Vice President, Plumbing Engineering - Buildings

Job Overview

Vice President, Plumbing Engineering - Buildings at WSP in the U.S.

Location:

offices in Irvine, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, or San Jose.

WSP is seeking a Vice President, Plumbing Engineer to join our dynamic Property & Buildings team. This position focuses on plumbing engineering subject matter expertise, technical deliverables, and building and infrastructure projects and programs. The role leads with high‑quality design, safety, functionality, and compliance with all applicable engineering, construction, and safety regulations.

• Provide proactive and strategic leadership for the plumbing engineering discipline, offering direction, expertise, and support to ensure project and work‑site deliverables are successfully achieved.
• Perform engineering review of permit applications, design plans, specifications, standby plans, contracts, and construction inspections to ensure compliance with state, federal, and industry standards.
• Lead large‑scale plumbing engineering projects, overseeing budgets, monitoring external events, tracking hours and expenses, and supervising subcontractors and employees.
• Provide expert technical assistance on plumbing, fire protection, suppression, and fluid flow systems.
• Advance business development and the execution of building and infrastructure work, including contract negotiations, presentations, and meetings.
• Support long‑term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of plumbing engineering work for WSP in the assigned area of responsibility.
• Ensure profitable performance and successful completion of projects within the specified area.
• Assist with annual updates to business tactical action plans.
• Engage with public and private entities to discuss engineering challenges and programs.
• Develop and continuously improve engineering discipline certifications, accreditations, and value propositions.
• Conduct client value surveys, needs analyses, and skill‑gap assessments for the discipline.
• Schedule and lead engineering discipline meetings, providing updates and recommendations.
• Represent the discipline to federal, state, and local agencies, clients, subcontractors, architects, and industry groups.
• Develop proposal scopes, timelines, pricing, and budgets in compliance with all applicable codes and regulations.
• Interpret and summarize data to provide sound engineering and regulatory conclusions.
• Provide verbal and written inputs to multi‑disciplinary project teams and offer high‑level strategic advice to clients.
• Develop a client base and cross‑sell WSP capabilities.
• Mentor staff and support professional development.
• Manage performance guidance and leadership for assigned staff.
• Stay current with the latest plumbing engineering techniques and practices.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to deliver trusted advisory services and future‑ready solutions.
• 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.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Plumbing, Mechanical Engineering, or closely related discipline.
• 12+ years of relevant post‑education experience in engineering, plumbing, mechanical, and infrastructure design.
• Engineer license preferred.
• Advanced proficiency with plumbing and mechanical engineering principles, practices, design, and construction laws, codes, regulations, and compliance practices.
• Advanced proficiency with building and infrastructure design.
• Strong knowledge of plumbing and mechanical engineering and construction laws, codes, regulations, compliance practices, and record‑keeping requirements.
• Advanced proficiency with technical computations and value comparisons to regulations.
• Independent work and leadership of mid‑ to senior‑level teams with strict QA/QC adherence.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills, lateral thinking, attention to detail, and prioritization in a high‑pressure environment.
• Ability to secure cooperation from senior management, clients, regulators, architects,…