Assistant Vice President - Geotechnical Engineering

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for an Assistant VP, Geotechnical Engineer for our Creve Couer/St. Louis, Missouri office.  The candidate will be involved in projects with our Earth & Environment Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges.

As an Assistant VP, Geotechnical Engineer for our Creve Couer, MO office, selected applicants will provide subject matter technical support and leadership for multi-site/phase due diligence, investigation, remediation, impact assessment, permitting, improvement, and construction of projects the public and private sectors. Responsibilities include the research, design, concept development, planning, and construction of foundations, retention structures, open pit and underground mines, tunnels, dams, and underground storage.  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.

Your Impact

• Provide oversight with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from the physical work site, soil/water/waste material/rock samples, surveys, blueprints, GIS data, subsurface utility information, maps, hydrologic analysis, geologic and geotechnical data, and other matrices for project development, design, and construction.  
• Apply high-level geotechnical/geological engineering techniques and processes to identify improvements for various project phases involving more complex infrastructure and engineering work including concept development, preliminary design, final design, procurement, construction, and operation.
• Perform professional geotechnical/geological engineering work and conduct more complex/comprehensive investigations and inspections of proposed and existing site conditions, including subsurface investigations, soil and rock foundation engineering, settlement analysis, soil erosion, lateral earth pressures, geological hazards, underground water, slope stability, rock slopes and underground structures, 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 layout plans that require coordination with owners, other disciplines, sub-consultants, and clients.
• Involved from proposal to 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 of end-users, transportation systems, structures, and the implementation of future-ready solutions with geotechnical engineering design standards.
• Lead larger-scale geotechnical/geological 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.
• Have or demonstrably can develop a client base for providing high level geotechnical/geological 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 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.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering, Geological Engineering, or closely related discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant post education experience in engineering and geotechnical design.
• Engineer license 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 analysis and design.
• Experience with planning, design, and program/construction management; including project involvement in a variety of rehabilitation and reconstruction, new design, and construction projects.
• 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., AutoCAD, Civil 3D, ArcGIS, HEC-RAS, RocScience), 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 will be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s Degree in Engineering.
• 40-Hour OSHA Health & Safety Training (HAZWOPER) (29 CFR 1910.120).
• MSHA Part 48A Underground Coal and Metal/Non-metal Training (30 CFR 48).
• Basic First Aid and Adult CPR training desired.

• Familiarity with environmental investigation and remediation a plus.

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