Senior Economic Development Specialist

Overview

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Senior Economic Development Specialist. The role will provide leadership within the Economics, Finance, and Grants team and be a subject matter expert (SME) on regional economic growth policies and methods, incentive programs, Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) documents, infrastructure and real estate development finance, public-private partnerships, and interagency coordination. The ideal candidate will help WSP’s clients understand how to generate economic growth, job opportunities, and new development in their cities and service regions.

Our Senior Economic Development Specialist is responsible for driving top line growth as One WSP across the A&P business and with our counterparts within the Transportation & Infrastructure, Earth & Environment, Property & Buildings, Power & Energy, and Federal end-markets.

• Provide proactive and strategic leadership for the planning discipline and function, offering direction, expertise, and support to ensure project and work site deliverables are successfully achieved within the business sector.
• Oversee the appropriate use of topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS data, and other visualization tools to determine exact locations of project areas, associated physical / urban / economic / political sensitivities, and to uncover primary, secondary, and tertiary impacts.
• Lead larger-scale more complex land/urban planning projects ensuring contributors know what they are required to do and by when, preparing and overseeing relevant project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking hours and expenses, ensuring profitability and satisfactory performance, and supervising subcontractors, contract work, and employees.
• Responsible for the contribution and management of multi-disciplinary project teams in all phases of the execution and delivery of siting, impact assessment, and permitting for assigned business sector projects, as well as land/urban planning and management projects.
• Actively foster compliance with applicable Federal, State, and Local Agency laws, policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentations, and meetings.
• Assist with the preparation of an annual update to business tactical action plans within the specified area.
• Analyze local, state and national trends, policies and/or legislation to determine impact.
• Support the overall long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of Land/Urban Planning work for WSP in assigned area of responsibility, with a focus on opportunities in all disciplines (planning, design, strategic consulting, and program management).
• Conduct needs analyses and client value surveys to align the planning discipline’s function with business and project strategy, identifying and addressing any skill gaps or risks within the sector business operations.
• Develop a client base for providing high level Land/Urban Planning services including identifying additional business development opportunities, and cross-selling of other WSP capabilities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Planning, Public Policy/Administration or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Minimum 12+ years of experience in a regional economic development agency or corporate environment working in business attraction/retention, the land/urban planning field, actively engaging in general plans, specific/master plans, zoning code updates, public involvement, and regulatory compliance for a variety of client projects relating to development, construction, infrastructure, transportation, environment, resiliency, revitalization, and/or adaptation
• Strong working knowledge of relevant zoning laws, permitting requirements, notification and compliance practices, job creation/retention, applicable Regional / State / Federal regulatory framework and the business impact upon the organization
• Demonstrated experience leading by influence
• Experience in leading and winning major strategic pursuits
• Excellent communication skills (presenting and writing)
• Organized, self-starter with a strong…