Technical Director of Geotechnical Engineering

WSP France; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP seeks a Technical Director of Geotechnical Engineering for the CGEM team in Charlotte, NC. Lead technical direction, client engagement, and project oversight across power, commercial, transportation, and water markets.

You will mentor staff, manage budgets and schedules, and ensure QA/QC across complex investigations and designs. Strong leadership, writing skills, and regulatory knowledge are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering with a Geotechnical focus; Master/PhD a plus.
• 15+ years of engineering experience in a corporate environment.
• Professional engineering license in North Carolina or ability to obtain within six months.
• Proficiency with geotechnical principles, practices, and design-related issues.
• Strong knowledge of codes, regulations, and QA/QC processes.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and coordinate mid-to-senior staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the CGEM team and manage projects in power, commercial, transportation, and water markets.
• Engage clients, develop partnerships, and ensure technical excellence and financial performance.
• Mentor staff and provide performance guidance and leadership.
• Oversee budgets, schedules, and subcontractor coordination; ensure QA/QC.
• Lead contract negotiations, presentations, and project deliverables.
• Perform site visits and ensure compliance with regulations and safety policies.

Skills

Leadership

Geotechnical engineering

Project management

Communication

Mentoring

QA/QC

Technical writing

Stakeholder engagement

Safety compliance

Subcontractor coordination

Education

Bachelor's in Civil Engineering (Geotechnical)

Master's/PhD in Geotechnical Engineering (optional)

Professional Engineer (PE) license – NC

Tools

Geotechnical software

Spreadsheets

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Technical Director of Geotechnical Engineering for our Civil, Geotechnical Engineering and Materials (CGEM) team based in Charlotte, NC office.

In this role you will provide leadership and expertise for the CGEM team; building our business through client engagement and partnerships, developing our team through mentoring and project leadership, and managing and supporting projects in the power, commercial, transportation, and water markets with technical excellence. You will serve as a technical professional and/or leader for in-depth investigations of the geologic profile, seismicity, surface ruptures, voids, slope stability, aquifers, excavation design, and foundation design. Responsible for SME innovation and administration; ensuring corporate compliance with all Local, State, and Federal environmental and safety regulations; and providing direction to address current and future environmental challenges in a rapidly changing and complex business climate.

Your Impact

• Provide proactive and strategic leadership for the scientific discipline and function, offering direction, expertise, and support to ensure project and work site deliverables are successfully achieved within the business sector.
• Actively foster compliance with applicable Federal, State, and Local environmental laws, policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide senior-level review and apply advanced geotechnical engineering knowledge to projects involving site exploration, permit applications, instrumentation, foundation engineering, earthquake engineering, concept and feasibility studies, and detailed engineering design.
• Lead geotechnical engineering projects, prepare and oversee project budgets and schedules, ensure satisfactory financial performance and technical quality, lead technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings, and supervise subcontractors. Perform periodic construction observation or site visits to ensure that projects comply with design requirements, applicable regulations, and sound engineering practice.
• Meet with client representatives to discuss issues relating to a variety of engineering and construction challenges and programs.
• Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development. Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff.
• 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 Engineering with a Geotechnical Engineering focus or closely related engineering discipline; Master’s Degree or Doctorate in Geotechnical Engineering a plus
• 15+ years of Engineer experience in a corporate environment.
• Professional engineering license in North Carolina, or ability to become licensed within six months.
• Advanced proficiency with geotechnical engineering principles, practices, process, design/build, standard of care, and the application to project work-related issues.
• Proficiency with technical writing, office automation, discipline-specific design software, technology, math principles, predictive models, spreadsheets, and tools.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant engineering and construction codes,laws, regulations, permitting, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements, and the business impact upon the organization.
• Works independently and provides guidance and leadership to mid-level to senior level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively, persuasively, and tactfully interact with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Experienced with providing critical review for documents and preparing technical deliverables and plans with a high degree of complexity. Well-developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, computations, and statistical analysis, and arriving at effective, economical, and logical solutions.
• Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating and assertively directing subcontractors and others to consistently complete tasks safely and efficiently.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Strong ability to quickly adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to a variety of schedules and hours to meet business needs.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project requirements.
• Successfully complete and pass WSP’s Motor Vehicle screening.