Senior Vice President, Project Management

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This Opportunity

WSP is initiating a search for a Senior Vice President, Project Management for our Transportation and Infrastructure Group to join our dynamic team in delivering on METRA’s Capital Program .

Your focus will be on the construction delivery aspects of the program and you will be part of WSP’s dynamic Metra Program Management team.

In this role you may support our client development program, lead strategic pursuits and serve as a senior project manager for one of our most critical clients.

The successful candidate will support METRA and other transportation agency client growth in the Chicagoland areas. This position will be focused on delivery of construction projects across all aspects of the capital program from initial concept through closeout.

In this position, you will passionately support the program office leadership team. You will be an external face of WSP leveraging local and national resources and relationships to deliver significant value on our client’s programs.

This individual will support our technical delivery, project management practices and business development activities.

Our ideal candidate has strong technical capabilities, advanced client relationship building skills, commitment to quality, and a desire to expand WSP’s market, clients, and service offerings.

A major part of this role includes developing, implementing, and managing projects from scope development, design, and eventual construction.

Reporting to WSP’s Metra Program Manager, this position will sit in our major project managers group with a primary focus on project delivery for our client programs.

Your Impact

• Oversee and manage METRA capital projects throughout the execution of project assignments to ensure project and program requirements are fulfilled, that contract cost and schedule requirements are met, and that the contract documents and completed work satisfies the high-quality standard expected of METRA consultants and contractors.
• Oversee the management of construction project process from advertisement to contract closeout to ensure the project is completed in compliance with construction plans and specifications and is on time and within budget.
• Ensure that Capital Delivery projects are advanced in accordance with METRA Manuals, policies and procedures as may be amended from time to time, or program specific delivery protocols and procedures.
• Proactively engage in constructability reviews during design development and facilitate the timely resolution of potential field issues.
• Participate in project meetings, value engineering sessions, constructability reviews and risk workshops, as required.
• Prepare correspondence, reports, charts and presentations utilizing Microsoft Word, Excel, Database and PowerPoint, as required.
• Work both independently and in support of project teams to address complex tasks in a time-sensitive environment.
• Provide project management, scheduling, and work planning for staffing level needs and delivery of assigned projects.
• Lead projects with all aspects of construction from concept through completion and closeout holding others accountable for contractual responsibilities.
• Ensure that production of plans and specifications, reports and analyses meet scope, schedule, cost and quality requirements and are commensurate with professional standards, client requirements and corporate objectives.
• Coordinate and work with multi-disciplined engineering staff. Determine the best internal resources and ensure sufficient project staff are available to meet key schedule milestones.
• Ensure projects are completed within schedule and budget; and develop contingency strategy if schedule or budget are impacted.
• Accountable for overall management and successful execution of assigned projects, monitoring internal and external events, expenses, performance, and profitability.
• Embraces and cultivates WSP and local office culture in alignment with WSP strategies enabling teams to thrive.
• Develop and maintain relationships with public and private sector clients, agencies, partner firms and sub-consultants, as well as, other external stakeholders such as vendors and suppliers.
• Lead staff development which includes mentoring, training, coaching and professional development.
• Collaborates with professionals and senior leadership from a variety of disciplines to provide innovative solutions for clients.
• Support effective long-term client and contractor relationships.
• 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.
• Follow up on actions required for successful project completion, as required.
• Perform additional duties and assignments as projects as assigned.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or closely related transportation field. Advance degree is a plus.
• 15+ years of relevant post education experience in engineering, civil and infrastructure design, construction and project management with a strong focus in the transportation market.
• Ten (10) years of experience in design and / or construction of rail / transit infrastructure, facilities, and structure in a supervisory capacity.
• Extensive project management, project controls, and contract administration expertise for public agency transit and rail construction programs.
• Registered Professional Engineer, Architect or CM certification preferred, but not required.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to manage a large span of control while effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interacting with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated project management experience - personally accountable, persistent, and goal-oriented.
• Advanced proficiency with engineering and construction principles, practices, process, means and methods and the application to project work-related issues.
• Extensive experience and strongly established relevant client relationships and industry contacts, including : Metra, CTA, City of Chicago, IDOT, Tollway, county, municipal, private, and business partners in local area.
• Strong experience in managing the review and approval of documents and discipline-specific deliverables, certifications, processes, and plans in a multi-project environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to internal and external client service.
• Effective written, organizational, analytical, time management and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Database and PowerPoint applications.
• Proven track record of collaboration, transparency, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, and craft approaches to challenging problems.
• Ability to translate complicated technical information into messaging in support of messaging.
• Sound decision-making, strategic and visionary thinking, and creative business development capabilities across a multi-disciplined practice.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug / alcohol and harassment policies.
• Travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Additional Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Additional Details

• Travel Required : Up to 20%
• Job Status : Regular
• Employee Type : Full
• Primary Location : Chicago
• All locations : US-IL-Illinois

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