Energy Practice Leader, Infrastructure

Position Summary

The Practice Leader is responsible for providing strategic, operational, and business leadership for Woolpert's Energy Practice. This role drives the vision, growth, profitability, and market position of the practice while ensuring exceptional client satisfaction, employee engagement, and project delivery performance.

The Practice Leader develops and executes strategic growth initiatives, oversees practice operations, leads business development efforts, and builds high-performing teams. The position serves as the primary leader and advocate for the Energy Practice, collaborating across markets, disciplines, and service lines to accelerate growth and deliver innovative solutions to clients.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Establish and execute the Energy Practice vision, strategy, and annual business plan in concert with the Water and Energy Utilities Market Director.
• Develop growth initiatives aligned with Woolpert's corporate objectives.
• Identify emerging market opportunities, technologies, and industry trends.
• Evaluate opportunities for geographic expansion, new services, and strategic partnerships.
• Serve as an executive advocate for the Energy Practice across the organization.

Business Development & Market Growth

• Own practice revenue, backlog, and profitability objectives.
• Lead strategic client development efforts and executive-level client relationships.
• Partner with Program Directors and Client Service Leaders to drive sales growth.
• Participate in major pursuits, proposal strategies, interviews, and contract negotiations.
• Expand Woolpert's market presence throughout utility, renewable energy, transmission, distribution, pipeline, and energy infrastructure sectors.

Operational Leadership

• Monitor practice performance against sales, net revenue, utilization, backlog, and EBITDA targets.
• Ensure consistent project delivery excellence across the practice.
• Lead resource planning and workforce forecasting efforts.
• Identify and mitigate operational and business risks.
• Promote continuous improvement initiatives.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Provide leadership, coaching, and accountability for Program Directors and senior staff.
• Develop succession plans for critical leadership positions.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition and HR to recruit top industry talent.
• Foster an engaging, collaborative, and high-performance culture.
• Support employee development, retention, and leadership growth.

Technical & Industry Leadership

• Serve as a recognized industry leader within the Energy sector.
• Promote innovation, thought leadership, and technical differentiation.
• Maintain awareness of industry regulations, technologies, and market drivers.
• Represent Woolpert at conferences, client forums, and professional organizations.
• Strengthen Woolpert's brand through publications, presentations, and industry involvement.

Financial Accountability

The Practice Leader is accountable for:

• Revenue growth
• Net revenue performance
• EBITDA performance
• Backlog growth
• Utilization performance
• Hiring and staffing plans
• Client satisfaction metrics
• Practice employee retention and engagement

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Construction Management, Business, or related discipline.

Experience

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in the energy, utility, or infrastructure consulting industry.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale business units, service lines, or practices.
• Proven experience managing P&L performance.
• Demonstrated success developing strategic client relationships and growing revenue.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple offices.

Preferred

• Professional Engineer (PE) or other industry-recognized credential.
• Executive leadership experience within an engineering, consulting, utility, or infrastructure organization.
• Experience leading organizations with annual revenues exceeding $10M+.
• Existing network within electric utility, renewable energy, power delivery, or energy infrastructure markets.

Success Measures

• Revenue and net revenue growth
• EBITDA achievement
• Strategic account growth
• Backlog growth
• Employee engagement and retention
• Leadership development and succession planning
• Market share expansion
• Cross-selling performance
• Client satisfaction

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