corporate compliance with regulations, and providing direction for current and future challenges. This is a people leader role focused on the development and growth of direct reports. The position is hybrid, requiring 2-3 days of in-office attendance per week.

Requirements

Minimum of 12 years of experience with a college degree or equivalent experience with a strong focus in engineering, transportation, infrastructure, and/or project management/project delivery.
Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, Master’s Degree preferred.
Professional Engineer (P.E.) License required (multi state preferred)
Advanced proficiency with structural engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, standard of care, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization. Prior direct management experience, leading a team of dozen engineers across a variety of stages in their careers.
Tactical lateral thinking and strong analytical skills with attention to detail and prioritization of responsibilities in a pressure work environment.
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.
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.
Strong business acumen with an aptitude for improving processes.
Sound decision-making, strategic and visionary thinking, and creative business development capabilities across a multi-disciplined practice.
Strongly established relevant client relationships and industry contacts in the local area.
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

Strong experience in delivering project for PennDOT Engineering Districts 4, 5, 6 & 8, and PTC, including strong working relationships with key staff at each of these agencies.
Familiarity with 3D design tools and bridge modeling programs; and digital delivery processes and procedures to help the structure team deliver more projects scoped in digital delivery.
Strong experience in managing the review and approval of documents and discipline-specific deliverables, certifications, processes, and plans in a multi-project environment is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and guidance to an established group of structural engineering professionals located in various offices in our Eastern Pennsylvania District. Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development. Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff. Emphasizes employee training and development to create unique work experience. Encourage, support and promote the technical and professional development of local WSP staff.
Provide proactive and strategic leadership for the structural engineering discipline and function, offering direction, expertise, and support to ensure project and work site deliverables are successfully achieved within the business sector.
Perform engineering review of permit applications, engineering design plans, specifications, and estimates, and perform construction support services including periodic construction inspections to ensure work is progressing according to the contract documents, following sound engineering practice and standards, and address contractor questions.
Lead larger-scale more complex structural engineering projects ensuring contributors know what they are required to do and by when, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking 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 infrastructure work within a geography specifically for the large projects within the area.
Working with our team of Business Line Leaders, support the overall long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of Structural Engineering work for WSP in assigned area of responsibility, with a focus on infrastructure opportunities in all disciplines (planning, design, and strategic consulting and program/construction management).
Oversight to ensure the profitable performance of the individual projects and the successful completion of the projects within the specified area. Collaborate with regional, district leaders and other area leaders to strategically drive the business with focus on business growth, oversee overhead expenditures, and supporting overall operational, business performance, and financial metrics.
Assist with the preparation of an annual update to business tactical action plans within the specified area. Supports the development of local growth, forecast and business development strategy in collaboration with District, Region and National Business Line Leaders.
Meet with various public or private entities or individuals to discuss issues relating to a variety of engineering/construction challenges and programs.
Resolve conflict and other internal/external issues that may arise in the office, amongst WSP’s client base, or on projects.
Ensure that engineering discipline certifications, accreditations, and value proposition is developed and continuously improved.
Conduct needs analyses and client value surveys to align the engineering discipline’s function with business and project strategy, identifying and addressing any skill gaps or risks within the sector business operations.
Schedule engineering 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 engineering discipline’s lead representatives/liaison to a variety of external entities including Federal, State, and Local Agencies, Clients, Subcontractors, industry-related groups (ASHE, ACEC, APC, ASCE, etc), 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 engineering practices.
Interpret and summarize data, including reports and documents that result in sound engineering and regulatory conclusions.
Maintain and grow existing client base for providing high level structural engineering services including identifying additional business development opportunities, and cross-selling of other WSP capabilities.
Collaborate with Business Line Leader and Technical Excellence Leader to attract the best industry talent by fostering a work environment that is collaborative, values inclusion and diversity and invites broad, creative thinking – crafting a more attractive place to work, grow and thrive.
Remain current in latest structural engineering techniques and practices.
Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide “trusted advisor” service and future ready solutions for clients. Provide verbal and/or written inputs to multi-disciplinary project teams and contribute to providing high level strategic advice to 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. Support programs such as Quality, Safety, Sustainability and Ethics & Compliance; and Inclusion & Diversity and Guiding Principles.
Support local client coordination and cross-selling efforts in coordination with Region, District, National Business Lines, and Pursuit Management.