Maritime East Leader

WSP in the U.S.; South Carolina; On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP USA is seeking a Maritime East Leader to drive growth and lead engineering and business development for ports and maritime projects along the US East Coast. This senior role reports to the National Maritime Leader and requires a PE license, 15+ years of experience, and a proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams, win proposals, and manage complex projects.

The position focuses on strategic planning, client relationships, and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering required.
• 15+ years of post-education experience in engineering with US East Coast port/terminal projects.
• PE license required (multi-state preferred).
• Experience leading technical and commercial proposals for ports/maritime projects.
• Proven ability to lead large discipline programs in ports/marine sector.
• Strong leadership and communication skills across levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead capture planning, pursuit and development of maritime projects along the US East Coast.
• Write technical and commercial proposals with strong project team selection and pricing.
• Drive growth, client relationships, and cross-selling of WSP capabilities.
• Lead contract negotiations, presentations, and project staffing for marine facilities.
• Oversee compliance with applicable laws, codes, and standards; maintain certifications.

Skills

Civil Engineering

Structural Engineering

Project Leadership

Client Management

Business Development

Maritime/Coastal Engineering

PE License

Proposal Writing

Team Management

Regulatory Compliance

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering

Master's Degree (preferred)

Tools

ASCE UFC

Office Software

Job description

Job Description

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

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 we seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

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.

Notice To Third Party Agencies

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.