Principal Consultant, Air Quality

WSP Canada; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 177,000 - 234,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Principal Consultant - Air Quality in Vancouver, BC to lead our air quality practice across Canada, collaborating with scientists, engineers and environmental professionals to help clients address regulatory approvals and improve environmental performance.

You will provide technical leadership, drive client advisory services and mentoring, and shape growth by developing new business and strengthening relationships with major clients and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in atmospheric sciences, environmental science, chemistry or engineering; graduate degree is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic business development initiatives and grow a sustainable portfolio of air quality services.
• Serve as a senior trusted advisor to clients, building executive relationships and guiding complex permits and assessments.
• Provide technical leadership for high-profile air quality assignments with accountability for outcomes.
• Define and oversee air quality strategies, modeling, inventories and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee modelling studies, technical reports, permit applications and environmental submissions.
• Lead senior-level engagement with clients, regulators and Indigenous communities.
• Direct air quality monitoring programs and data interpretation to meet requirements.
• Manage project governance, budgets, schedules and risk for profitable delivery.
• Mentor technical leaders and contribute to national practice growth.

Skills

Air quality leadership

Dispersion modelling

Client relationship management

Regulatory compliance

Project direction

Mentoring

Business development

Technical writing

BC regulatory knowledge

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in atmospheric science or related field

Graduate degree asset

Tools

AERMOD/CALPUFF

Job description

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 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

Build the Future with Us - Join our Environmental Management team as a Principal Consultant - Air Quality in our Vancouver, BC office.

Bring your technical expertise, client relationships and consulting leadership to a role where you can help shape the growth and direction of our air quality practice across British Columbia, Yukon and Western Canada. You'll work with scientists, engineers and other environmental professionals to help clients address complex air quality challenges, navigate regulatory approvals and improve environmental performance.

This role combines technical leadership and project direction with business development, client advisory services and mentoring. You'll lead significant assignments, develop new and existing client relationships, and strengthen our team's capabilities while remaining actively involved in technical problem-solving and project delivery.

We welcome experienced scientists and engineers with a demonstrated record of delivering successful air quality projects and developing consulting business. Whether your strengths lie in technical leadership, client development or a combination of both, you'll have the opportunity to build on them with the support of WSP's regional and national network of specialists.

Your Impact

• Lead strategic business development initiatives by identifying emerging client needs, cultivating key opportunities, securing major pursuits, and growing a sustainable portfolio of air quality and environmental consulting services.
• Serve as a senior trusted advisor to clients, building executive-level relationships and providing strategic guidance on complex operational, regulatory, environmental, permitting and sustainability challenges.
• Provide technical and project leadership for complex, high-profile air quality assignments, acting as Project Director, senior technical authority or client account lead, with overall accountability for technical excellence, client satisfaction and successful project outcomes.
• Define and oversee technical strategies for air quality assessments, including emissions inventories, dispersion modelling, baseline studies and impact assessments, ensuring approaches are scientifically sound, fit-for-purpose and aligned with regulatory and client requirements.
• Provide expert technical oversight, review and guidance for modelling studies, technical reports, air permit applications and environmental assessment submissions, ensuring defensible methodologies, high-quality deliverables and alignment with industry best practices and regulatory expectations.
• Lead senior-level engagement with clients, regulators, Indigenous communities and other stakeholders, effectively communicating complex technical findings, addressing regulatory concerns and developing practical solutions for permitting, monitoring, mitigation and air quality management.
• Provide strategic direction for air quality monitoring and management programs, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure program objectives, data quality standards, interpretation and reporting meet project, client and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee project governance and financial performance by providing guidance on scope development, resource planning, budgets, schedules and risk management, while supporting successful and profitable project delivery.
• Mentor and develop technical and project leaders across the organization, fostering technical excellence, knowledge sharing, succession planning and growth in project delivery, client management and business development capabilities.
• Contribute to national practice growth and capability development by collaborating with Group Managers and senior leadership to identify priority markets, key clients, strategic investments and service opportunities, while championing professional integrity, technical excellence and WSP's safety culture, including adherence to Life Saving Rules during field activities and site visits.

The Skills That Set You Apart

• Bachelor's degree in atmospheric science, environmental science, chemistry, engineering, or a related field; a graduate degree is an asset.
• 10+ years of air quality experience, including environmental consulting, technical leadership, client management, and project delivery.
• Strong expertise in dispersion modelling, emissions inventories, air permitting, environmental assessments, regulatory reporting, monitoring, and air quality management.
• Experience developing and reviewing modelling assessments using AERMOD, CALPUFF, or similar tools, with sound judgment in model selection and interpretation.
• Strong understanding of air quality regulations, permitting processes, and regulatory approvals; experience in BC, Metro Vancouver, or other Canadian jurisdictions is an asset.
• Proven success building client relationships, leading proposals, securing new and repeat business, and developing client-focused solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects and multidisciplinary teams while managing technical, budget, schedule, and commercial considerations.
• Excellent technical writing, presentation, analytical, and communication skills; experience with air quality modelling, data analysis, and reporting tools is required.
• Proven ability to mentor technical professionals, provide quality reviews, develop future leaders, and foster collaboration across teams.
• Professional designation required or eligible in British Columbia (P.Eng. required or eligible for engineering candidates); willingness to travel occasionally for client meetings, project work, and site visits.

Why Choose WSP?

We exist to shape communities to advance humanity. The brightest engineers, advisors and scientists from across the globe call WSP home.

• Proudly Canadian - we are a Top 100 Employer in Canada for 2026.
• A global community of brilliant minds - your next idea, mentor, or opportunity is always within reach.
• Limitless opportunities start here. Whether it's across the country or around the globe, we help you tailor your role to match your ambition - because your growth drives ours.
• Flexible work, real balance - we recognize the importance of balance in our lives and encourage you to prioritize the balance in yours.

Compensation

• AB, BC, NT, NU, SK & YT: $177,000 - $234.400
• MB & ON: $161,500 - $222,300
• NB, NL, NS, PEI & 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.

Make Your Mark with WSP

If you're driven by purpose and excited to grow your air quality career on projects that matter, we want to hear from you. Join us and help shape healthier communities across Canada.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 .

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 .