Assistant Vice President, Geotechnical Engineer

WSP USA; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP USA is seeking an Assistant VP, Geotechnical Engineer in Louisville, KY. Lead multi-site due diligence, investigations, remediation, and design of infrastructure projects in public and private sectors.

You will supervise teams, manage budgets, ensure QA/QC, and mentor staff while advancing innovative geotechnical solutions and future-ready approaches. Requires a PE license and 10+ years’ experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in geotechnical engineering or closely related discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant post-education experience in engineering and geotechnical design.
• Engineer license required (multi-state preferred).
• Proficient with geotechnical engineering principles, infrastructure design, and permitting.
• Experience with planning, design, and program/construction management for rehabilitation and reconstruction projects.
• Strong knowledge of construction laws, codes, regulations, and record-keeping requirements.
• Proficiency with technical computations, plans, and regulatory references.
• Experience coordinating inspections and investigations of site conditions.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight collecting and analyzing data from soils, geology, surveys, GIS, and maps for project development.
• Apply geotechnical engineering methods to complex infrastructure projects through design and construction phases.
• Perform investigations of site conditions including subsurface exploration and settlement analysis.
• Develop construction plans, specs, and cost estimates; coordinate with owners and sub-consultants.
• Lead and manage geotechnical projects, budgets, and subcontractors to ensure quality and safety.
• Mentor staff and stay current with geotechnical practices and technologies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams on public and private projects and proposals.

Skills

Geotechnical knowledge

Infrastructure design

Communication skills

Project leadership

QA/QC

Technical writing

Subcontractor management

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Geotechnical Engineering

Engineer license (multi-state preferred)

Tools

MicroStation

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

ArcGIS

InRoads

Geopak

GeoSlope

ANSYS

STADD

HEC-RAS

HEC-HMS

Job description

Our Business

We are a global leader in environmental consulting with world-class expertise in environmental, social and governance (ESG), climate resiliency & sustainability (CRS), and earth sciences. Combined we have over 20,000 multidisciplinary professionals worldwide collaborating daily to protect and conserve natural landscapes, create firm foundations for communities to stand on, and champion sustainable development to combat climate change.

As part of the team, you will have access to an unparalleled network of resources and endless opportunities to collaborate on exciting projects with diverse teammates from across the globe.

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for an Assistant VP, Geotechnical Engineer for our Louisville, Kentucky office. Will provide subject matter technical support and leadership 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.

Your Impact

• 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.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Geotechnical 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 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, 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’s Degree in Engineering.
• 40-Hour OSHA Health & Safety Training (HAZWOPER) (29 CFR 1910.120) preferred.
• Basic First Aid and Adult CPR training desired.

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About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges.

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.