Project Management Area Lead - Power Delivery

WSP is seeking a Project Management Area Lead for our Power & Energy Management Team located in our new Central Region.

The Project Management Area Lead (PMAL) is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the local and/or regional project management team to produce a product consistent with WSP mission statement and our culture. The PMAL is expected to lead by example in adhering to WSP's culture and defined project management and business practices and to achieve the goals of the business plan, maintain WSP's high-quality standards, promote internal teamwork and meet the needs of our clients. The position requires a focus on division goals to enhance client connection, maintain uncompromising quality and build a better future together. Building a team atmosphere is critical to the success of our Department.  
This position will be based out of New Orleans, LA or Houston TX with the ability to work remotely from any mutually acceptable location. You must have the ability to travel to a WSP and/or Client office for periodic face-to-face meetings.

This Opportunity

Provides project management oversight for the development, execution, management, control and monitoring of, Transmission and Distribution Line & Substation projects throughout the Region in support of company, regional, and national business line goals. Ensures responsibilities throughout the project lifecycle (proposal phase, planning and project startup, project execution, reporting, and project closeout) are adhered to, delivered, and audited with a level of quality that meets or exceeds corporate and client project excellence and delivery standards.  Provides innovation, administration, and pragmatic direction to address current and future project management challenges in a rapidly changing and complex business and operations climate.

Your Impact

• Provide PM leadership for all Transmission and Distribution Line & Substation projects throughout the Region ensuring support for preparing and overseeing project detailed design, budgets, forecasts, margins and KPIs, monitoring external events and risk contingencies, ensuring satisfactory performance, and managing the contractual obligations to deliver the project or assigned portfolio of assigned project(s) as defined in the contract and client’s expectations.
• Support the development of and execution of the BU and Regional Manager department recruiting plans by interviewing potential candidates and making final recommendations. Monitor and address retention.
• Oversee the employee review process for all staff. Perform reviews for all direct reports. Summarize recommendations for position and salary adjustments for all direct reports. 
• Support the preparation, monitoring and execution of PE to PM plans for internal transfers and new external hires. Ensure a strong mentoring relationship is established with all new PMs.
• Develop and foster effective strategies to engage project stakeholders at all levels, maintain effective relationships, and report on project progress.
• Provide guidance with pursuit/initiation activities for projects meeting defined criteria or risk profile; including “Go / No-Go” decisions, contract reviews, risk mitigation strategies, pricing reviews, etc.
• May participate, and many times, lead the contract T&Cs negotiations, rate schedule development, and client presentations.
• Actively drive the appropriate levels of technical review required for the project, selecting appropriately qualified staff to perform the required reviews, and adherence to the QA/QC plan.
• Provide verbal and/or written inputs to multi-disciplinary project teams and contribute to providing high level strategic advice to clients.
• Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff.
• Ensure updates occur with system and process documentation including: Risk (REF/RMP), Project Management Plan (PMP), Project Quality Plan (QP), Project Safety (PSP), and Communications Plan where applicable.
• Lead project kick-off meetings with key stakeholders.
• Coordinate with area/technical managers to address project resource and subcontracting requirements in a timely manner.
• Maintain regular communications with the client including reporting on monthly status, safety incidents, and major issues together with scope and budget impacts.
• Participate in and oversee problem project reviews, providing input about root cause issues and potential solutions.  Assist with developing project recovery plans.
• Ensure regular project reporting and updates are provided to clients, technical areas, and business unit managers, identifying any emergent issues with scope, risk, and/or budget.
• Complete formal project closeout activities, along with facilitating and documenting a lessons-learned meeting with key project staff.
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