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This Opportunity

WSP USA is currently initiating a search for an **Assistant Vice President, Architect** to join our Midwest Transportation Facilities Group. Location preference for this role is the **St. Louis, MO** downtown office.

Provides subject matter technical support and leadership for multi-site/phase due diligence, planning, concept development, restoration, alteration, extension, and implementation of creative, functional, and sustainable building designs and/or construction of projects in the public and private sector. Responsibilities include conceptually visualizing projects, preparing drawings, specifications, budgets, and construction documents, developing and presenting design proposals, and managing client relationships. Provides situational guidance to PMs and managers that address current and future challenges, and that documentation and recommendations accurately account for and address risk, innovation, and future-ready opportunities. Provides leadership with ensuring that responsibilities are delivered and adhered to with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards for design, safety, structural integrity, and occupancy.

Your Impact

+ Point of contact and manager of major clients to coordinate and facilitate multiple projects and task orders both locally and nationally.

+ Oversee and mange multi-discipline design team as they develop 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.

+ Provide guidance with collecting, compiling, and analyzing data from the physical work site, surveys, record documents, GIS data, subsurface utility information, maps, environmental data, historical use, and other matrices for project development, design, and construction.

+ Develop and apply advanced design solutions and concepts during the preliminary phase of a project.

+ Remain current in latest architectural techniques and practices.

+ 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 understand their responsibilities and the schedule, 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 locally and nationally.

+ Lead technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings.

+ Understanding of fundamental BIM principles and best practices

+ 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 and phases of work (planning, design, strategic consulting, and program/construction administration).

+ 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 licensure 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.

+ Participate in and contribute to 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/liaisons 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.

+ Develop a client base for providing high level architecture services including identifying additional business development opportunities, and cross-selling of other WSP capabilities.

+ Perform mentoring of less-experienced staff to support professional career development and growth through collaboration, technical review, and reporting.

+ 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.

+ 15-20 years of relevant post education experience in learned discipline.

+ 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 assessments and calculations involving the application of architecture principles, understanding plans and specifications, and making factual comparisons and illustrations to the appropriate regulations.

+ Works independently with minimal oversight and provides guidance and leadership to junior team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.

+ Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to interact with employees effectively, persuasively, and tactfully at all levels of the organization.

+ Working knowledge with process and concepts for sustainability, green building design, and reducing and eliminating the use or generation of hazardous substances/greenhouse gas.

+ 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., Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp), technology, math principles, graphics, spreadsheets, and tools.

+ Tactical understanding of BIM principles and ability to engage, manage and coordinate with project BIM Manager

+ 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.

+ Maintain active professional licensure.

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Master’s Degree is preferred.

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.

www.wsp.com

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

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

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.