Lead Consultant, Water

WSP in the U.S.; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 107,600 - 159,800; Full time

Job summary

WSP USA in Portland, Oregon, seeks a Lead Consultant, Water to lead planning, design, and delivery of drinking water projects across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. This hybrid role oversees treatment, storage, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.

The ideal candidate holds a Civil/Environmental Engineering degree with a PE license, 7–10 years of water resources experience, and proven leadership in proposals, client relations, and QA/QC.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering with a focus in Water Resources or related discipline.
• 7–10 years of post‑education experience in water resources engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Proficient knowledge of water resource engineering principles, practices, and processes.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary drinking water infrastructure projects; coordination with regulators.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, design, and delivery of drinking water projects across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
• Serve as technical lead and SME for drinking water projects.
• Oversee multidisciplinary project teams and subconsultants; manage scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk.
• Coordinate and approve engineering reports, plans, specs, and calculations with regulatory compliance.
• Develop future-ready water infrastructure solutions and nurture client relationships.

Skills

Project leadership

Multidisciplinary coordination

Technical writing

Regulatory coordination

Budget & scheduling

Client relationships

Safety compliance

QA/QC adherence

Public-private coordination

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering (Water Resources focus)

PE license

Job description

WSP is searching for a Lead Consultant, Water for its Mountain Pacific District. This position is based in Portland, OR and follows a hybrid‑workplace model. The role focuses on leading planning, design, and delivery of drinking water projects across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, including treatment, storage, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.

The Lead Consultant will serve as a technical leader, manage multidisciplinary project teams, oversee budget and schedule, provide technical oversight throughout design and construction, and support business development by cultivating client relationships and contributing to proposals.

Your Impact

• Perform project management and professional engineering relating to complex drinking water infrastructure projects, including treatment, transmission, storage, pumping, distribution, and system planning.
• Serve as a technical lead and subject matter expert for drinking water projects, providing guidance and oversight throughout planning, design, permitting, and construction support efforts.
• Oversee and monitor multidisciplinary project teams and specialty subconsultants to execute projects while managing scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk.
• Coordinate, review, and approve engineering reports, technical memoranda, plans, specifications, and design calculations, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, codes, and standards.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to develop future‑ready water infrastructure solutions for clients.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with municipal, utility, and industrial water clients, serving as a trusted advisor and helping identify opportunities for continued partnership.
• Support business development efforts through client engagement, strategic account planning, proposal development, scope and fee development, and participation in project interviews.
• Mentor and develop engineers and project managers through technical guidance, career development support, and professional coaching.
• Stay current on emerging drinking water regulations, treatment technologies, resilience strategies, and industry best practices through active participation in professional organizations and industry events.
• 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.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering, with a focus in Water Resources or a closely related discipline.
• 7 to 10 years of relevant post‑education experience in water resources engineering.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• Proficient knowledge of water resource engineering principles, practices, and processes.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary drinking water infrastructure projects; proficiency in coordinating with agency regulators.
• Ability to perform technical computations and calculations for engineering principles, plans, specifications, and regulations.
• Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills, engaging both engineering and non‑engineering audiences.
• High‑level self‑leadership with attention to detail, multitasking, and prioritization in a dynamic work environment.
• Independent work with minimal oversight; provides guidance and leadership to junior team members with strict QA/QC adherence.
• Proficient in technical writing, office automation, software, mathematics, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Adept at coordinating technical matters with public and private groups.
• Well‑developed critical thinking and problem‑solving skills to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions.
• Effective coordination and direction of subcontractors to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and compliance with safety and anti‑harassment policies.
• Occasional travel may be required, depending on project-specific requirements.
• Experience with drinking water treatment, storage facilities, pump stations, transmission mains, and distribution systems.
• Established relationships with municipal water clients in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
• Experience leading proposals, interviews, and business development efforts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active involvement in AWWA or similar professional organizations.

Benefits

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on health and financial stability, including coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation; paid parental leave; and paid time off for bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation

Expected Salary (all locations): $107,600 – $159,800

About the Role

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

EEO Statement

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.