Director, Geotechnical Engineering, Ontario

WSP USA; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 162,000 - 222,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Benefits and retirement plans

Growth opportunities

Mentorship

Global network

Inclusive culture

Job summary

WSP in Ontario seeks a Director of Geotechnical Engineering to lead the Ontario Earth & Environment Geotechnical practice, shaping strategy and growth. You will supervise a diverse team of engineers, technologists, and project managers across multiple offices, delivering ground engineering solutions for transportation, infrastructure, buildings, and energy projects.

This senior role emphasizes client relationships, technical excellence, risk management, and innovation, with a focus on digital

Qualifications

• Strategic, commercially minded leader capable of aligning people, resources and long-term objectives.
• Proven ability to lead large multidisciplinary teams in a consulting environment.
• Strong client relationships, business development, and market leadership in Ontario.
• Recognized technical geotechnical engineering expertise to guide complex projects.
• Experience overseeing project portfolios, risk management, and budgets.
• Commitment to innovation, digital delivery, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic direction, growth, performance, and technical excellence across Ontario.
• Develop long-term vision, business plans, and growth strategy for the practice.
• Build and mentor a high-performing multidisciplinary team across offices.
• Strengthen client relationships and pursue strategic opportunities.
• Advance standards, methodologies, quality practices, and digital tools.
• Oversee delivery, portfolio performance, risk management, and financials.

Skills

Strategic leadership

People development

Client relationship management

Geotechnical engineering expertise

Portfolio management

Innovation and digital tools

Team collaboration

Safety and quality focus

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or a related discipline

Master’s degree (asset)

Job description

DIRECTOR, GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

What if you could redefine what's possible? With us, you can.

You want purpose. Growth. Opportunity. People who get it.

We are the home of ambitious, passionate, and innovative world shapers.

With an unmatched breadth and depth of engineering, advisory, environmental, and science-based expertise, our global minds unite to power local solutions. We are pathfinders and impact makers.

We are Visioneers. We are WSP.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our Ontario Earth & Environment team as Director, Ontario Geotechnical Engineering .

This strategic leadership role is responsible for the growth, performance, technical excellence, and long-term direction of WSP’s Geotechnical Engineering practice across Ontario. The role leads a large multidisciplinary team delivering ground engineering solutions that support transportation, infrastructure, buildings, energy, mining, environmental, land development, and water projects across the province.

As a senior leader, you will collaborate with other geotechnical leaders across Ontario and shape the future of Ontario’s geotechnical engineering within WSP by building high-performing teams, strengthening client relationships, advancing innovation, and driving sustainable business growth.

YOUR IMPACT

• Lead the strategic direction, growth, performance, and technical excellence of WSP’s Geotechnical Engineering practice across Ontario.
• Develop and execute the long-term vision, business plan, and growth strategy for the practice, aligned with client needs, market priorities, and WSP’s broader business objectives.
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team of engineers, project managers, technologists, and technical professionals across multiple offices.
• Strengthen client relationships, support strategic pursuits, and identify growth opportunities across transportation, infrastructure, buildings, energy, mining, environmental, land development, and water sectors.
• Advance technical standards, methodologies, quality practices, innovation, digital delivery, instrumentation, monitoring, ground modelling, and emerging geotechnical technologies.
• Oversee project delivery, portfolio performance, resource planning, technical review, risk management, financial performance, and operational discipline across the practice.
• Foster collaboration across offices, regions, and sectors to maximize technical expertise, share knowledge, and deliver integrated solutions for clients.
• Represent WSP in the marketplace through client engagement, industry participation, professional associations, conferences, and technical forums.
• Champion WSP’s commitment to health, safety, quality, inclusion, collaboration, innovation, and client success.

THE SKILLS THAT SET YOU APART

• Strategic, commercially minded leader with the ability to align people, resources, client needs, market opportunities, and long-term business objectives.
• Proven ability to lead, inspire, and develop large multidisciplinary teams in a consulting environment, including managers, technical leaders, and emerging leaders.
• Strong client relationship, business development, and market leadership skills, with a solid understanding of the Ontario market, and in particular the GTA market, and the ability to support major pursuits.
• Recognized technical expertise in geotechnical engineering, with the judgment to guide complex projects, strategic initiatives, technical risk, and senior client discussions.
• Experience overseeing project portfolios, resource planning, financial performance, quality systems, contract review, risk management, and operational performance.
• Ability to advance innovation, digital tools, data-informed decision-making, and practical continuous improvement across technical and operational teams.
• Collaborative, inclusive leadership style with a strong commitment to safety, quality, accountability, employee engagement, and client success.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, or a related discipline. Master’s degree considered an asset.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Ontario. Additional professional designations considered an asset.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience within geotechnical engineering or related consulting environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex project portfolios.
• Proven success in business development, client relationship management, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Strong understanding of Ontario’s regulatory, commercial, and infrastructure environment.

WHY CHOOSE WSP?

We exist to shape communities to advance humanity.

The brightest engineers, scientists, advisors, and technical experts from across the globe call WSP home.

• Proudly Canadian and a recognized employer of choice.
• A global network of experts with opportunities for growth, mentorship, and collaboration.
• Flexible work options that support balance and well-being.
• Comprehensive benefits, wellness programs, and retirement savings plans.
• A culture built on innovation, inclusion, technical excellence, and client success.

At WSP, you will have the opportunity to lead one of Ontario’s premier geotechnical practices, influence the future of the discipline, develop the next generation of leaders, and make a lasting impact on some of the province’s most significant projects.

#WeAreWSP #WithUsYouCan

COMPENSATION

AB, BC, NT, NU, SK & YT: $177,000–$234,400

MB & ON: $161,500–$222,300

NB, NL, NS, PE & QC: $159,900–$212,300

Disclosure:

The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The wage range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.

At WSP , we exist to shape communities to advance humanity.

It’s why we bring people together who are wired to solve complex challenges - engineers, scientists, advisors, and technical experts who are driven by a common passion - to redefine what’s possible and shape what comes next. We are Visioneers.

As one of the world’s leading professional services firms, we partner with clients across transportation, infrastructure, environment, buildings, energy, water, mining and metals. We pair deep local knowledge with global insights to pioneer solutions designed to leave a lasting, positive impact.

At WSP , you’ll join a community of brilliant minds that push boundaries every day - applying deep expertise and fuelling innovation to help create a more connected and resilient future. Here, your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and you are encouraged to bring your authentic self to work. We empower our people to collaborate across disciplines, challenge the status quo, and shape a career with purpose.

Join us.

Please Note:

Health and Safety is a core paramount value of WSP. Given the importance of keeping one another safe it is expected that you comply with our Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) policy at all times as well as client HSE policies when working at client locations. Full details here (https://www.wsp.com/en-ca/corporate/ca/health-safety) .

Some safety-sensitive positions involve fieldwork and may include work in a variety of environmental conditions, such as remote or isolated areas, working alone, and in inclement weather (within safe and reasonable limits).

WSP welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

WSP is committed to the principles of employment equity. Only the candidates selected will be contacted.

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Full details here (https://www.wsp.com/en-ca/careers/notice-to-staffing-agencies) .