Technical Marine & Aquatic Environmental Scientist Director

This Opportunity

The WSP Environmental Water Group is seeking an accomplished Principal Aquatic Scientist to join our team. This leadership role will involve managing complex projects, providing expert mentorship to the team, and expanding our aquatic sciences practice. The successful candidate will be a recognized industry expert, responsible for business development, client relationship management, and mentoring a multidisciplinary team of aquatic scientists.

Your Impact

• Provide leadership in project management and technical program development.
• Support business development efforts, including proposal development, client engagement, and strategic growth goals.
• Lead and mentor senior and junior staff, fostering technical excellence and professional development.
• Serve as a key technical advisor on major projects involving marine and aquatic ecosystem assessments, regulatory compliance, and environmental monitoring.
• Participate in scientific committees and professional organizations (e.g., California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA), Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Regional Southern California Bight Monitoring Program, CA Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC), CA Aquatic Bioassessment Workshop (CABW), Western Dredging Association).
• Engage in multi-stakeholder monitoring programs.
• Oversee the collection and analysis of sediment, water, and biological samples, ensuring adherence to industry best practices.
• Ensure defensible quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) standards are applied across project deliverables.
• Serve as a technical lead on environmental impact assessments and regulatory compliance initiatives.
• Direct field operations, including boat operations, safety protocols, and advanced environmental sampling methodologies.
• Extensive participation and leadership in regional and national scientific organizations.
• In-depth knowledge of regional, state, and federal water quality regulations, including NPDES permits, TMDLs, State of CA Sediment Quality Objectives (SQOs), Biological Objectives, ASBS policies, and the Clean Water Act Sections 401/404.
• Proven track record of securing and successfully managing high-profile environmental consulting projects.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, industry leaders, and the public.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, Marine Science, Biology, or a related field.
• 15+ years of environmental consulting experience.
• Recognized industry leader with a demonstrated ability to engage in policy, research, and regulatory frameworks.
• Seller-Doer with established local network of clients and contacts, entrepreneurial spirit, and a successful track record in business development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a strong portfolio of technical publications and reports.
• Willingness and ability to travel to project sites, client meetings, and industry events.
• Current OSHA 40-hr HAZWOPER training and refreshers.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license.
• Valid CA Boater’s license.

WSP Benefits: 
WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on 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:  $128,400- $197,780

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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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.