Early Career Planner​/Siting Specialist

Job Description

WSP is currently initiating a search for a full‑time Early Career Urban Planner for our offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, Akron, Toledo, and other regional offices such as Lexington, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.

Join us in providing local technical planning assistance for capturing, modeling, and analyzing study area information, geographical resources, and spatial and tabular data to inform and create plans for site and/or linear utility projects throughout the Midwest.

• Support a wide range of services related to the preparation of siting and routing studies, site visits and/or public open houses, and preparation of field maps and ecological data.
• Create plan maps for various environmental plans and permits.
• Generate accurate and concise documentation that meets or exceeds acceptable industry standards.

• Plan, execute, and lead siting and routing studies for various energy industry projects in Ohio and surrounding states.
• Gather background data for project areas, prepare siting and routing maps, document findings to clients and agencies, and participate in public open house meetings.
• Conduct wind‑screen surveys of proposed sites and routes, and document the siting process in a defensible report.
• Act as liaison with governmental agencies, clients, and team members.
• Support siting reports that justify selected sites or routes.
• Provide guidance on state filing requirements and write components for public utility applications.
• Utilize ArcGIS to support siting, ecological and environmental permitting projects.
• Prepare visualizations such as maps, tables, charts, reports and illustrations.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 0‑1 year of experience conducting siting and routing studies, preferably in Ohio and surrounding states.
• 0‑1 year of experience with ESRI’s ArcGIS platform.
• Familiarity with performing routing/siting studies and preparing associated reports.
• Excellent technical writing skills, clear communication, team collaboration and strong attention to detail.
• Ability and motivation to deliver high‑quality work independently and on time.
• Willingness to travel for site visits and public open house meetings.
• Strong motivation, positive attitude, eagerness to learn and take on responsibility.
• Track record of upholding workplace safety and adherence to WSP’s health, safety, and anti‑harassment policies.
• Ability to work schedules beyond the typical workweek as required by projects.
• Travel will be required depending on project‑specific requirements.

• 1‑3 years of experience conducting siting and routing studies, preferably in Ohio and surrounding states.
• 1‑3 years of experience with ESRI’s ArcGIS platform.
• Experience preparing applications for submission to the Ohio Power Siting Board, Kentucky Public Utilities Commission, and other state agencies.
• Previous consulting experience.
• Experience with both Arc Map and ArcGIS Pro.
• Established relationships and understanding of utility company requirements in Ohio and surrounding states.

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on health and financial stability, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, retirement savings, paid sick leave, paid vacation, paid parental leave, and paid time off for bereavement, voting, and naturalization proceedings.

Expected Salary for Cleveland, OH: $50,400 – 75,600

WSP USA provides the compensation range that the company believes it might pay, based on the applicant’s education, experience, and geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range and to offer additional benefits, depending on circumstances unrelated to protected status.

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, a leading global engineering and professional services firm. With over 15,000 employees across 300+ U.S. offices, we design lasting solutions in buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment. We partner with clients to help communities prosper.

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.

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes become the property of WSP and WSP reserves the right to hire the candidate without reservation, regardless of any fees or compensation to a recruiter, employment agency, or staffing service.