Geotechnical Laboratory Director

This Opportunity

WSP has an exciting career opportunity for a Geotechnical/Construction Materials Laboratory Director to join our Atlanta office. This individual will primarily work with the Laboratory Management Team to ensure compliance with accreditation, delivery of geotechnical, Construction Materials, and specialty laboratory testing projects, manage personnel associated with the laboratory and identify key areas of growth. We offer excellent career growth, a friendly, flexible work environment, and a variety of challenging projects. We have a group of talented staff and work on some of the most exciting projects across the US. We offer the opportunity to mentor talented engineers and technicians in a supportive and flexible atmosphere where the focus is on teamwork, quality, and excellent client service. Our ideal candidate has strong technical capabilities, solid client relationship skills, a commitment to delivering a quality product within the WSP quality program and an interest in a leadership role. 

Your Impact

• Work with an established laboratory team to successfully complete projects associated with testing in both construction materials and geotechnical applications.
• Will be responsible for laboratory accreditations (GDOT, USACE, AASHTO Re:Source/CCRL, NQA-1, etc.), preparing for internal and external lab audits, maintaining quality control, and supporting multiple audits per calendar year.
• Will be responsible for maintaining laboratory quality requirements for records, personnel qualifications and client requirements.
• Lead and support business development and strategic planning efforts to increase market share in priority markets. 
• Develop and enhance key client relationships and serve as a primary company contact on projects
• Coordination with clients to define work programs and budgets, provided leadership and strategy including general oversight and planning, and project management
• Manage and coordinate project teams, including ensuring the technical quality of deliverables.
• Full managerial responsibility for all aspects of a project including safety, scope development, contract negotiations, cost control, staff management, quality control and cash management
• Support staff development through mentoring
• Must have ability to make quick decisions requiring sound judgment and experience and know when to consult with other team members.
• Interact with regulatory agencies, subcontractors, and clients in a confident and professional manner.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct, Quality Program requirements, and related policies and procedures.
• Collaboration with national laboratory and materials practitioners
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
• Position will require occasional travel within GA and possibly the Southeastern U.S.  

 Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering 
• 10+ years of related experience leading teams, managing projects and 5+ years of direct experience in laboratory testing (including concrete, soils aggregate and asphalt), field testing, special inspections, construction materials and geotechnical services
• Licensed Georgia Professional engineer is required 
• Excellent organization skills and ability to multi-task
• Positive experience dealing directly with client representatives
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong client relationships as well as experience in proposal preparation
• Strong work ethic, and demonstrated ability to work on project teams
• Strong MS Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) as well as ability to learn new software quickly and effectively.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non-engineering audience.
• Highly capable self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
• Ability to work independently and provide guidance and leadership to team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC requirements.
• Developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to apply technical knowledge to reach conclusions from testing results, data collation, statistical analysis and arriving at the most effective, economical, and logical solution.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• This role is subject to a client-mandated drug/alcohol testing policy. As such, employee may be subject to random drug/alcohol tests. A copy of this policy will be provided during employee onboarding and is available upon applicant request. 
• Experience with advance laboratory testing such as consolidation, permeability, triaxial shear and direct shear is strongly preferred
• Knowledge of AASHTO 
• Knowledge of GDOT Laboratory Accreditations and USACE Program

 Preferred Qualifications 

• Ability to work schedules conducive to project-specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek.
• Successfully complete and pass WSP’s Motor Vehicle screening. 

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