Senior Director, Energy Strategy

WSP in the U.S.; San Diego (CA); Remote; USD 175,400 - 352,990; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Flexible workplace model

Paid parental leave

Job summary

A leading engineering and professional services firm is seeking a Senior Director of Energy Strategy to drive business development and oversee project execution. The role requires deep expertise in energy systems and the ability to manage multidisciplinary teams. Candidates should have 15-20 years of experience and a strong educational background. Comprehensive benefits and flexible working arrangements are offered. Expected salary ranges from $175,400 to $352,990, depending on experience and location.

Qualifications

• 15 to 20 years of relevant energy industry experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in integrated energy systems or utility operations.
• Proven ability to lead complex advisory engagements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the Energy Strategy team.
• Serve as a senior technical and strategic advisor.
• Oversee project execution and quality.

Skills

Technical depth in energy systems

Strong business acumen

Exceptional communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Technology, Business, or related field

PE or MBA required; PhD preferred

Job description

Job Description

WSP is seeking a Senior Director of Energy Strategy to join our Advisory & Planning team. This role can be Remote or may work out of any WSP US office.

About The Energy Advisory Services (EAS) Business Unit

WSP’s Energy Advisory Services group partners with clients navigating the rapidly evolving energy landscape. We help organizations develop integrated energy strategies, evaluate emerging technologies, plan resilient and modernized grids, assess markets, and make informed investment decisions. Our work spans distributed energy systems, thermal and electric integration, renewable and low‑carbon fuels, hydrogen, carbon management, and other key components of the energy transition.

The Senior Director of Energy Strategy will lead the Energy Strategy team, shape our advisory offerings, and serve as a trusted partner to clients facing complex technical, economic, and strategic challenges.

Role Summary

The Director provides senior leadership across technical delivery, client advisory, business development, and team management. This role blends deep energy systems expertise with strong business acumen and the ability to guide multidisciplinary teams through high‑impact engagements.

Your Impact

• Lead and grow the Energy Strategy team
• Serve as a senior technical and strategic advisor
• Drive business development and client relationships
• Oversee project execution, financial performance, and quality
• Contribute to EAS’s long‑term strategy and market positioning

Key Responsibilities

• Technical & Thought Leadership
• Direct and review complex technical analyses, reports, and deliverables.
• Serve as a subject matter expert across multiple areas of energy systems and utility operations.
• Guide early‑stage project development, including technology screening, feasibility assessments, integrated system design, and risk evaluation.
• Develop business cases, cost‑benefit analyses, and strategic recommendations.
• Track emerging trends and contribute to thought leadership across the energy transition.
• Client Advisory & Engagement
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships through conferences, meetings, and on‑site engagements.
• Identify new clients and opportunities in coordination with EAS leadership.
• Support clients through key decision milestones, including front‑end engineering and final investment decisions (FID).
• Business Development & Practice Growth
• Lead or support proposal development, scoping, and pricing.
• Drive revenue growth and ensure financial success of projects and the broader department.
• Contribute to EAS business planning, market strategy, and service development.
• Coordinate with other WSP divisions to pursue and deliver integrated advisory opportunities.
• Develop succession plans and foster the next generation of advisors.
• Team Leadership & Talent Development
• Manage direct reports and oversee recruitment, hiring, and retention.
• Build a high‑performing advisory team through mentoring, coaching, and knowledge management.
• Assign project roles, develop scopes/schedules/budgets, and ensure quality processes are followed.
• May assume Department Manager or Regional Manager responsibilities as needed.
• Champion EAS’s mission, vision, and culture.
• Operational & Contract Leadership
• Lead contract negotiations and reviews in coordination with legal.
• Ensure adherence to WSP quality standards and project governance.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.
• Travel required: 25%+

Required Qualifications

• 15 to 20 years of relevant energy industry experience with strong technical depth.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technology, Business, or related field.
• PE or MBA required; PhD preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in integrated energy systems, utility operations, or related domains.
• Proven ability to lead complex advisory engagements and multidisciplinary teams.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cogeneration, CHP, industrial thermal systems, hydrogen, carbon management, and emerging low‑carbon technologies.
• Background in production cost modeling, market assessments, or integrated resource planning.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including P&L responsibility.
• Established industry network and track record of business development success.

WSP Benefits

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

WSP also offers a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are 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.

Compensation

Expected Salary (all locations): $175,400 - $352,990

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

Expected Salary (Colorado only): $175,400- $331,320

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position within the state of Colorado, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

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.

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.