Passenger Rail Delivery and Growth Leader

About the role

The Passenger Rail Delivery and Growth Leader is responsible for leading the successful delivery of passenger rail programs and projects while driving strategic growth, market expansion, and client engagement. This leader will oversee complex assignments across the project lifecycle—design, technical delivery, construction delivery, and operational readiness—while positioning the organization for continued growth in intercity, commuter, and regional passenger rail markets.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of passenger rail programs and projects, ensuring performance in safety, quality, schedule, budget, and client satisfaction.
• Provide executive oversight for multidisciplinary teams delivering design, engineering, program management, construction management, and implementation services.
• Drive market growth strategies for passenger rail services, including pursuit planning, capture strategy, client development, and key account growth.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with rail agencies, public owners, operating entities, and industry partners.
• Identify emerging opportunities in intercity rail, commuter rail, corridor development, rail modernization, station programs, and related infrastructure investments.
• Collaborate across operations, technical practices, and regional leadership to align resources and win/deliver major programs.
• Serve as a senior advisor to clients on delivery models, risk management, governance, stakeholder coordination, and program execution.
• Champion operational excellence, talent development, succession planning, and team engagement within the passenger rail business.
• Monitor market trends, funding programs, policy developments, and competitive activity to inform business strategy.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, transportation, construction management, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in passenger rail, transit, transportation infrastructure, or related markets.
• Engineering License or ability to obtain.
• Experience working with intercity passenger rail, commuter rail, or shared-use rail systems.
• Knowledge of Federal Railroad Administration requirements, regulatory frameworks, and corridor development initiatives.
• Required experience supporting, delivering, or leading programs for Amtrak, including familiarity with Amtrak project delivery expectations, stakeholder coordination, operating environment, and intercity passenger rail service requirements.
• Demonstrated success leading large, complex rail or transportation projects and programs.
• Proven experience in business development, strategic growth, and client account leadership.
• Strong understanding of project delivery methods, program governance, risk management, and contract execution.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and influence senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, leadership, collaboration, and executive presence.
• Strong commercial acumen, including revenue growth, pipeline development, and pursuit leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience coordinating with freight railroads and navigating shared corridor, access, and operational interface considerations.
• Familiarity with major passenger rail funding, planning, and implementation programs.
• Professional registration or industry certifications are a plus, where applicable.

Benefits

• Comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings.
• Paid sick leave.
• Paid vacation (or other personal time).
• Paid parental leave.
• Paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Pay

$190,000 - $350,000

Schedule

Based out of a mutually agreed upon WSP USA Northeast Office, with preference to Philadelphia, PA.

About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.