Associate Vice President, Rail Program Lead

About the role

Wilson & Company is seeking an accomplished Rail Program Lead to provide strategic leadership, technical direction, client stewardship, and business growth for our rail and industrial infrastructure practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead major rail and industrial infrastructure programs from planning and design through construction support and closeout.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to railroad, industrial, public agency, and private-sector clients by understanding their operational needs, safety requirements, capital plans, and business priorities.
• Develop and execute growth strategies for the rail and industrial practice, including sales, bookings, backlog development, pursuit strategy, proposal leadership, and market positioning.
• Build, mentor, and empower high-performing project managers, technical professionals, and emerging leaders.
• Partner with client account managers and sector leaders to strengthen client relationships and expand opportunities across Wilson & Company’s full range of services.
• Promote Wilson & Company’s safety, quality management, risk management, and project delivery processes.
• Represent Wilson & Company in professional organizations, industry conferences, client meetings, and strategic market initiatives.

Preferred Skills

• Deep familiarity with railroad requirements, standards, procedures, and stakeholder coordination practices.
• Strong understanding of rail civil design, track infrastructure, drainage, site development, grade crossings, utility coordination, MEP, public projects, and construction support.
• Proven ability to build trusted client relationships, develop new work, lead pursuits, support proposal strategy, and grow a profitable practice.
• Ability to mentor project managers, technical staff, and emerging leaders while supporting recruitment, retention, and succession planning.

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a closely related engineering field required; advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in rail, civil infrastructure, industrial development, transportation, or related markets.
• 5+ years leading programs, project teams, practice areas, business units, or major client accounts.
• Experience preparing proposals, leading interviews, negotiating scopes, developing teams, and growing a sustainable book of business.

About Us

For nearly a century, Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers & Architects, has provided award-winning engineering, architecture, planning, environmental, surveying, geospatial, and construction management services. With employees across multiple offices in the Midwest, Southwest, Rocky Mountain, and Western regions in the United States, we bring people together to practice their craft, create value, and accomplish great things. Guided by our purpose, we help clients move from concept to completion, transforming unused spaces into productive places, underutilized facilities into efficient ones, and rural or urban challenges into achievable solutions. At Wilson & Company, we focus on your specific needs, delivering excellence with lasting Higher Relationships in mind. By employing our core values—discipline, intensity, collaboration, shared ownership, and solutions—we create genuine experiences and lasting connections for our clients, employees, and communities. We support our employees’ success and well-being with a comprehensive benefits package, including options for health insurance, life insurance, disability coverage, paid time off, and retirement savings plans. We are proud to be an EEO employer and maintain a drug-free workplace, conducting pre-employment background checks.