Assistant Vice President, Geotechnical Engineering

WSP is initiating a search for a full-time Assistant Vice President, Geotechnical Engineer for our Chicago, Illinois office. Be involved in projects with our Geotechnical and Tunneling National Business Line and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client's objectives and solves their challenges.

At WSP, we are driven by inspiring the right people to be part of our future-focused business objectives.  Our devotion to teamwork has allowed us to build communities, expand our skylines and tunnel beneath the earth. Here at WSP, anything is within our reach and yours as a WSP employee.  Come join us and help shape the future

The successful candidate will be involved in infrastructure projects throughout the Central region as well as projects across the US.  The position requires an effective team player who can work cooperatively to provide engineering services to its clients on design and construction projects. 

Provides subject matter technical support and leadership in geotechnical engineering for multi-site/phase due diligence, investigation, remediation, impact assessment, permitting, improvement, and construction of infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector.  Responsibilities include the research, design, concept development, planning, and construction of facilities, roads, buildings, tunnels, dams, canals, levees, bridges, water supply systems, underground storage, and sewage treatment.  Provides situational guidance to PMs and managers that address current and future challenges, and that documentation and recommendations accurately account for and address risk, innovation, and future-ready opportunities.  Provides leadership with ensuring that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, and functionality.  

• Provide oversight with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from the physical work site, soil/water/sludge/rock samples, surveys, blueprints, GIS data, subsurface utility information, maps, hydrologic analysis, geotechnical data, and other matrices for project development, design, and construction.    
• Apply high-level geotechnical engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements for various infrastructure project phases involving more complex infrastructure and engineering work including concept development, preliminary design, final design, procurement, construction, and operation.  
• Perform professional geotechnical engineering work and conduct more complex/comprehensive investigations and inspections of proposed and existing site conditions, including subsurface investigations, soil foundation engineering, settlement analysis, soil erosion, lateral earth pressures, geological hazards, underground water, slope stability, and operations to determine conformance with applicable rules, standards, construction , or operating permits for commercial, industrial, building, environmental, infrastructure, and transportation projects.  
• Develop construction plans, specifications, and cost estimates; preparing construction safety and phasing plans, and updating infrastructure layout plans that require coordination with owners, other disciplines, sub-consultants, and clients.  
• Involved from project inception to completion in the management of design and construction of infrastructure projects, including rehabilitation and reconstruction, grading, drainage, laying out installations, foundations, slopes, retaining structures, embankments, and other systems that are made or supported by soil or rock.  
• Oversees the development and implementation of advanced technologies, monitoring devices, building materials, modeling techniques, design requirements, and operating strategies to account for the safety and functionality or end-users, transportation systems, structures, and the implementation of future-ready solutions with geotechnical engineering design standards.  
• Lead larger-scale geotechnical 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.  
• Assist with engineering review of permit applications, engineering design plans and specifications, standby plans and engineering contracts, integrated waste management plans, and periodic construction inspections, to ensure that they comply with applicable state and/or federal regulations and sound engineering practice and standards.  
• Meet with various public or private entities or individuals to discuss issues relating to a variety of engineering/construction challenges and programs.  
• Ensure technical reports and presentations explain research, findings, and recommendations to prevent, control, restore, or address design, and/or construction issues or opportunities.  
• Develop a client base for providing high level geotechnical engineering services including identifying additional business development opportunities.  
• Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.  
• Remain current in latest geotechnical engineering techniques and practices.  
• Collaborates with professionals from a variety of disciplines, other engineers, planners, and infrastructure authorities on Federal, State, regional, and locally funded improvement and development projects, as well as proposal and business development opportunities.  
• 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.  
• Assist WSP in attracting the best industry talent by fostering a work environment that is collaborative, values inclusion and diversity, and invites broad, creative thinking including crafting a more attractive place to work, to help the business grow and thrive.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil, Geological, or Geotechnical Engineering from an ABET accredited university.
• 10+ years of relevant post education experience in engineering and geotechnical design.  
• Professional Engineer license in Illinois required (multi-state preferred).  
• Highly proficient with geotechnical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.  
• Highly proficient with infrastructure design.  
• Experience with infrastructure planning, design, and program/construction management; including project involvement in a variety of rehabilitation and reconstruction, new design, and construction projects.  
• Strong knowledge of relevant construction laws, codes, regulations, permitting, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements.  
• Highly proficient with making technical computations and calculations involving the application of engineering principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons to the appropriate regulations.  
• Experience with planning and conducting inspections and investigations on various aspects of the construction and design of facilities or structures, applying applicable regulations and policies  
• Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing intricate ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.  
• Strong self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with clients, regulators, project managers, and employees at all levels of the organization.  
• Works independently to provide guidance and leadership to mid-level to senior level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.  
• Proficiency with technical writing, office automation, discipline-specific design software (i.e., MicroStation, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, ArcGIS, InRoads, Geopak, GeoSlope, gINT, OpenGround, Leapfrog, ANSYS, STADD, HEC-RAS, HEC-HMS), technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.  
• Experienced with providing critical review for documents and preparing technical deliverables and plans with a high degree of complexity.  
• Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, computations, statistical analysis and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution.  
• Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and assertively directing subcontractors and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently.  
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP's health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.  
• Must be flexible to a variety of schedules to meet business needs and able to prioritize responsibilities and quickly adapt to change in a pressure work environment.  
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master of Science degree in Civil, Geological, or Geotechnical Engineering from an ABET accredited university.
• Client relationships in and around the Chicago metropolitan area.
• 40-Hour OSHA Health & Safety Training (HAZWOPER) (29 CFR preferred.  
• Basic First Aid and Adult CPR training desired.  

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