Maritime East Leader

WSP; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP seeks a Maritime East Leader to drive pursuit, planning and delivery of major port/marine projects along the US East Coast. This leadership role includes business development, client relationship growth, and program oversight for complex greenfield and brownfield terminals.

The candidate will leverage technical expertise and strategic thinking to secure opportunities and ensure project success, reporting to the National Maritime Leader.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering.
• PE license required (multi-state preferred).
• 15+ years of post-education experience in engineering on US East Coast port/terminal projects.
• Advanced proficiency with marine, port, and coastal engineering projects.

Responsibilities

• Capture planning, pursuit and development of maritime projects along the US East Coast.
• Lead technical and commercial proposals for ports/maritime projects.
• Develop and expand client base and cross-sell other capabilities.
• Lead contract negotiation, presentations and meetings.
• Drive long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline for maritime work.
• Ensure profitable performance and regulatory compliance across projects.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Master's Degree in Civil/Structural Engineering

Tools

ASCE load calculations

UFC load calculations

discipline-specific design software

spreadsheets

Job description

This Opportunity

Be involved in pursuit, planning, and delivery of complex projects with WSP's nationally recognized Port and Marine division and meet client's objectives and needs. Ranked #4 in ENR 2025, WSP's ports and maritime group comprises of highly motivated professionals delivering projects for public port authorities, terminal operators, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, design-build contractors and private entities. Our strength is derived from the diversity of our marine-related work and our staff. WSP is currently initiating a search for a Maritime East Leader. This position will report to the National Maritime Leader. This position offers career growth opportunities with a specific goal of expanding our business along the US East Coast (Maine to South Florida) with all clients, hiring strategically as part of organic growth, with corporate support, to ultimately develop a group of motivated, talented technical staff, to work on major ports and marine projects locally, nationally and internationally. Other specific duties associated with this position include business development, identifying and pursuing project opportunities, client relationship development, and managing projects, tasks and staff for marine facility projects, including various types of greenfield and brownfield cargo terminals (e.g. container, dry and liquid bulk, break-bulk, passenger and other waterfront facilities) including performing design, upgrade/rehabilitation and planning work. This is not a purely Engineering /Technical role, but rather a role for a Regional Practice Leader, with proven technical experience and business development capabilities for Ports and Maritime projects.

Your Impact

• Responsible for the capture planning, pursuit and development of business/opportunities and the successful execution maritime projects along the US East Coast for all client types.
• Proven experience in writing technical and commercial proposals for ports/maritime projects with keen understanding of selecting project teams, project work scopes, pricing, budget, and performance metrics.
• Leverage previous high-level business contacts to develop and increase client base to enhance sales/revenue, and foster cross-selling of other WSP capabilities including environmental permitting, climate resiliency, grants/advisory and program management.
• Lead contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings.
• Drive the overall long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of US East Coast maritime work across all delivery modes.
• Accountable for the profitable performance of the individual projects and the successful completion of the projects within the specified area.
• Drive compliance and accountability-at-all-levels with applicable Federal, State, and Local engineering/design/construction laws, codes, policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee internal vision and mission for the engineering discipline aligning with business operations strategy including maintaining certifications, accreditations, and improved client value ratings.
• Lead engineering discipline meetings and continuing educational opportunities enabling enhanced innovation, development, and quality project delivery within the discipline.
• Provide expert technical assistance based on previous hands-on experience on various engineering, design, and construction issues relating to marine, port, and coastal systems.
• Serve as the engineering discipline’s representative/liaison to a variety of external entities including Federal, State, and Local Agencies, Clients, Subcontractors, architects, industry-related groups, and various government and community entities.
• Provide proactive and strategic process and people leadership for the design, implementation, and administration of engineering discipline’s project and program involvement within the organization.
• Provide discipline leadership to multi-disciplinary project teams and contribute to providing high level strategic advice to clients.
• Remain current in latest marine, port, and coastal engineering techniques and practices.
• 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 Civil or Structural Engineering
• 15+ years of relevant post education experience in engineering discipline, and prior experience on US East Coast port/terminal projects in responsible role either as delivery manager and/or client manager
• Professional Engineer license required (multi-state preferred).
• Advanced proficiency with marine, port, and coastal engineering projects evidencing clear understanding of practices, process, design/build, standard of care, local construction means and methods, and the application to project work-related issues.
• Demonstrated client base and ability to take leadership on technical and commercial proposals.
• Demonstrated ability with establishing, implementing, and managing multiple larger-scale discipline-related programs in the ports/marine sector, documents, projects, and practices for a line(s) of business.
• Proven leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to manage staff, and effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Strategic lateral thinking and strong analytical skills with attention to detail and prioritization of responsibilities in a pressure work environment.
• Strong ability to quickly adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to a variety of schedules and hours to meet business needs.
• Advanced knowledge and proficiency with office automation, load calculations (ASCE and UFC), discipline-specific design software, technology, spreadsheets, and tools used in the corporate environment.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP's health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Civil/Structural Engineering.
• Experience working with maritime port and terminal operator clients in the region.
• Preferable location - Carolinas, Georgia or Florida

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