Vice President, Transit & Rail - Northeast Rail Vehicle Practice Lead

WSP•Morristown, NJ

13h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President, Transit and Rail – Northeast Rail Vehicle Practice Lead provides proactive and strategic leadership for the development, execution, management, and monitoring of complex rail vehicle programs within a Northeast region in support of company, regional, and national business line goals. This role bridges executive strategy and technical delivery, combining business development responsibilities with advanced technical oversight. The SVP will lead large-scale rolling stock projects, ensuring compliance, profitability, and innovation while mentoring teams and driving client satisfaction.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Science or closely related discipline (or equivalent experience).
12+ years of relevant post education experience in transit and rail engineering, including rolling stock procurement and program management, or similar designation.
Advanced knowledge of FRA, FTA, CPUC, AREMA, and other rail regulatory standards and procedures, codes, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements, and the business impact upon the organization.
Demonstrated ability with establishing, implementing, and managing multiple larger-scale discipline-related programs, documents, projects, and practices for a line(s) of business.
Excellent leadership 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 elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior management, clients, and company-wide staff, including those with whom no formal hierarchical relationship exits.
Strong ability to quickly adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to a variety of schedules and hours to meet business needs.
Advanced knowledge and proficiency with office automation, discipline-specific design software (i.e., MicroStation, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, OpenRail), technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools used in the corporate environment.
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 in Engineering and Business Administration

Responsibilities

Drive the long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of Transit & Rail Engineering work, with a focus on rolling stock and integrated systems, while supporting the shaping of the national rail vehicle practice, including staff development and recruitment.
Develop high-level business contacts and a strong client base for transit and rail engineering services, identifying additional business development opportunities and cross-selling other WSP capabilities.
Drive client engagement and identify new business opportunities in rolling stock and adjacent systems and infrastructure.
Lead proposal efforts and contribute to pursuit strategies for major rail vehicle programs.
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.
Develop and review technical specifications for new and refurbished rail vehicles.
Oversee interface requirements between rolling stock and infrastructure systems (track, signaling, power).
Provide high-level engineering guidance on vehicle design, integration, and compliance with FRA/FTA standards.
Lead technical aspects of contract negotiations, risk assessments, and safety certification processes.
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.
Act as Program Manager or Technical Lead for the most complex and largest-scale transit and rail engineering projects.
Provide proactive leadership for project planning, execution, and delivery, ensuring contributors understand scope, schedule, and deliverables.
Prepare and oversee project budgets, monitor internal and external events, track hours and expenses, and ensure profitability.
Lead cross-functional coordination among engineering, procurement, quality assurance, and client teams.
Oversee subcontractor performance, contract compliance, and change management processes.
Implement project controls, performance metrics, and continuous improvement practices.
Serve as the primary point of contact for clients on technical and programmatic issues.
Maintain relationships with rolling stock providers and industry partners to stay current on emerging technologies.
Represent the organization at technical forums and client engagements.
Provide performance guidance and proactive leadership to assigned managers and staff.
Promote collaboration across disciplines and foster innovation and quality project delivery.
Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Disability insurance
Life insurance
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