Rail Quality, Safety & Compliance Project Manager

Rail Quality, Safety & Compliance Project Manager

WSP is seeking a Rail Quality, Safety & Compliance Project Manager to join our Transportation team in Utah. This position is a part-time, variable hours role. It is not benefits eligible.

Provides leadership, guidance, and oversight for rail quality management, safety assurance, and regulatory compliance activities across rail projects and programs. Serves as a subject matter expert in rail quality and safety practices, ensuring project delivery aligns with applicable regulations, industry standards, client requirements, and WSP's internal quality and risk management processes. Supports project teams by identifying compliance risks, promoting continuous improvement, and fostering a strong culture of safety and quality throughout project execution.

Your Impact

• Provide quality management and safety oversight for rail projects, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, provincial, client, and industry regulations, standards, and requirements.
• Lead and support the development, implementation, and monitoring of project Quality Plans, Safety Plans, audit programs, inspection processes, corrective action programs, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Conduct quality assurance reviews, compliance assessments, audits, and inspections to verify adherence to project requirements, organizational standards, and regulatory obligations.
• Collaborate with project managers, technical leaders, and client representatives to proactively identify risks related to quality, safety, and regulatory compliance, and develop mitigation strategies.
• Monitor project performance indicators related to quality, safety, and compliance, providing reporting, recommendations, and corrective actions as needed.
• Support project teams in maintaining required project documentation, including quality records, audit findings, safety reports, risk registers, lessons learned, and compliance records.
• Participate in project reviews, stakeholder meetings, and regulatory discussions to ensure quality and safety objectives are clearly understood and achieved.
• Investigate quality incidents, non-conformances, and safety concerns, identify root causes, and facilitate implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Promote best practices and continuous improvement in rail quality management systems, safety programs, and regulatory compliance processes.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and technical support to project teams regarding rail quality standards, safety expectations, and compliance requirements.
• Serve as a liaison between project teams, clients, regulatory agencies, and internal stakeholders on matters related to quality, safety, and compliance.
• Support project risk management efforts by identifying emerging compliance and safety issues and recommending appropriate mitigation measures.
• Ensure updates occur with system and process documentation, including Risk Registers, Project Management Plans (PMPs), Project Quality Plans (QPs), Project Safety Plans (PSPs), audit records, and other compliance documentation, as applicable.
• Remain current with evolving rail industry regulations, safety requirements, quality management standards, and best practices.
• Collaborate with professionals and leadership from a variety of disciplines to provide trusted advisor services and future-ready solutions for clients and project teams.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company resources and conduct and adhere to WSP's Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Transportation, Construction Management, Safety, Quality Management, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience in a technical, engineering, or transportation organization.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Professional certification in Project Management, Quality Management, Safety, or a related field preferred (e.g., PMP, CAPM, CQE, ISO Lead Auditor, CSP, CRSP, P.Eng., or equivalent).
• 15+ years of relevant post-education experience.
• Advanced understanding of rail project delivery processes, quality management systems, safety management practices, regulatory compliance requirements, and risk management principles.
• Strong working knowledge of QA/QC processes, audit and inspection programs, corrective action management, continuous improvement practices, and compliance monitoring.
• Demonstrated exceptional ability to establish, implement, and oversee complex quality, safety, and compliance programs across large-scale rail projects and programs.
• Strong knowledge of rail industry regulations, client requirements, and corporate governance processes applicable to transportation and infrastructure projects.
• Excellent self-leadership and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively influence and collaborate with employees, clients, contractors, regulators, and stakeholders at all levels of an organization.
• Strategic thinking and strong analytical skills with attention to detail and the ability to prioritize responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to assess risk, identify areas for improvement, and implement practical solutions that enhance quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Advanced proficiency in technical writing, document management, reporting systems, Microsoft Office Suite products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint), and other project, quality, and compliance management tools.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and fostering a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Strong ability to quickly adapt to changing regulations, project conditions, client requirements, and business needs.
• Ability to work independently in a part-time capacity while effectively managing multiple priorities and stakeholder relationships.
• Occasional travel may be required to support project audits, site reviews, client meetings, regulatory activities, and project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting major rail transit, commuter rail, freight rail, or transportation infrastructure programs.
• Experience working with rail regulatory agencies, transportation authorities, or client-specific compliance frameworks.
• Experience leading quality assurance, safety, or compliance functions on large, complex transportation or infrastructure projects.
• Experience conducting audits, inspections, investigations, and corrective action programs within rail or transportation environments.

About Us

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.

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.