Chief Transportation Planning Engineer

About the role

GFT is seeking a resourceful and talented Chief Transportation Planner to join our Austin, Texas office to lead transportation planning and engineering projects and support business development.

Working on the Transportation team at GFT offers the opportunity to engage in transformative projects that enhance transportation infrastructure and improve community connectivity. Whether working on highways and bridges, traffic engineering, or planning, our team excels in resilient, sustainable planning, design, and construction, delivering innovative solutions that address the complexities of modern, multimodal roadway systems and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable travel for all.

Responsibilities

• Management or task technical lead for multimodal transportation planning and preliminary engineering projects for public and private sector transportation projects
• Coordination with clients and other consultants as part of a project team
• Management of in-house technical disciplines and other specialty consultants in the development of transportation planning and engineering projects
• Management and tracking of projects, including scopes of work, budgets, and schedules
• Participation in business development activities within our transportation sector
• Development of proposals for project pursuits
• Assistance in staff training and development
• Contribution to master transportation plans, corridor feasibility studies, freight and rail plans, grant applications, public involvement programs for local agency clients and TxDOT, cost estimates, and required technical reports
• Mentoring and training junior staff, work planning and production scheduling, growth visioning, and managing project budgets, scopes, schedules, and clients
• Participation in the planning and preliminary conceptual design of transportation-related projects, with an emphasis on innovation and adaptability in problem-solving

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Civil Engineering, or a related field
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive industry experience, focused on working with public sector clients
• Experience with planning studies, grants, freight studies, traffic and data analysis, travel demand modeling, preliminary engineering and cost estimating, and rail grade separation projects
• Client interaction and business development and proposal development experience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Project management capabilities, including preparation of scopes of work, budgets, schedules, and meeting materials
• Knowledge of project management procedures, tools, and software
• Knowledge of GIS, CAD, Synchro, and Highway Capacity Manual procedures

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree with a Transportation Focus
• AICP or PE certification

Benefits

• Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions

Pay

The salary range for this role is $140,000 - $175,000, dependent upon experience and geographic location.

Schedule

Core business hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Full-time position.