Engineering Director

WRA, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 167,000 - 193,500; Full time

Job summary

WRA, Inc. is seeking an Engineering Director in San Francisco, California, to lead projects focused on ecological restoration. The ideal candidate will work with a diverse team to deliver restoration solutions for various ecosystems.

This position requires strong leadership, at least 15 years of experience, and a proven track record in project management. WRA offers competitive compensation with a salary range of $167,000-$193,500 and values diversity in the workplace.

Qualifications

• Licensed as a Professional Civil Engineer in California.
• Minimum of 15 years of applicable professional experience.
• Familiarity with California ecosystems and regulatory environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Engineering Group within interdisciplinary teams.
• Oversee production of plans and specifications.
• Manage project budgets and schedules.

Skills

Leadership

Technical expertise in restoration projects

Project management

Business development

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil or environmental engineering

Graduate degree in engineering or physical sciences

Job description

WRA is seeking an Engineering Director to lead the Engineering Group within our interdisciplinary Riverscapes and Shorelines Team. The desired candidate will collaborate and engage both internally and externally to lead, support, and deliver a diverse range of design projects focused primarily on ecological restoration, with the capability to support a variety of environmental projects across our firm.

You will join our team of restoration design professionals and scientists, including engineers, landscape architects, fluvial geomorphologists, hydrologists, and ecologists. Our projects span a variety of ecosystems across California including San Francisco Bay tidal marshes and living shorelines, Sierra Nevada meadow restoration, Northern California Coast floodplain and salmonid restoration, California Central Coast estuary restoration, and Bay Area and Southern California urban stream rehabilitation. Additionally, our team is actively growing and pursuing restoration work in Oregon. We are passionate about restoring riverine and coastal systems that support healthy and resilient natural and human communities and are invested in the entire restoration process from initial site selection, design and construction to performance monitoring and adaptive management.

We also collaborate with our community resilience team to address challenges such as sea-level rise, wildfire resiliency planning, and post-fire recovery.

WRA has a diverse portfolio of projects and clients, including decades-long private entities, public agencies, and non-profit organizations. In addition to our technical expertise, we help clients meet their goals and visions by providing grant fund cultivation, preparing financial models, partnering with investors, and engaging stakeholders.

We envision you working in‑person at one of our San Francisco Bay Area offices or in a hybrid arrangement or remote location in this region of California. Other locations may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Regardless of your work arrangement, in‑person, remote, or hybrid, you will be excited to collaborate with staff in many technical disciplines across the company.

At WRA, you will have 4 major areas of impact:

Technical Skills

• Provide technicalexpertiseand strategic input to the development and implementation of complex restoration projects
• Oversee the production of conceptual plans, constructionplan sets, technical specifications, and cost estimates for use in all design phases
• Provide constructionsupportand observationservices

Leadership

• Utilize experience to provide technical oversight of restoration conceptual plans, construction drawings, specifications, cost estimates, and relevant hydrologicand hydraulicsanalyses
• Supervise, manage,directand provide oversight of tasks and responsibilities for engineering staff and/or other technical support staff. Mentor and train engineering staff as needed
• Oversee project managers and design staff to ensure work quality and that projects meet budgets and deadlines
• Foster collaboration within an interdisciplinary team
• Assistwith strategic planning for the Riverscapes and Shorelines Team

Management

• Develop project work plans and scopes of work
• Provideproject oversight and schedule monitoring
• Manageproject budgets and invoicing
• Collaborate with our VP of Finance, CEO, and Director of Project Delivery toensure staff resources are deployed in a productive and profitable manner and assess performance metrics across a diverse project portfolio

Business Development

• Develop regional recognition through networking and events, such as attending and presenting at conferences
• Advise clients on project issues to build business
• Collaborate with other senior staff to lead proposal efforts with existing and new clients
• Participate in various business development events and presenting at conferences
• Partner across WRA teams and market segments toassiston multi-disciplinary project pursuits

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• To be currently licensed as a Professional Civil Engineer in the state of California
• Minimum of15years of applicable professional experience
• ABachelor’s degree in civilor environmental engineering, or related field with an emphasisonwater resourcesfrom an accredited university. A graduate degree in engineering or physical sciences is preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities
• A passion for ecological restoration
• Familiarity with California ecosystems and regulatory environment
• Experience developingand managinga portfolio of work
• A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation (while WRA has fleet vehicles that can be reserved for field use, during busy field seasons a truck may not be available)

Additional desired qualifications include:

• Experience with FEMA Floodplain Development (CLOMR/LOMR) permitting; Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) certification a plus
• Advanced training in river mechanics and restoration
• General understandingofgeomorphology,including coastal and riverine sediment dynamics

WRA has an established internal leveling system for our staff that maps salary bands that have been informed by market data. Our leveling system is dependent on years of relevant industry experience, education, and the level of responsibility and autonomy at which you’reexpected to operate.

The salary range for this position is $167,000-$193,500.

WRA is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to creating a diverse environment. We recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.