Senior Vice President, Commercial and Risk

Job Description

What if you could redefine what's possible? With us, you can.

With us, you can. You want Purpose. Growth. Opportunity. People who get it.

Job Description

What if you could redefine what's possible? With us, you can.

We are the home of ambitious, passionate, and innovative world shapers.

With an unmatched breadth and depth of engineering, advisory and science-based expertise, our global minds unite to power local solutions.

We are pathfinders and impact makers.

We are Visioneers.

We are WSP

The Opportunity

Shape What Comes Next

Reporting directly into WSP Canada’s President and as a member of the Canadian Executive Team, in this senior executive Canadian leadership role you will shape the commercial and risk strategy for WSP Canada. Based in Montreal, you’ll lead initiatives supporting sustainable and profitable growth through opportunity selection, teamings and partnerings, major proposals, negotiations, major project delivery and material variations, claims management, governance, opportunities identification and risk mitigation, and commercial and risk knowledge, awareness and excellence across WSP Canada. Your experience and expertise will influence decisions that drive success for WSP Canada. While working in alignment with Global guidelines and DOA requirements, you will establish, deploy and lead WSP Canada’s commercial & risk strategy, governance, positions and direction consistently across its Sectors and regions, scaled to WSP Canada’s diversified project size, complexity and risk You will determine WSP Canada’s commercial & risk objectives, priorities, positions and key actions within the Region, and develop commercial & risk resources and teams across Canada.

Your Impact

• Act as a key advisor to the President, and also to Executive Leadership team on material, complex, unforeseen or new commercial and risk issues or project situations.
• Chair the Canadian Review and Approval Panel (RAP) for material opportunities and teaming agreements while proactively monitoring major projects health during execution. Lead bid reviews for major projects and support escalated approvals, ensuring compliance, identification of opportunities and risk mitigation.
• Align risk & commercial strategy, governance and team to broader WSP Canada goals for the Region and globally.
• Lead commercial and risk teams, resources and budget, ensuring governance and strategy are applied consistently across WSP Canada through all project opportunity and project phases.
• Manage key commercial and risk resources of the WSP Canada team (direct reports includes VP Risk and Commercial Director) and indirect reporting of the Sector’s Commercial & Risk Leads.
• Lead WSP Canada’s Commercial & Risk Network (a national group for the sharing of best practices and lessons learned, primarily with the Commercial and Risk resources.
• Guide and support senior business leaders and project teams through complex or material commercial & risk issues that may impact WSP Canada, its business performance or its reputation. Support teams with major teamings, partnerings, bids preparation, negotiations, major projects, to secure favorable project outcomes.
• Direct high-impact initiatives that improve how the organization identifies opportunities and risks, positions, manages, negotiates, improves and maintains profitability, protects results, and delivers value across WSP Canada.
• Represent WSP Canada’s Commercial & Risk team, driving alignment and strategic priorities.
• Ensure alignment and consistency within WSP Canada’s commercial and risk team, governance, positions and strategy.
• Together with WSP Canada’s VP Risk, provide executive leadership for the region’s Enterprise Risk Management cycled reviews, updates and reporting.
• Establish and track KPIs to support project teams and the Commercial & Risk teams in achieving WSP Canada’s objectives.
• Monitor commercial and risk performance on major bids and projects, identifying and risks, addressing scope, schedule, and budget changes and impacts, and involvement in interactions with client, partner, and supply chain relationships.
• Provide data, analytics and reporting on bids and projects performance metrics (including project risks data and profile) to inform strategic decisions.
• Be actively involved in the Canadian infrastructure industry community by fostering relationships with key clients, contractors and partners.
• Collaborate with other Sector, Regional and Support Functions to ensure integrated solutions.
• Develop and deliver training on commercial and risk principles, governance, and best practices.

The Skills That Set You Apart

• Executive leadership and ability to advise top leadership on cross-functional and enterprise-wide issues with minimal precedent and significant reputational or financial consequence.
• Strategic thinking, problem-solving and solutions oriented, strong negotiations skills.
• Deep knowledge and experience of the engineering and construction industry.
• Experience leading senior management teams across multiple high-impact initiatives and aligning complex priorities to company strategy.
• Strong executive presence, negotiation capability, strategic thinking, and judgement required to guide the organization through ambiguity, material exposure, and critical decision points.
• Strong business acumen and ability to navigate complex organizational structures and issues to build and maintain strategic partnerships.
• Proven track record of experience with opportunity selection, partnerings, proposals, contracts, negotiation, project change management, documentation, claims and risk management.
• Deep understanding of engineering operations and projects, RFPs, RFQs, proposals and of project delivery, delivery models, performance, financials, governance, and risk allocation, from underlying business to mega projects.
• Commercial and risk experience and expertise, including in various major projects delivery models (Design-Build, PPP, Collaborative model, Alliance, Progressive Design-Build, IPD, EPCM, EPC, etc.) and partnering strategies and agreements.
• Advanced conflict resolution, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with experience mediating issues and achieving consensus.
• Professional designation in Law, Engineering or Finance or equivalent, combined with 15+ years of industry experience in commercial and risk management for major engineering and construction firms.
• Bilingual (French/English) required to support national teams, operations, collaboration, and partner and client engagement.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills for executive-level communication.

Why Choose WSP?

• Proudly Canadian – we are a Top 100 Employer in Canada for 2026.
• A global community of brilliant minds – your next idea, mentor, or opportunity is always within reach.
• Limitless opportunities start here. Whether it’s across the country or around the globe, we help you tailor your role to match your ambition — because your growth drives ours.
• Flexible work, real balance – we recognize the importance of balance in our lives and encourage you to prioritize the balance in yours.

Compensation

Base compensation starting at $208 229

Disclosure:
The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The wage range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.

Ready to Shape the Future?

Bring your commercial and risk leadership to a role where your judgement will help shape strategic decisions, strengthen major project outcomes, and support sustainable growth across WSP Canada.

About Us

At WSP, we exist to shape communities to advance humanity.

It’s why we bring people together who are wired to solve complex challenges - engineers, scientists, advisors, and technical experts who are driven by a common passion - to redefine what’s possible and shape what comes next. We are Visioneers.

As one of the world’s leading professional services firms, we partner with clients across transportation, infrastructure, environment, buildings, energy, water, mining and metals. We pair deep local knowledge with global insights to pioneer solutions designed to leave a lasting, positive impact.

At WSP, you’ll join a community of brilliant minds that push boundaries every day - applying deep expertise and fuelling innovation to help create a more connected and resilient future. Here, your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and you are encouraged to bring your authentic self to work. We empower our people to collaborate across disciplines, challenge the status quo, and shape a career with purpose.

Join us.

Health and Safety is a core paramount value of WSP. Given the importance of keeping one another safe it is expected that you comply with our Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) policy at all times as well as client HSE policies when working at client locations. Full details here .

Some safety-sensitive positions involve fieldwork and may include work in a variety of environmental conditions, such as remote or isolated areas, working alone, and in inclement weather (within safe and reasonable limits).

WSP welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

WSP is committed to the principles of employment equity. Only the candidates selected will be contacted.