Senior Director of Operational Technology Cybersecurity and Fleet Innovation

This is an exciting opportunity to join WSP’s Critical & Emerging Technology team within the national Transit & Rail practice as a Senior Director of Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity and Fleet Innovation. The selected candidate will play a critical role in tailoring an existing service offering within one of the world’s leading engineering and design firms that will empower our transportation clients to become Future Ready. This position may be based out of any mutually agreed upon WSP USA Office.

The successful candidate will lead and oversee cybersecurity strategy and innovation across operational technology (OT) systems with a specific focus on transportation infrastructure. This may include safeguarding systems such as signaling, SCADA, traction power, and fleet charging infrastructure, while championing the adoption and strategies to future proof our clients to test and validate emerging technologies that enhance safety, reliability, and performance. While it is critical for the candidate to thoroughly understand and contribute to the latest cyber standards (NIST, ISO, IEC, and FTA), the role requires the individual to lead engaging conversations with our clients about what the future of transit may hold and how best to prepare. Specifically, targeting opportunities to reduce the amount of Comms infrastructure in rail and transit infrastructure thereby lowering OPEX. The role will work closely with our established WSP US Properties & Buildings Cybersecurity team as well as the global WSP Cybersecurity community. Deep cybersecurity expertise within the Transportation sector can be found in our global team.

The Senior Director of OT Cybersecurity and Fleet Innovation offers substantial opportunities for professional growth in an emerging market. You will work directly with industry thought leaders in areas such as zero emissions, autonomous vehicles, transit technology systems, infrastructure asset management, and transit & rail to launch highly visible transit technology projects across North America. To be successful in this role, the candidate must have an understanding not only of cybersecurity planning, design, and implementation best practices, but the candidate must be familiar with transit infrastructure design and vulnerabilities of various digital technologies. Additionally, the candidate must have a creative, driven approach for exploring new ideas to deliver for our clients and partnering with our data science team to explore AI and/or ML solutions to reduce OT cyber threats. Business development will be a key performance area in this role, but the candidate will have an ability also can self-fulfil client deliverables. Industry presence, speaker track record and thought leadership will be expected from this individual.

• Lead and strategize with Safety & Security, Buildings, Transit & Rail, and Digital Leadership within WSP to build new cybersecurity practice and identify and prioritize near-term and long-term service offerings related to OT cybersecurity.  
• Conduct and lead cybersecurity risk assessments and threat & vulnerability modeling for rolling stock and supporting infrastructure. Ensure alignment with the latest standards and codes, IEC/ISA, NIST, APTA, ISO, PRDC, UNECE, etc. (pending client framework*).  
• Develop mitigation strategies and corrective actions to manage or eliminate identified cyber risk, threats & vulnerabilities.
• Proven ability to coordinate and liaison with cybersecurity, engineering, planning, architects, and operations experts within Transportation & Infrastructure business lines.  
• Sample deliverables may include - Design, testing, and commissioning existing or new cybersecurity OT software/hardware, developing new policy framework, serving as owner’s rep, creating procurement documentation (scope, requirements, costs, KPIs, etc.), cybersecurity masterplans, and leading stakeholder engagement workshops aimed at training/educating external and internal stakeholders.  
• Support the development of thorough operational security plans and incident response protocols tailored to specific OT environments. Help develop monitoring plans and eventually, create real-time monitoring tools that reduce OPEX and keep our clients protected.  
• The successful candidate must thrive in the seller/doer role and help build a pipeline of sustainable work through experience and industry connections. The selected individual will be expected to represent WSP at industry events and relevant committee meetings to demonstrate our experience in the cybersecurity and fleet innovation market.   Additionally, oversee team development, manage budgets for innovation initiatives, and drive global partnerships to expand WSP's market share in transit cybersecurity. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with a major in business, electrical engineering, computer science, or related field.
• 15+ years minimum of professional experience and at least 10 years of experience supporting fleet and infrastructure cybersecurity projects.
• Must illustrate successful delivery experience in multiple operating environments including (but not limited to) signals and train control, traction power systems, tunnel ventilation, fire alarm systems, overhead catenary, fleet charging infrastructure and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) and/or Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X).  
• Deep understanding of all existing standards and continuing updates revisions including (but not limited to) IEC, TS, NIST, ISO, and UNECE.  
• Demonstrated experience with threat modeling, penetration testing, and network security best practices in OT transportation environments.  
• Expertise to examine and secure OTA, remote diagnostics, and air-gapped environments.  
• Certifications should include CISSP, GICSP, ISA/IEC and/or CompTIA Security+
• Strong communication skills and stakeholder management capabilities. This is a client-facing position.  
• Ability to work independently to achieve professional targets and to collaborate across disciplines to achieve shared objectives.  
• Proven technical writing skills and ability to summarize and illustrate complex environments to broad audiences.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in systems engineering or cybersecurity.  
• 20-25+ years' experience.
• Demonstrated success in management consulting or advisory roles. The candidate will ideally have several publications related to cybersecurity and fleet innovation, patents, and a track record of founding or leading revenue generating ventures.  
• Long-standing experience in the cybersecurity sector with a preference within the Transportation market. Successful candidates will be able to confidently speak to large audiences, lead client-facing meetings, and attend prominent industry committees.  
• Deep experience with rail communications networks related to OT threats and vulnerabilities. Specifically, system familiarity should include SCADA, PLCs (programmable logic controller), and industrial systems used in transit infrastructure.  
• Specific examples and lessons learned from cybersecurity projects showcasing understanding of the latest frameworks and standards, threat detection and prevention best practices, and vulnerability challenges with complex telecommunications networks.  
• Demonstrated innovative and creative solutions to complex problems. We are looking for leaders that are solutions-focused, not individuals who recite standards in meetings/presentations.  
• We are interested in candidates’ experience and/or ideas to create more effective solutions for our clients for reduced costs. Specifically, creating new AI/ML solutions with proven ability to reduce OT cyber threats, along with demonstrated business growth. 

Additional Requirements

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. 

WSP Benefits:

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on 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): $230,000 – 280,000

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. 

Expected Salary (Colorado only): $230,000 - $280,000

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position within the state of Colorado, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and 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.

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