This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Director, Rail Operations and Planning for our Buffalo, NY office. Be involved in projects with our Rail Operations and Service Planning Team and across all WSP business lines, and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients’ objectives and solves their challenges.

Your Impact

• Provide proactive and strategic process leadership for operations activities in support of planning, engineering, and construction projects in the rail industry, with a specific focus on intercity passenger rail (i.e., Corridor ID and Fed-State Partnership programs).

• Provide expertise to complex transit and rail operations projects, and work across business lines and disciplines as needed to achieve the best outcomes for our clients.

• Provide freight rail operations and strategic planning experience to projects such as state rail plans.

• Assist with the pursuit of new business and the successful execution of work for current and potential planning, engineering, and/or construction projects in the rail industry.

• Lead technical aspects of projects, including making presentations and facilitating meetings.

• Drive the overall long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of Rail Operations and Service Planning work for WSP, with a focus on rail infrastructure and operations opportunities in all disciplines (planning, design, strategic consulting, advisory services, and program/construction management).

• Drive compliance and accountability at all levels with applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, codes, policies, and regulatory requirements that apply to transit and rail operations, especially FRA and FTA.

• Lead meetings and continuing educational opportunities for areas of responsibility, providing updates and recommendations to staff that ensure all appropriate measures are taken to foster innovation, development, and quality project delivery.

• Serve as a WSP representative/liaison to a variety of external entities including Federal, State, and Local Agencies, Clients, Subcontractors, industry-related groups, and various government and community entities.

• Provide input and information for proposals and project work scopes, pricing, budget, and performance metrics.

• Interpret and summarize data, including producing reports and documents for complex projects and initiatives that result in sound operational and regulatory outcomes for our clients.

• Contribute subject matter expertise to multi-disciplinary project teams and provide high level strategic advice to clients on rail operations and safety, in both passenger and freight rail environments.

• Develop high-level business contacts and a client base for providing high level transit and rail operations services including identifying additional business development opportunities, and cross-selling of other WSP capabilities.

• Remain current in latest rail operating, planning, and safety practices.

• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide 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.

• Pursue credentials and certifications relevant to current and future responsibilities of the position and/or subsequent positions.

• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a planning, transportation, business, or other related discipline.

• 10+ years’ experience in railroad operations, including operations planning, operations management, service development, and safety.

• Solid background in FRA-regulated railroad operations, or a combination of education and/or relevant experience to meet the job requirements.

• Solid background in strategic rail planning.

• Proficiency in office productivity software (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• Excellent written and oral communications skills.

• Ability to work independently or in a team environment as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in the FRA project development process (i.e., Corridor ID, Fed-State Partnership, CRISI, R&E, etc.)

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): $150,000.00 - $173,000

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.

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.