Job Information
WSP USA Earth & Environment US Business Development Industrial/Commercial Sector Lead in Chicago, Illinois
This Opportunity
WSP is one of the world’s leading engineering and professional services consulting firms, bringing together more than 70,000 professionals across 500 offices in 40 countries. Our Earth & Environment (E&E) business supports Industrial and Commercial clients throughout the full asset lifecycle, helping them manage environmental risk, comply with regulations, advance sustainability, and improve operational resilience.
WSP USA is seeking an Earth & Environment US Business Development Industrial/Commercial Sector Lead to help drive growth across one of the firm’s most substantial client portfolios. This role carries significant responsibility within the E&E business and is accountable for supporting approximately $300 million in net funding goals for 2026 through organic growth, client expansion, brand building, and cross‑business line collaboration.
Role Summary
The E&E US Business Development Industrial/Commercial Sector Lead directs and enables growth strategy for WSP’s Industrial client portfolio within the Earth & Environment business.
The role works in close partnership with:
Client Account Managers
E&E Operations Leaders
Commercial and Strategic Growth leaders
Marketing and Communications teams
Together, this role helps drive organic growth across E&E services, while enabling clients to access additional WSP services aligned to their evolving needs.
The position reports to E&E’s US Development Director and collaborates laterally across WSP’s business lines to support the growth of the broader US business.
Key Responsibilities
Growth Strategy & Market Leadership
Lead the US growth strategy for E&E Industrial client accounts, informed by market trends, regulatory drivers, capital investment patterns, and client priorities
Monitor and communicate market outlook, growth drivers, regulatory developments, and funding sources to Client Account Managers and operational leadership
Translate market intelligence into actionable growth strategies aligned with WSP’s US strategic plan
Client Account Enablement & Organic Growth
Partner with Client Account Managers to identify and execute organic growth opportunities across E&E services, including but not limited to:
Due diligence
Compliance and permitting
Environmental assessment and remediation
Operations, maintenance, and monitoring (OM\&M)
Asset retirement
Digital and program management services
Support Account Managers in expanding client relationships and increasing wallet share
Enable cross‑selling of other WSP services where aligned with client objectives
Funding, Pipeline & Capture Leadership
Accountable for contributing to $300M in net funding goals for 2026
Support go/no‑go decisions, capture strategies, and major pursuits in collaboration with Account Leaders and pursuit teams
Champion disciplined pipeline management, forecasting, and pursuit planning to improve win rates and backlog growth
Proposal & Pursuit Excellence
Collaborate with proposal and marketing teams to shape win strategies for significant Industrial opportunities
Provide strategic input on positioning, differentiation, and value proposition development
Support pursuit planning and alignment with WSP’s risk and governance processes
Collaboration & Influence
Work effectively across operations, commercial, marketing, and account leadership teams
Promote a “One WSP” client experience through coordination, collaboration, and cross‑business line teaming
Lead through influence by aligning stakeholders around shared growth goals
Mentorship, People & Culture
Provide mentorship and coaching to Client Account Managers and emerging growth leaders
Share best practices in strategic planning, market development, and client engagement
Foster a collaborative, inclusive culture aligned with WSP’s guiding principles
Operational Excellence
Collaborate with E&E leadership to support growth forecasting and business development planning
Identify opportunities for innovation, digital enablement, and process improvement that enhance client value and profitability
Support continuous improvement in health & safety, quality, and sustainable delivery
Key Performance Indicators
Net funding achievement of 2026 funding targets
Organic revenue growth across E&E Industrial client accounts
Pipeline development and backlog growth
Pursuit effectiveness and win rates
Cross‑business line collaboration and client expansion
Demonstrated mentorship and people development
Who You Are
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical, environmental, engineering, or business field (Master’s degree preferred)
15+ years of experience in the environmental consulting industry
Proven experience enabling or leading large‑scale business development programs (>$100M annually) for Industrial or Commercial clients
Strong knowledge of E&E consulting services, delivery models, and regulatory environments
Excellent organizational and communication skills
Demonstrated success working in matrixed organizations and leading through influence
Strong business and commercial acumen, including pipeline and forecast management
Track record of mentorship, collaboration, and client‑focused leadership
Why This Role Matters
This role is critical to WSP’s ability to:
Achieve ambitious growth objectives in the Industrial marketplace
Strengthen E&E’s leadership position and client impact
Deliver integrated, client‑centric solutions across the firm
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): $197,500- $352,990 (all locations)
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.
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.