Technical Director, Architecture

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Technical Director, Architecture to join our dynamic team in Mid-Atlantic Transportation Facilities group. The position will be based in Washington, DC location. The role requires at least 3 days per week on-site work.

Provides leadership within a sector of organization to ensure architectural subject matter, technical deliverables, building and infrastructure projects and programs are delivered with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry and company standards for design, safety, sustainability, structural integrity, and functionality. Responsible for SME innovation and administration, ensuring corporate compliance with all Local, State, and Federal construction, environmental, and safety regulations, and providing pragmatic direction to address current and future challenges in a rapidly-changing and complex business climate.

Your Impact

• Oversee detailed drawings for highly visible, larger-scale, complex projects showing both the external and internal appearance and structure.
• Provide proactive and strategic leadership for the architecture discipline and function, offering direction, expertise, and support to ensure project and work site deliverables are successfully achieved within the business sector.
• Perform high-level review and approval of permit applications, design plans and specifications, integrated management plans, and periodic construction inspections, to ensure that they comply with applicable state and/or federal regulations and sound architectural practice and standards.
• Lead larger-scale more complex architecture and building projects ensuring contributors know what they are required to do and by when, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking timelines, hours and expenses, ensuring satisfactory performance, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees.
• Responsible for the pursuit and development of business and the successful execution of work for current and potential buildings, architecture, and infrastructure work within a geography specifically for the large projects within the area.
• Lead technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings.
• Support the overall long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of Architectural work for WSP in assigned area of responsibility, with a focus on building opportunities in all disciplines (planning, design, strategic consulting, and program/construction management).
• Responsible for the profitable performance of the individual projects and the successful completion of the projects within the specified area.
• Assist with the preparation of an annual update to business tactical action plans within the specified area.
• Meet with various public or private entities or individuals to discuss issues relating to a variety of architectural/construction challenges and programs.
• Ensure that discipline certifications, accreditations, and value proposition is developed and continuously improved.
• Conduct needs analyses and client value surveys to align the discipline’s function with business and project strategy, identifying and addressing any skill gaps or risks within the sector business operations.
• Schedule architecture discipline meetings, providing updates and recommendations to ensure that all reasonable and proper measures are taken to inculcate discipline expertise and innovation into project work.
• Serve as one of the architecture discipline’s lead representatives/liaison to a variety of external entities including Federal, State, and Local Agencies, Clients, Subcontractors, industry-related groups, and various government and community entities.
• Develop and inform proposal and project scopes, timelines, pricing, and budgetary metrics – and accountable for planning, development and management of projects in compliance with all applicable City/State/Federal codes and regulations, and in accordance with all acceptable architectural practices.
• Interpret and summarize data, including reports and documents that result in sound conclusions.
• Provide verbal and/or written inputs to multi-disciplinary project teams and contribute to providing high level strategic advice to clients.
• Develop a client base for providing high level architecture services including identifying additional business development opportunities, and cross-selling of other WSP capabilities.
• Mentor staff to support their growth and professional development.
• Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff.
• Remain current in latest architecture techniques and practices.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide “trusted advisor” service and future ready solutions for clients.
• 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 Architecture, or closely related discipline.
• 12+ years of relevant post education experience in learned discipline, specifically Vertical Building and Transportation Bus Facility Design and Construction experience.
• Essential professional licensure/certification.
• Advanced proficiency with architectural principles, practices, process, design/build, standard of care, and the application to permitting and project work-related issues.
• Advanced proficiency with building and infrastructure design.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record-keeping requirements, and the business impact upon the organization.
• Advanced proficiency with making technical computations and calculations involving the application of architecture principles, understanding plans and specifications and making factual comparisons and illustrations to the appropriate regulations.
• 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.
• Tactical lateral thinking and strong analytical skills with attention to detail and prioritization of responsibilities in a pressure work environment.
• Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior management, clients, regulators, and company-wide staff, including those with whom no formal hierarchical relationship exists.
• Advanced proficiency with office automation, discipline-specific design software (i.e., MicroStation, AutoCAD, REVIT, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite), technology, math principles, graphics, spreadsheets, and tools.
• 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-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree is preferred.
• Strong experience in managing the review and approval of documents and discipline-specific deliverables, certifications, processes, and plans in a multi-project environment is highly desirable.

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.

Compensation:
Expected Salary (all locations): $130,300 - $240,800

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.

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