Regional Leader (West Region)

Woodard & Curran is a national engineering, science, and operations firm with a simple vision for clean water, a safe environment, healthy communities, and happy people. As an employee-owned company, we strive to cultivate diverse teams and encourage collaboration in an equitable and inclusive culture. We seek talented individuals from all backgrounds to help us address a broad range of water and environmental issues. We prioritize our people, offering opportunities for professional growth, ownership, and flexibility. That’s how we make a difference to our clients, people, and the planet.

The Regional Leader is responsible for leading the people, projects, and business performance for one of the Business Units’ (BU) Regions. They are responsible for facilitating the training, career development, and retention of the individuals in the BU Region, monitoring their performance and productivity, and elevating/addressing concerns as needed. They are accountable for compliance with Project Quality Assurance procedures for those managing projects within their Region. They are also responsible for contributing to and implementing the BU’s goals within their Region. The Regional Leader splits time between the responsibilities in this job description and those of another position, including but not limited to Project and/or Technical Manager. 

OUTCOMES / KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

Regional direct labor goal achievement supports overall Consulting and Business Unit goals.

Regional financial project performance in support of overall Consulting and Business Unit goals.

Compliance with company processes and procedures. 

Performance Enablement Participation of the Region. 

The region's employee retention rate aligns with the annual business plan. 

Execution of annual hiring needs within the Region in alignment with the annual business plan. 

Travel: up to 50%

Candidate Location: Near any of our West Region offices in California

What will you be doing at Woodard & Curran:

Core Functions

• To support Project Managers and those who manage projects within their Region in alignment with the Practice Leadership in providing quality work products to all clients in accordance with the scope, schedule, and budget. 
• Support the Project Resource Team on resource leveling and employee opportunities. 
• Support BU Leader and Operations and People Leader when needed to determine acceptability of proposed non-standard terms and conditions to mitigate risk. 
• Partner with the Project Management Office Leader for the development of project management and delivery of lessons learned, areas for improvement, and training needed. 
• Maintain consistency in people leadership and project management in accordance with the Consulting and Company policies and procedures.

Business/ Financial Management

• Assist the BU with annual development of the Business and Financial Plans, as appropriate, including compiling backlog for the Region and providing regional staffing needs.
• Partner with Operations and People Leader to monitor financial metrics for the BU including utilization, direct labor, net revenue, WIP, AR, project breakage, and revenue recognition and take corrective action when necessary.
• Lead PM enhanced project reviews, quarterly reviews, and partner with the PMOL and finance team Project Financial Analyst (PFA), and Project Accountant (PAC), providing direction on financial, contractual, and quality impacts and leading Project Managers in developing mitigation strategies for projects at risk.
• Collaborate with the Operations and People Leader on specific projects deemed at risk, working with the Project Manager, Client Manager, and/ or designated Principal in Charge (PIC) through the final resolution/ completion of the project on identified financial risk measures.
• Responsible for managing training requests, overhead expenses, and spot bonuses within the Region.
• Manage individual utilization within the Region, including identifying and correcting under/overloaded staff to maintain a balanced workload.

People

• Partner with the People Leaders within their Region to ensure employees are connected to the company vision and strategic goals, understand their career path and opportunities, are inspired to challenge themselves, foster a collaborative and respectful environment, and are advancing professionally.
• Partner with Operations and People Leader, Director of Practice, People Leaders, and HR Talent Partners on salary and performance review processes for the BU Regions, including providing input on recommended promotions, salary increases, and distribution of the ICP.
• Responsible for working with the Operations and People Leader HR Recruiting Team and Hiring Manager (as applicable) to identify, recruit, and hire candidates for open positions within the Region as identified in the business plan.
• Recommend modifications to the annual hiring plan as necessary based on workload, project needs and recommendations from the Project Resource Team.
• Responsible for cascading communicating with employees within their region.
• Lead recognition and feedback for all employees within the Region.

Project/ Client Support

• Ensure consistency in practice, standards, and work production, including compliance with the company’s PQA program.
• Support Business Development Leaders and Director of Practice as requested for opportunities.

Project Delivery

• Monitor projects to ensure they are meeting BU financial goals. 
• Accountable for ensuring project risk components are monitored and managed. 
• Accountable for championing and ensuring safety protocols are adhered to within the Region.
• Ensure Project Managers are providing feedback on project team members throughout the project lifecycle.

What will you need to succeed?

• BS Degree or equivalent as a minimum. 
• A minimum of 15 years within a consulting or engineering firm. 
• At least 5 years as a Project Manager, Client Manager or Technical Manager with a track record of successful project management. 
• A minimum of 5 years of experience managing staff. 
• STRATEGIC: Taking a long-range, broad approach to problem-solving and decision-making through objective analysis, thinking ahead, and planning. 
• COMMUNICATION: Explaining things clearly and thoroughly; expressing thoughts and ideas readily; keeping others well informed; clearly setting forth viewpoints; being explicit about what is needed or wanted. 
• EXCITEMENT: Getting others enthusiastic and involved; engaging in a high-energy manner; generating excitement; being lively and dynamic; creating a high-activity environment. 
• MANAGEMENT FOCUS: Making things happen, being influential, willing to take command, providing guidance to others, taking over a group, acting as a facilitator 

Benefits & Wellbeing

Retirement Savings:

• 401(k) Pre-tax or Roth Contributions: Company will match equal to 100% of the first 3% of salary contributed, All employees are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan and are 100% vested in the value of own contributions and any employer matching contributions.

Time away from work:

• Vacation time is provided to full and part-time regular employees. Vacation is accrued, based on number of hours worked per week as well as prior years of experience.

• Woodard & Curran offers paid sick time to eligible employees who are absent due to their own non-work related, illness, injury, or medical procedure.

• Woodard & Curran provides up to 80 hours of Paid Parental Leave for child bonding in a 12-month period.

• Company-paid short- and long-term disability insurance from Sun Life to assist with replacing a portion of your income in the event of non-job-related illness or injury. Eligible employees are automatically enrolled and eligible immediately.

Coverage and support for your needs and wellbeing:

Personal and Family health: Company offers three medical plan options based on geography; plus HSA and PSA plans are available based on eligibility, additional options include dental and vision plans.

Company provides basic employee group life insurance and AD&D benefits; additional voluntary life insurance for employee and family are available through Sun Life.

WayForward powered by Dario: EAP Program combined with personalized mental health and wellbeing coaching.

LiveWell wellbeing program: credit incentive is available, up to $600 annually – nutrition and fitness reimbursement, and access to the Virgin Pulse wellness platform.

Education: Tuition assistance offers eligible employees up to 100% reimbursement of tuition, books and fees up to $5250 per year, for courses related to the employee’s job or planned career development.

Woodard & Curran is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans are encouraged to apply. We are committed to ensuring our employment practices are non-discriminatory and based solely on job-related factors. To read our entire Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement, click here. To view the Workplace Discrimination Is Illegal poster and supplement, click here.

If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to apply, please contact Beth Sweitzer.

We value diversity, equity and inclusion and encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

Woodard & Curran believes that complex teams working together in an equitable, inclusive space provides the best opportunity for achieving our vision of clean water, a safe environment, healthy communities, and happy people. Our success is tied to a culture that embraces our differences so that everyone can bring their whole, authentic selves to work. When our people are supported to reach their full potential, we provide the most innovative, sound, and effective solutions.